Flight-flown explosive bolt used on MR-2 (12), which carried Ham the Chimp on January 31, 1961. Bolt measures 1.75” long and is attached by wire to two identification tags. Red tag is an inspection hold tag bearing notations on the reverse which read, “41-700-213, Fired in capsule #5, 01/31/61, (Project Mercury) (Ham’s Capsule),” and a white tag with pencil notations reading “Delivered by HMR (c)-262, Space Craft Movers for the US, Flown,” and ink notations which read “Flown with Ham, Saved from my NASA work, Sam Beddingfield, NASA #4.” Accompanied by a letter and certificate of authenticity, both signed by Sam Beddingfield, a NASA mechanical engineer throughout the Mercury program, who retrieved the bolt after the mission. Also accompanied by a photo of Beddingfield holding the bolt. RRAuction COA.
