Mercury-Redstone Rocket — Handmade Metal Display Model
Mercury-Redstone Rocket — Handmade Metal Display Model
Model details
- Construction
- Handcrafted
- Collection
- Aviation Models - Airplanes Models
- Item no.
- AJ126
The rocket that carried the first American into space, in hand-formed metal.
Handcrafted as a full stack with the Mercury capsule and escape tower above the Redstone booster, with fin, engine and panel detail.
Details
- Handcrafted metal construction
- Full stack with Mercury capsule and escape tower
- Tail fins, engine and booster detail
- Hand-finished surfaces
- Ready to display
The rocket
Redstone was a direct descendant of the German V-2, developed by Wernher von Braun's team at Huntsville. It was never powerful enough to reach orbit — it could only throw a capsule up and let it fall back — which is why Alan Shepard's flight on 5 May 1961 lasted just over fifteen minutes and never went around the Earth.
Shepard sat strapped in through hours of delays, eventually asked permission to relieve himself in the suit, and was told to go ahead. The first American in space made his flight lying on his back in a puddle.