Harmonica, Gemini 6
Object Details
- Manufacturer
- Hohner
- Summary
- This harmonica is part of the harmonica and bell set was carried by astronauts Walter "Wally" Schirra and Tom Stafford aboard Gemini 6 in December of 1965. The mission was to test the docking and maneuvering capability of the Gemini spacecraft.
- Approximately five hours after the successful maneuvering of the two spacecraft to within six inches of each other, astronauts Schirra and Stafford played "Jingle Bells" with these instruments and pretended to be a UFO called Santa Claus.
- Ever the test pilot, Schirra reported that before he donated the instrument to the Smithsonian, he had "retested the harmonica and it performs quite well." He gave it to the Museum in 1967.
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- See more items in
- National Air and Space Museum Collection
- Location
- National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
- Exhibition
- Destination Moon
- Credit Line
- Donated by Walter M. Schirra, Jr.
- Data Source
- National Air and Space Museum
- Inventory Number
- A19670148000
- Type
- PERSONAL EQUIPMENT-Personal Items
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Materials
- Steel, Wood, Nylon, Velcro, Nickel Plating, Varnish, Paint
- Dimensions
- 3-D (Harmonica): 4 × 1.3 × 1cm (1 9/16 × 1/2 × 3/8 in.)
- Other (String): 1.5 × 13cm (9/16 in. × 5 1/8 in.)
- Record ID
- nasm_A19670148000
Small metallic harmonica with dental floss and Velcro tether; played by astronauts Schirra and Stafford during flight of Gemini 6 on Dec.15-16, 1966.
