Ablation heat shield test.
Launched 3:19am. September 9,1959.
This flight, launched by Atlas 10-D, was to test the Ablative type heatshield, and was done in strict secrecy.
The lower section of the capsule was constructed by "LEWIS", and the upper by Langley workshops, and was the pre-cursor for the prototype capsules used in the Little Joe series. The plaque states "- the upper two sections were made here at Langley".
The "Big Joe" Capsule is currently at the Garber Facility, Suitland, Maryland, which is the storage/restoration Facility for the Smithsonian air and space museum. Tours are provided daily from 10 am, and last 3 hours, and have to be booked at least 2 weeks before. The capsule is listed as being on display in hanger 23, but artifacts are removed from display for renovation, so check first. If anyone has been there and seen this capsule on display, could you send me details of the tour. Photography "is" allowed, But we need to get the tape measure on this one!!.
It may be that this capsule will be displayed at the new Dulles airport museum when it opens, and will probably end up behind perspex.
photo courtesy David Weeks>
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If further details are required please contact me. peter.mcquillan@virgin.net