Gemini 8 Flown Heatshield Artifact
A genuine segment of the spacecraft heatshield from Neil Armstrong's first spaceflight, the Gemini 8 capsule, attached to an 8x10 photograph.
In stock
DESCRIPTION
This heatshield section comes from Gemini 8, launched on March 16, 1966, with astronauts Neil Armstrong and David Scott aboard. The mission achieved the first successful docking of two spacecraft in orbit, a major milestone in spaceflight, before a stuck thruster caused the capsule to enter a dangerous spin. Forced to abort, the crew performed an emergency reentry into Earth’s atmosphere, relying entirely on the heatshield to protect them from temperatures exceeding 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. As the spacecraft plunged back toward the Pacific Ocean, the ablative surface burned away layer by layer, carrying off heat and ensuring the capsule’s safe descent. Though the mission ended earlier than planned, the flawless performance of the heatshield ensured the astronauts’ survival and validated the system under extreme, unplanned conditions.
Product Information:
- Flown heatshield segment
- Attached to an 8x10-inch mission photograph
- Includes a Certificate of Authenticity from The Space Collective
- Sealed and easily removed from a clear protective 8" x 10" toploader
Authenticity Information:
This artifact came with the original NASA removal tag, thus providing ironclad authenticity.
Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity:
All of our artifacts are thoroughly and extensively researched before being listed for sale, so much so that we're proud to offer a lifetime guarantee of authenticity for this and other artifacts listed throughout our website. We also hold a record of every piece we sell which can be identified and searched in our online database using the serial number listed on your certificate of authenticity.
Description
This heatshield section comes from Gemini 8, launched on March 16, 1966, with astronauts Neil Armstrong and David Scott aboard. The mission achieved the first successful docking of two spacecraft in orbit, a major milestone in spaceflight, before a stuck thruster caused the capsule to enter a dangerous spin. Forced to abort, the crew performed an emergency reentry into Earth’s atmosphere, relying entirely on the heatshield to protect them from temperatures exceeding 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. As the spacecraft plunged back toward the Pacific Ocean, the ablative surface burned away layer by layer, carrying off heat and ensuring the capsule’s safe descent. Though the mission ended earlier than planned, the flawless performance of the heatshield ensured the astronauts’ survival and validated the system under extreme, unplanned conditions.
Product Information:
- Flown heatshield segment
- Attached to an 8x10-inch mission photograph
- Includes a Certificate of Authenticity from The Space Collective
- Sealed and easily removed from a clear protective 8" x 10" toploader
Authenticity Information:
This artifact came with the original NASA removal tag, thus providing ironclad authenticity.
Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity:
All of our artifacts are thoroughly and extensively researched before being listed for sale, so much so that we're proud to offer a lifetime guarantee of authenticity for this and other artifacts listed throughout our website. We also hold a record of every piece we sell which can be identified and searched in our online database using the serial number listed on your certificate of authenticity.
