RIP John Glenn

[Smollet]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38257445

[CrutyRammers]

Proper pioneers, those mercury guys.

[Eric Mc]

For once I won't complain that there are three threads on the same topic.

A great man who had a long and fruitful life.

[Blaster72]

First American to orbit the Earth and the record for the oldest man in space. That's some CV to take to your final resting place.

Sadly he was the last of the Mercury 7 to leave us, they really were a special breed. I can't imagine being stuck inside that capsule for 5 hours or so and blasted out into orbit. I believe he was only the third man up in one of those capsules too.

[Eric Mc]

When you get to see one of these capsules in the flesh, you realise how tiny they were.



However, I think the greatest feat of endurance in manned spaceflight for me was the 14 days spent on board Gemini 7 in 1965. Although the Gemini was a two seater, it was actually more cramped inside than the Mercury and the idea of spending a fortnight stuck in that thing with hardly any ability to move (and no loo) is horrendous.

[Equus]

Eric Mc said:

When you get to see one of these capsules in the flesh, you realise how tiny they were.

Gotta love the gaffer tape.

Of course, being red, it must be special NASA gaffer tape and will have cost several $million to develop.

[mac96]

Back in the 60s I had an Action Man Space Capsule; I always thought it was underscale, like Action Man road vehicles . Looking at those pictures it was probably about right. I would be like sitting in a closed in Caterham but with a different view. Astonishing achievements.

[Blaster72]

Superb photos thanks Eric, totally agree.

[Eric Mc]

Although when we look at Apollo space capsules today we think they are small, after Mercury and Gemini, American astronauts loved all the extra space they provided.