THOMARIOS was honored to undertake the meticulous restoration of the historic Atlas rocket, the launch vehicle for USAF Major Gordon Cooper’s Mercury-Atlas 9 mission. This monumental task underscores our commitment to preserving aerospace history and showcases our expertise in the restoration of historically significant artifacts. The Atlas rocket, representing a pivotal moment in U.S. space history, was Major Gordon Cooper’s vehicle for the Mercury-Atlas 9 mission on May 15-16, 1963. This mission marked the final and longest flight of the Mercury program, with Major Cooper orbiting Earth 22 times over more than 34 hours. During this mission, aboard the spacecraft named Faith 7, he experienced six times the force of gravity and reached speeds exceeding 17,000 miles per hour. The restoration of this Atlas rocket by THOMARIOS was aimed at bringing this significant piece of space exploration history back to its former glory. The process involved intricate refurbishments, ensuring that every component of the rocket mirrors the operational and aesthetic conditions of its original state in 1963. Upon completion, the restored Atlas rocket was put as a centerpiece display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. It will serve as a tribute to Major Gordon Cooper’s contributions to space exploration and the technological advancements of the Mercury program. THOMARIOS was proud to play a pivotal role in preserving and showcasing this iconic artifact. This project not only celebrates the achievements of Major Gordon Cooper and the Mercury program but also inspires future generations to explore the boundaries of human potential and innovation.
THOMARIOS completed a similar project for the New York Hall of Science in 2003. THOMARIOS restored a 100-foot-long Titan rocket, its Gemini capsule, a F-1 rocket engine from the Saturn V as well as a BA-1 Mercury capsule and its 95-foot Atlas Rocket. These artifacts had been on display since the 1964 Worlds Fair and an extensive amount of deterioration took a toll on these artifacts. THOMARIOS decided to ship these back to Akron, Ohio for a complete restoration. Once these pieces arrived, THOMARIOS disassembled the rockets, replicated deteriorated components and strengthened their interior structures. After all the surfaces were prepared and applied with new corrosion resistant coatings, they were returned to the New York Hall of Science, where they were erected and placed on display at Rocket Park in Corona, New York.
