1962-10-03 USA Mercury Atlas MA-8 (Sigma 7)

Mercury-Atlas 8 (Sigma 7) cover from "SpaceCraft," postmarked at Cape Canaveral on October 3, 1962, the day of the launch for the third U.S. manned orbital flight. This cover is signed by Wally Schirra.
Photo: Walter Schirra, fully suited, climbs into his MA-8 capsule.
Photo: Schirra captured in his Mercury spacecraft during the spaceflight, as seen from an onboard camera.
Top: A "Space City" cachet cover, postmarked at Cape Canaveral on October 3, 1962, signed by Wally Schirra. This cover reflects the change in the post office name from Port Canaveral to Cape Canaveral on September 1, 1962.
Bottom: A "Space City" cachet cover, postmarked at Houston on October 3, 1962, signed by Wally Schirra.
Photo: The primary recovery ship for MA-8, USS Kearsarge.
A cover from the USS Kearsarge recovery ship, featuring the ship's cachet and the captain's corner card. This cover was machine canceled on October 3, 1962, and is signed by the commanding officer, E. P. Rankin, and astronaut Wally Schirra.
A cover featuring a variation of the USS Kearsarge machine cancel, where the time is positioned above the date in the postmark.
Photo: Walter Schirra being recovered along with his Sigma 7 capsule. Schirra is seen emerging from the capsule on the deck of the USS Kearsarge.
USS Kearsarge recovery ship Captain's cover featuring the ship's cachet and Captain's corner card. The cover is hand-canceled and signed by the commanding officer, E. P. Rankin.
Photo: Walter Schirra shares his spaceflight experience with NASA officials and fellow astronauts aboard the USS Kearsarge.
The first Morris W. Beck Naval covers, featuring cachets no. 77, 78, and 79, were created for spaceflight missions. However, no covers were produced for the USS Kearsarge.
Photo: Walter Schirra speaks at a news conference on October 7, 1962, following his successful Mercury-Atlas 8 (Sigma 7) mission.