April 2022 Auction Ends Thursday, April 28th, 5pm Pacific

Large Sample of Parachute Fabric Used on Mercury-Redstone 3 During Splashdown

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/28/2022

Sample of the parachute fabric used in the Mercury-Redstone 3 mission, safely carrying the capsule holding Alan Shepard to safety during splashdown on 5 May 1961. Large 2-ply sample measures 7.75'' x 9.25'', given to Congressman James G. Fulton from J.P. Stevens & Co., Inc., the company that manufactured the material. In a letter dated 19 September 1961, the head of J.P. Stevens writes to Fulton in part, ''...knowing your interest in America's space achievements, I am enclosing a small sample of the parachute cloth the Stevens Company manufactured for use in the Mercury space project. The parachute used in the Shepard flight, I understand, is in the Smithsonian Institute...'' The fabric also comes with a card describing it as ''International Orange'' in color, a ''triple strength selvedge rip-stop nylon parachute fabric...identical to that used in the parachute which floated the Mercury capsule containing Commander Shepard to earth. In this fabric, the selvedges act as leading and trailing edge of an airfoil...'' Fabric display measures 9.5'' x 12.125''. Light wear, overall near fine condition.