Have definitely seen these around before and am of the opinion it is a nosecone piece for a Processed Plastics-type rocket. Stands about 2 1/2 inches tall and a very hard plastic. This part may have even been intended to eject off the end ... ?
Am wondering how old it is. By 1970 the Gemini program was old hat & somewhat forgotten between the pioneering Mercury flights and the Apollo moon landings. Then again it could have been sold as an Apollo toy by companies who needed to sell their now out of vogue rockets. Almost surely made in Hong Kong which by the guide I follow says 1972 or earlier.
Pretty cool! I also have a particular fondness for the Gemini spacecraft and had wanted one of these for a while. Humanity's first truly maneuverable space-faring vehicle.
No markings anywhere. The chrome coloring is the plastic casting itself rather than a painted layer.
Pretty sure the pilots are part of that chromed casting. The other examples of this I have seen tended to lack the window which is another reason I suspect it could be ejected off the end of the rocket. That would be the first thing to go flying and crack upon a rough landing on a hard floor. Or wall collision.
Fits perfectly on a mid-sized pharmacy lid. Heck I could build them a whole rocket with those.
UPDATE: Hey my astronauts came loose! then snapped right back in no problem. The designers anticipated kids wanting to pluck them out for a look for once. No need to destroy the nice space capsule just for some decent pix:
Solid 1 piece swimsuit. I mean casting, chrome colored plastic rather then painted.
Kind of a cool pix ...
At the Gus Grissom & Ed White Memorial, Roger B. Chafee Training Center on Cestus III.
... Looks like he's straightening his tie. To meet with the President.
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