In 1959, NASA publicly announced the first seven American astronauts who flew operations for Project Mercury from a pool of military test pilots for their exceptional skills, courage, and physical endurance. Among them were Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard, and Deke Slayton. Their striking silver space suits and white helmets became iconic symbols of America's early space exploration endeavors, captivating the imagination of the nation and the world as they embarked on historic missions to push the boundaries of human exploration beyond Earth's atmosphere.
Retro51 is proud to partner with the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation to launch the Mercury 7 Commemorative Rollerball Pen. In celebration of ASF's 40th Anniversary, we share this limited-edition Tornado™ designed after the futuristic space suits that captured the public's attention. Details from the suit have been replicated onto the pen barrel with acid-etching and printing complete with white accents mimicking the astronaut's helmet and boots.
They are engraved with a LE number of the 1958 rollerballs produced and topped with ASF's logo on the finial. The illustration of the Mercury 7 on the packaging tube is reminiscent of the iconic photo of the astronauts in their suits and is printed against a metallic silver to complete the beauty of this special writing instrument. Continue to reach for the stars with the Mercury 7 Astronaut pen and honor the brave men and women who made such achievements possible.
2024 marks the 40th anniversary of the formation of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF). This non-profit was created in 1984 by the Mercury 7 astronauts to encourage university students to pursue scientific excellence and ensure the United States would remain the global leader in science and technology for decades to come. That partnership continues to be carried on by astronauts of subsequent missions and has grown to one of the largest merit based scholarships of its kind.
Retro51 is proud to partner with the ASF to honor and support the brave men and women who made such achievements possible and who continue to reach for the stars.
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