Lost spacecraft : The search for Liberty Bell 7 / by Curt Newport; introduction by Tom Hanks

Over the centuries the ocean has swallowed many of the works of mankind, most never to be seen again. In 1961 Liberty Bell 7 was added to the accumulated treasures of the Atlantic’s floor. Sunk at a location not precisely known more than 16,000 feet down, it was the only Mercury spacecraft not to return home. 38 years later Curt Newport lived his long time dream when, with the help of expert associates and state-of-the-art technology, he located and raised the capsule from its ocean floor resting place. The story of the finding, raising and restoring of Liberty Bell 7 is told here from Curt Newport’s unique perspective. Today the fully restored Liberty Bell 7 is on a national tour and will eventually be on permanent display at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, a testament to the amazing human undertakings and technologies of both the 1960s and the 1990s. The details my expedition to find and recover Gus Grissom's Liberty Bell 7 Mercury spacecraft from 16,000 feet of water in the Atlantic Ocean. Also included are descriptions of Project Mercury, the inner workings of the Mercury spacecraft, development of underwater technology, and background on the astronaut, Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom who flew the spacecraft during America's second manned space mission on July 21, 1961.

Describes how the paths of two men, one living and one dead, crossed in the recovery of the Liberty Bell 7 spacecraft.

CD-ROM contains technical drawings and the recovery operations log.

Introduction Preface Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Author's Note Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Appendix E Appendix F Appendix G About the Author Library of Congress Summary CD-ROM contains technical drawings and the recovery operations log