The mystery surrounding Liberty Bell 7
September 12th 2007 06:12
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July 21 1961 Astronaut Virgil I. (Gus) Grissom was strapped in Mercury-Redstone and ready to be the second American in space. Gus Grissom made the 16 minute sub orbital flight and landed in the Atlantic Ocean.
This particular space flight was enveloped in controversy after the near drowning of astronaut and the subsequent sinking of the capsule 15000 feet below the Atlantic Ocean some 3000 feet deeper than the Titanic. It was the only manned spacecraft that NASA never recovered. And remained missing for 38years until found and recovered in July1999.
Shortly after landing in the ocean Grissom radioed the helicopter to begin the approach for pickup. After completing landing procedures he removed the pin that would activate the hatch opening mechanism and remained seated in the capsule. Shortly there after he recalls hearing a dull thud “I was lying there, minding my own business," he said at the time the hatch had blown away filling the capsule with sea water at an alarming rate and beginning to sink. He managed to get out of the spacecraft but in the confusion the relief valve in his suit was open filling his bouncy suit with sea water. Two helicopters were in position one had a line on the spacecraft and the other managed to pick up the astronaut.
The capsule recovery helicopter was struggling to lift the almost submerged spacecraft out of the ocean and was cut loose.
Mystery remains to this day whether Gus blew the hatch prematurely or it was caused by some other unknown reason. Grissom had difficulty recollecting his actions at this point, but he was certain that he had not touched the hatch-activation plunger.
After the salvage operation in July 1999 the space was located at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean and raised to the surface.
The Mercury spacecraft remained in good condition the control panel was damaged a roll of movie film was recovered but had been severely damaged by long emersion in salt water that no information could be recovered. It was hoped that the film would provide some information on why the hatch blew out prematurely.
The sinking was a setback on the career of Grissom, one of the original Mercury 7 astronauts. Some speculate that Grissom panicked and prematurely blew the hatch, but that was never proven and he denied it. In an interview he had given on April 12, 1965 that in his opinion the premature hatch explosion was caused by the exterior lanyard being loose and became entangled in the landing bag straps while in the water.
At that time it was held in place by only one screw. Subsequently a better method of securing the lanyard was devised for future Mercury missions.
The mystery remains unsolved unfortunately (Gus) Grissom and two other astronauts were killed in the tragic fire of Apollo 1.
Images: NASA/ Newport
This particular space flight was enveloped in controversy after the near drowning of astronaut and the subsequent sinking of the capsule 15000 feet below the Atlantic Ocean some 3000 feet deeper than the Titanic. It was the only manned spacecraft that NASA never recovered. And remained missing for 38years until found and recovered in July1999.
Shortly after landing in the ocean Grissom radioed the helicopter to begin the approach for pickup. After completing landing procedures he removed the pin that would activate the hatch opening mechanism and remained seated in the capsule. Shortly there after he recalls hearing a dull thud “I was lying there, minding my own business," he said at the time the hatch had blown away filling the capsule with sea water at an alarming rate and beginning to sink. He managed to get out of the spacecraft but in the confusion the relief valve in his suit was open filling his bouncy suit with sea water. Two helicopters were in position one had a line on the spacecraft and the other managed to pick up the astronaut.
Guss Grissom about to boarding the Mercury capsule
Helicopter trying to rase the space craft
After the salvage operation in July 1999 the space was located at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean and raised to the surface.
The Mercury spacecraft remained in good condition the control panel was damaged a roll of movie film was recovered but had been severely damaged by long emersion in salt water that no information could be recovered. It was hoped that the film would provide some information on why the hatch blew out prematurely.
Liberty Bell 7 at the bottom of the ocean
The sinking was a setback on the career of Grissom, one of the original Mercury 7 astronauts. Some speculate that Grissom panicked and prematurely blew the hatch, but that was never proven and he denied it. In an interview he had given on April 12, 1965 that in his opinion the premature hatch explosion was caused by the exterior lanyard being loose and became entangled in the landing bag straps while in the water.
At that time it was held in place by only one screw. Subsequently a better method of securing the lanyard was devised for future Mercury missions.
Liberty Bell 7 salvaged
The mystery remains unsolved unfortunately (Gus) Grissom and two other astronauts were killed in the tragic fire of Apollo 1.
Images: NASA/ Newport
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