Mercury-Redstone 4 (Liberty Bell 7)
Vehicle: Redstone | Launch Site: Cape Canaveral, LC-5 (Redstone) / LC-14 (Atlas)
Mission Overview
Mercury-Redstone 4 (Liberty Bell 7) was a critical step in America's path to the stars. Gus Grissom's suborbital flight. The spacecraft hatch blew prematurely after splashdown, causing the capsule to sink. The mission demonstrated the engineering capability of the Mercury capsule, designed by McDonnell Aircraft, and built critical experience in tracking, ground control, and capsule recovery in the Atlantic Ocean. This flight contributed to the data required to validate launch vehicle performance and human survivability in extreme environments.
Multimedia Gallery
Official NASA historical record photography for Mercury-Redstone 4 (Liberty Bell 7).