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Splashdown with G.I. Joe in 1965

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G.I. Joe’s 2001-esque trip into space was not his first time in orbit (though it was his first visit to space with lifelike hair). Back in 1965, Joe, wrapped in a foil suit, rode a Mercury capsule into imaginary outer space. Because the capsule floated, realistic splashdowns could be accomplished—as long as you could talk mom into letting you set up the inflatable pool in your bedroom, like the lucky guys in the commercial. A 45 rpm record, with sound clips from John Glenn’s orbital flight, made it even more … dare I say? … lifelike.

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