| A MA-8 launch cover from "SpaceCraft" postmarked at Cape Canaveral on October 3, 1962, signed by Walter Schirra. |
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| Photo: Walter Schirra, fully suited, climbs into his MA-8 capsule. | |
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| Photo: Schirra captured in his Mercury spacecraft during the spaceflight, as seen from an onboard camera. |
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| Top: A MA-8 cover from "Space City" 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 MA-8 cover from "Space City" postmarked at Houston on October 3, 1962, signed by Walter Schirra. |
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| Photo: The primary recovery ship for MA-8, USS Kearsarge. |
| A MA-8 Crew Cover (Type 3) featuring a variation of the USS Kearsarge machine cancel, where the time is positioned above the date in the postmark. Signed by Walter Schirra. |
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| 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. | |
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| A MA-8 Captain's Cover from USS Kearsarge featuring the ship's cachet and Captain's corner card. The cover is hand-canceled and signed by the commanding officer, Captain E. P. Rankin. |
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| Photo: Walter Schirra shares his spaceflight experience with NASA officials and fellow astronauts aboard the USS Kearsarge. |
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| 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. |
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| Photo: Walter Schirra speaks at a news conference on October 7, 1962, following his successful Mercury-Atlas 8 (Sigma 7) mission. |














