Segment of heatshield from Scott Carpenter's Aurora 7 capsule flown on the Mercury-Atlas 7 mission, attested to by NASA employee William R. 'Bill' Whipkey. The segment is in the shape of a thin triangle, measuring 4.25″ x .75″ x .625″. Accompanied by handwritten letter of provenance signed by Whipkey, in full: "Mercury 7 Heatshield. This section of aft heatshield is from Mercury Capsule #18, 'Aurora 7' Scott Carpenter, Pilot. Given to me in mid 1962 and has been in my possession ever since." Whipkey was a NASA Production Control Engineer who created many displays and presentation pieces for the astronauts, and was often given flown mementos in exchange for his work.
