Failed attempt to recover Liberty Bell 7, Atlantic Ocean, 1961 Creator: NASA

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Failed attempt to recover Liberty Bell 7, Atlantic Ocean, 1961 Creator: NASA

Failed attempt to recover Liberty Bell 7, Atlantic Ocean, 1961. After the hatch of the " Liberty Bell 7" opened prematurely, gallons of seawater entered the spacecraft. A helicopter recovery team attempted to empty the water, as seen in this photo. Seconds after this picture was taken, the Marine helicopter dropped the spacecraft because it was too heavy to continue lifting, and the capsule sank to the ocean floor. Astronaut Virgil I. Grissom was still in the water at the time, and his head is seen bobbing next to the capsule. Grissom almost drowned, but was rescued by a second helicopter before his suit filled up with too much water. The Liberty Bell 7 was eventually recovered from 15, 000 feet below the surface of the Atlantic on July 20, 1999

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Media ID 24045159

© Heritage Space/Heritage Images

Air Transport Aircraft Astronaut Atlantic Ocean Command Module Danger Dangerous Dramatic Exploration Helicopter Heritage Space Marines Mercury Project Nasa Ocean Peril Project Mercury Recovery Space Space Exploration Space Travel Spaceflight Splashdown United States Marine Corps Usmc

EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a failed attempt to recover the Liberty Bell 7 spacecraft from the depths of the Atlantic Ocean in 1961. The image showcases a dramatic moment as a helicopter recovery team desperately tries to empty gallons of seawater that had flooded into the spacecraft after its hatch opened prematurely. In this split second captured by NASA, we witness the heart-stopping moment when the Marine helicopter is forced to drop the capsule due to its overwhelming weight. Astronaut Virgil I. Grissom's head can be seen bobbing next to the sinking capsule, his life hanging in perilous balance. Miraculously, Grissom was saved from drowning by a second helicopter just moments before his suit filled with too much water. The significance of this event lies not only in its danger but also in its historical context. The Liberty Bell 7 was eventually recovered almost four decades later, on July 20th, 1999, from an astonishing depth of 15,000 feet below sea level. This powerful image serves as a reminder of humanity's relentless pursuit of space exploration and our unwavering determination even in face of adversity. It symbolizes both triumph and tragedy within America's Mercury Project and highlights the bravery exhibited by astronauts like Gus Grissom who risked their lives for scientific progress.

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