Piloted by astronaut John Glenn, Friendship 7 would make history to hold the first American to orbit the earth, in February of 1962. The astronaut lay in the capsule with his back to the shield, while the capsule's narrow nose housed the parachutes that slowed its descent through the atmosphere before splashdown.
Each capsule was originally composed of a cylinder, mounted to the top of each capsule with an escape tower attached to it, and heat shields to protect the capsule and astronaut from the 3,000 degree Fahrenheit reentry.
As a part of Project Mercury, each capsule was named by the astronaut who flew in it and ended with the number “7,” intended to suggest the teamwork of the seven astronauts. The project's name came from Mercury, the Roman god who symbolized speed.
A replica of this first American manned spacecraft, this model includes such intricate details as a shingled exterior surface and exposed interior.
Master craftsmen, working from three-dimensional drawings, handcraft each model from either the finest Philippine mahogany or state-of-the-art composite. Each model is shaped with remarkable precision and attention to detail. Several stages of fine sanding, between primer coats, produce a smooth finish ready for final painting. Talented artists using ultra-fine brushes and decals, paint the nose art, stripes and markings. A final coat of clear polyurethane provides lasting protection and brilliance.
Scale:1/25 scale model
Wingspan:3.5”
Length:4”