MERCURY ATLAS-1 FRAME PRESENTATION - Includes shingle fragment

THIS EXQUISITE MERCURY ATLAS-1 FRAME PRESENTATION INCLUDES FRAGMENT OF ONE OF THE ACTUAL AFTER-BODY SHINGLES RECOVERED FROM THE MA-1 SPACECRAFT.

MERCURY-ATLAS 1 (MA-1) WAS THE FIRST LAUNCH ATTEMPT OF A MERCURY CAPSULE  LAUNCHED ON JULY 29, 1960 FROM CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA. 

THE MERCURY SPACECRAFT WAS UNMANNED AND CARRIED NO LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM. THE MISSION WAS TO CONDUCT A SUBORBITAL TEST FLIGHT AND REENTRY OF THE SPACECRAFT. THE CAPSULE HAD LIVE POSIGRADE SEPARATION ROCKETS, BUT DUMMY RETROROCKETS. SEVERAL OTHER SYSTEMS WERE MISSING INCLUDING THE CABIN PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM AND THE ASTRONAUT COUCH. THE ASIS ABORT SYSTEM WAS FLOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME ON MA-1 IN OPEN-LOOP MODE, MEANING THAT THE BOOSTER PORTION WAS PRESENT, BUT NOT THE CAPSULE PORTION.