Liberty Bell 7: Grissom's Near-Fatal Space Mission
The Fateful Launch
Dubbed "Liberty Bell 7" by its pilot, Virgil Grissom, the Mercury capsule embarked on a historic mission on July 21, 1961. As the second manned suborbital flight for the United States, MR-4 carried Grissom through a nearly flawless journey.
The Drowning Incident
However, disaster struck during the splashdown. The capsule sank 15,000 feet into the Atlantic, trapping Grissom inside. The hatch prematurely blew due to unknown reasons, nearly drowning the astronaut. Marines raced to rescue him, but the capsule remained submerged for hours before Grissom was pulled to safety.
The Controversial Hatch Incident
The failure of the hatch on Liberty Bell 7 raised questions about Grissom's handling of the situation. Some speculated that he inadvertently triggered the mechanism, while others believed it was a design flaw. The incident cast a shadow over the early days of the U.S. space program and raised concerns about astronaut safety.
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