The Mercury-Atlas 2 capsule (Mercury Spacecraft No. 6) is being checked shortly after being placed onboard USS DONNER (LSD-20) at 10:09 am on February 21st. It came down in the Atlantic Ocean some 1,425 miles (2,300 km) down range. Total flight time was 17 minutes 56 seconds."
"Mercury Spacecraft #6 heat shield clearly shows the effects of re-entry heat as it is hoisted aboard the recovery ship downrang"
"Inspection of the spacecraft aboard the recovery ship indicated that the test objectives had been met and the structure and heat protection elements were in excellent condition. Further evaluation found that the spacecraft afterbody temperatures were somewhat lower than originally anticipated."
Date: February 21, 1961
NASA ID: 61-MA2-8, S64-19600, MERCA2
