25/05/2026
On this day in 1962, Scott Carpenter became the second American to orbit the Earth. He was squeezed into the Aurora 7 capsule, which, let’s be honest, wasn't much bigger than a garden shed and packed with more toggle switches than a 1960s radio. I certainly could not think of anything worse.
It’s easy to forget how "low-tech" it all felt back then. No touchscreens or sleek computers, just pure engineering and a lot of bravery. The Cold War was really heating up, and every one of these Mercury missions was a massive statement in the Space Race. Carpenter spent nearly five hours up there, seeing the world from a perspective most of us can only dream of.
We’ve always been fascinated by this era of machinery. It’s that raw, hands-on technology where you can actually see how things work: the kind of stuff we try to preserve here. It’s amazing what they achieved with what looks like fairly simple kit by today's standards.
If you’re interested in the bits and pieces that made the Cold War era what it was, come on down and have a look at our collection. We’re always happy to have a chat about the history of it all. I
Just come on down as they say.
