Gus Grissom’s Hand Controller

Right hand controller given to Gus Grissom after the mission by Mercury astronaut Gordon Cooper and the Cape crew as a symbol of solidarity and support to Gus’ assertion that he did not blow the hatch prematurely. He was subject to much speculation at the time, and a formal NASA accident review panel cleared his name, that it was likely an equipment malfunction rather than human error. But unsupported assertions that he panicked haunted him for the rest of his career, even arising in Thomas Wolfe’s book The Right Stuff.

On this 60th anniversary of his flight and sunken capsule, new research further exonerates him from the scapegoating he suffered, blaming static discharge from the helicopter connection, not human error, for the hatch blow.

Front of the base bears an engraved brass plaque which reads: “Presented to Gus Grissom, Astronaut for Liberty Bell 7, by the Cape crew of Faith 7 at the request of Gordon Cooper. L. O. 21 July 1961 0720 E.S.T.; Landing: 0735 E.S.T. Ht. 102.8 NM; Distance: 263 NM.”