Scheduled for Nov 16, 2025Join us for a conversation with Curt Newport about the challenges of deep-ocean recovery, the story of how his team brought Liberty Bell 7 back to the surface, and what this remarkable achievement means for preserving the legacy of America’s first astronauts.On July 21, 1961, NASA astronaut Virgil “Gus” Grissom became the second American in space when he piloted the Mercury capsule Liberty Bell 7. After a successful suborbital flight and splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean, a prematurely jettisoned hatch caused the capsule to flood and unexpectedly sink, disappearing nearly three miles below the surface. Grissom was rescued (and was later recovered by Intrepid after his Gemini III mission in 1965), but for decades, Liberty Bell 7 remained one of America’s most elusive space artifacts.In 1999, using modern technology under the direction of deep-sea salvage expert Curt Newport, a specialized team successfully located and raised Liberty Bell 7 from the ocean floor after 38 years. The capsule was restored and is now preserved at the Cosmosphere in Kansas, offering a rare glimpse into the early days of human spaceflight.-----------------------------------------Check out Curt's Book, "Ready to Dive: Five Decades of Adventure in the Abyss"📖 https://amzn.to/3JJZ42O (affiliate link)-----------------------------------------The event is produced by Kevin Michael Reed, hosted and co-produced by Elysia Segal of Intrepid Museum and John Galloway of NSF - NASASpaceflight.com.You can find more information here: https://intrepidmuseum.org/virtual-astro-live-november-16
Scheduled for Nov 16, 2025Join us for a conversation with Curt Newport about the challenges of deep-ocean recovery, the story of how his team brought Liberty Bell 7 back to the surface, and what this remarkable achievement means for preserving the legacy of America’s first astronauts.On July 21, 1961, NASA astronaut Virgil “Gus” Grissom became the second American in space when he piloted the Mercury capsule Liberty Bell 7. After a successful suborbital flight and splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean, a prematurely jettisoned hatch caused the capsule to flood and unexpectedly sink, disappearing nearly three miles below the surface. Grissom was rescued (and was later recovered by Intrepid after his Gemini III mission in 1965), but for decades, Liberty Bell 7 remained one of America’s most elusive space artifacts.In 1999, using modern technology under the direction of deep-sea salvage expert Curt Newport, a specialized team successfully located and raised Liberty Bell 7 from the ocean floor after 38 years. The capsule was restored and is now preserved at the Cosmosphere in Kansas, offering a rare glimpse into the early days of human spaceflight.-----------------------------------------Check out Curt's Book, "Ready to Dive: Five Decades of Adventure in the Abyss"📖 https://amzn.to/3JJZ42O (affiliate link)-----------------------------------------The event is produced by Kevin Michael Reed, hosted and co-produced by Elysia Segal of Intrepid Museum and John Galloway of NSF - NASASpaceflight.com.You can find more information here: https://intrepidmuseum.org/virtual-astro-live-november-16-geometry dash lite
Quote It’s amazing to think that 38 years after Liberty Bell 7 sank, a team was able to locate and recover it from the deep ocean. Beyond the technical feat, it’s also a reminder of how important it is to preserve our space history. I’m looking forward to Curt Newport’s insights on both the challenges and the significance of this recovery.
It’s amazing to think that 38 years after Liberty Bell 7 sank, a team was able to locate and recover it from the deep ocean. Beyond the technical feat, it’s also a reminder of how important it is to preserve our space history. I’m looking forward to Curt Newport’s insights on both the challenges and the significance of this recovery.
