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Flown Gemini 3 sterling silver Fliteline medallion, 1˝ in diameter, with the front depicting the GT-3 capsule ("The Molly Brown") floating in the ocean, encircled by the names of the astronauts, "Virgil I. Grissom" and "John W. Young"; the reverse features the name of the mission in raised text, "GT-3," and is engraved with its date, "March 23, 1965." Marked "Sterling" along the lower edge. In mint condition.
Less than three months after the flight of Alan Shepard's Freedom 7, Gus Grissom earned the distinction of becoming the second American to reach space when his Liberty Bell 7 launched on July 21, 1961. However, unlike the successful splashdown of Shepard, the premature opening of Grissom’s capsule's hatch upon Atlantic touchdown nearly led to his drowning. Having already unbuckled most of his harnessing, Grissom was able to quickly free himself and escape from the sinking craft. After four to five minutes of treading water, an exhausted and relieved Grissom was lifted aboard a recovery helicopter. For his subsequent Gemini 3 mission, Grissom playfully named the spacecraft 'Molly Brown,' in reference to the Titanic's 'The Unsinkable Molly Brown' and his own harrowing experience.
