41. [Mercury Redstone 4] PORTRAIT OF GUS GRISSOM IN FRONT OF THE ILL-FATED LIBERTY BELL 7 BEFORE LAUNCH NASA, 21 July 1961 Printed 1961. Vintage gelatin silver print on fibre-based paper [NASA image 61-MR4-76]. With NASA caption numbered "61-MR4-76" on the reverse (issued by NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C.). 20.3 x 25.4 cm. (8 x 10 in.) Historical context Ready for launch: on level three of the gantry at Pad 5, "Gus" Grissom pauses briefly for a striking portrait while fellow astronaut John Glenn and a technician complete final adjustments inside the Liberty Bell 7 spacecraft before liftoff. The mission was successful, with Grissom flying 118 miles into space, but tragedy struck when the Liberty Bell 7 sank upon landing. Grissom was rescued, exemplifying the extraordinary courage and resilience of the early space pioneers. Unfortunately, six years later, Grissom lost his life in the Apollo 1 fire. The craft's large trapezoidal observation window can be seen behind the pilot. The Pilot Observer Camera, which brought the Astronaut's head and shoulders into view, was to reflect the lights on the flight events sequence panel through the 5-inch Plexiglas parabolic mirror attached to Grissom's suit to provide and accurately time record the pilot's voice communications, eye scan pattern and arm motions.