August 2013 Auction Ends Thursday, August 29th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/29/2013
Gus Grissom's calendar filled out in his hand from 1960. Grissom was chosen in 1959 as one of the original Mercury 7 - the very first astronauts of NASA. By 1961 Grissom was flying in space as pilot of the Mercury Redstone 4 mission. Calendar runs all of 1960 and features Grissom's hand notations on every sheet. Engagements include frequent dates with aerospace company McDonnell Douglas (MAC) and the Wright Air Development Center (WADC). Fascinating space career-related appointments include an ''ops staff meeting'' in February and a ''Saturn Guidance Briefing at ABMA [Army Ballistic Missile Agency]'' in March. Also in March are notes ''Leave for Huntswell with press suit'' and ''Zero 'g' at WADC''. As early as May Grissom records a ''Redstone briefing at Huntsville'' in preparation for the flight that would take place more than a year in the future. Other excellent astronaut notations throughout the year read, ''Centrifuge make up'', ''...Autopilot Meeting'', ''H2O escape'', ''FIRE'', ''Panel 2 meeting on Saturn'', ''FLT safe Rev.'', ''Procedure training F-106 trainer'', ''Possible KC-135'', ''Zero 'G''', ''Press conference''. One note reads ''All Redstone runs start centrifuge 5 dynamics in 2 + 1e & 3 static each run 16 minutes'', ''Sim Flt of MR-1 ...'' Several days are marked with the names of his colleagues, ''Coop/Shep'' and ''Gus/Deke''. Personal notes include plans with his wife Betty. Calendar was produced by aerospace firm Avco, and features black and white photos of relevant machinery. Runs 14 sheets. Spiral-bound in brown soft covers with gilt lettering. Measures 11'' x 8.75''. Light edge wear. Near fine. A scarce personal memento from the beloved Mercury 7 astronaut.
Gus Grissom's Personally Owned Date Book From 1960 -- Filled Out in His Hand With Astronaut Content -- His First Full Year as a NASA Astronaut
Click above for larger image.