Professional Documents
Culture Documents
A p r i l 26, 1961
NOTE TO EDITORS:
Enclosed i s a press k i t d e t a i l i n g t h e f i r s t m nned Mercury
s u b - o r b i t a l launch, Mercury-Redstone 3. The m a t+-% e ftir i a l i n
fx ? % ~ - * r e T F a X E * ~ Xmvr-mebla
aTI no e a l i e r than PM's Saturday,
A p r i l 29, 1961.
The k i t c o n t a i n s eleven s e c t i o n s :
1. Mercury Redstone 3.
2. Astronaut Observations and Control Tasks During Manned Mercury
Flight
3. P i l o t P r e p a r a t i o n f o r t h e MR-3 F l i g h t .
4. MR-3 I n s i d e t h e P i l o t s Cabin.
5. Mercury Redstone Launch Vehicle.
6. Mercury MR-3 Recovery Operations.
7. P r o j e c t Mercury - A Progress Report.
0. B. Lloyd
D i r e c t o r , O f f i c e o f Public
. ... ,
NEWS R E L E A S E
NATIONAL AERONAUTCS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
I S 2 0 H S T R E E T , NORTHWEST .
W A S H I N G T O N 2 5 . D. C .
TELEPHONES: DUOLEY 2-6325 . E X E C U T I V E 3-3260
MR-3 1-2
, . . .
MR-3 1-3
MR-3 2-1
About 15 seconds after engine cutoff, the pilot announces,
"Turn around started.'' The craftus automatic pilot turns the
craft around 1800, placing the blunt end forward.
Just before Tf3 minutes, the pilot announces, "In orbit
attitude." The craft is now traveling about 4,500 m.p.h. and
eak altitude. The blunt end is pitched slightly
is neari$
upward (1 0 P
When the spacecraft is 3 minutes from the launch pad, the
pilot begins to twist and turn the control stick in his right
hand, announcing, "Hand controller movements
yaw left ... pitch up roll left yaw right
pitch down
roll
...
right." This will be done during periods when the control
stick will not be connected to the craftls control system. The
purpose of this is t o provide a study of the pilot's ability to
perform while he is in a weightless environment, H i s hand
motions will be instantaneously telemetered to the ground for
analysis after the flight,
Just after 3 minutes the astronaut announces, "Manual
control handle on," then takes control of the attitude of the
spacecraft on one axis at a time in the manual proportional
control mode. For example, he will be able to perform basic
maneuvers by manually taking control of the craft on one axis
while the remaining two axes are controlled by the automatic
pilot. He will announce, "manual pitch on ...
pitching to
retro
yaw on ...returning to orbit." He will then announce, "manual
yawing left twenty (degrees) returning right to
zero." He will then pull a third "T" handle on his instrument
panel and announce, "manual roll on rolling left to twenty
. . a
MR-3 2-2
J u s t over f o u r minuces from lift-off, he w i l l announce,
"Going high mag . o o yawing L e f t twenty ( d e g r e e s ) returning
r i g h t t o zero . . * MAR?." T h i s w i l l t e l l ground o b s e r v e r s t h a t
t h e p i l o t h a s gone t o high magnification on h i s e a r t h peri-
scope. Curvature of t h e e a y t h i s now n o t i c e a b l e and t h e
a s t r o n a u t ' s f i e l d ~f view 1 s reduced from 1900 miles t o about
80 m i l e s of t h e E a r t h t s s u r f a c e . He can s e e e a r t h landmarks
more c l e a r l y now. The p i l o t yaim h i s c r a f t , t h e n r e t u r n s t o
h i s normal ( z e r o d e g r e e s ) p o s i t i o n u s i n g h i s p e r i s c o p e f o r
r e f e r e n c e . T h i s maneuver determines t h e accuracy t o which he
can determine yaw a t t i t u d e w i t h t h e p e r i s c o p e .
About 4$ minutes from t h e launch pad, t h e p i l o t manually
p i t c h e s t h e b l u n t end up to 340, announcing " S t a r t r e t r o -
sequence . .'I
e ( t h e n , seconds l a t e r , ) " i n r e t r o a t t i t u d e on
e
manual. 11
A t a l i t t l e past f i v e r i n u t e s t h e f l i g h t i s o n e - t h i r d
over,I1 Ground monitors listel; as t h e p i l o t announces, " f i rI! e
one, ( t h e n seconds Later, " f i r e twop'' and " f i r e t h r e e ,
Three powerful s o l i d - p r o p e l l a n t r o c k e t s on t h e b l u n t
f a c e of t h e c r a f t r i p p l e - f i r e , Each burns about 10 seconds,
They w i l l be f i r e d in overlspping five-second i n t e r v a l s ,
During l a t e r o r b i t a l flights around t h e e a r t h , t h e s e r o c k e t s
w i l l be used t o brake t h e speed of t h e c r a f t , a l l o w i n g t h e
p u l l of g r a v i t y to b r i n g it back i n t o t h e atmosphere. On t h e
Redstone x u b o r b i f a l t r a i n i n g flignts, t h e y w i l l be f i r e d only
for continued q u a l i f i e a t i x i of t h e r e t r o m o t o r s and t o p r o v i d e
p i l o t s w i t h manual r e t r o f i r e c o n t r o l experience.
The p i l o t w i l l control any r e t r o f i r e misalignment t o r q u e
by t h e manual proportfcnal c o n t r o l mode, r e p o r t i n g each r e t r o -
f i r i n g and announcing t h e p r e c i s e moment a t which t h e " f i r e
r e t r o " Bight comes m on h i s i n s t m r n e n t p a n e l .
Seconds l a t e r t h e p i l o t ams t h e " r e t r o j e t t i s o n " s w i t c h
s o t h a t t h e exhausted petsosocket package w i l l be j e t t i s o n e d
through t h e automatic seqwmce,
Coming up on 6 minutes: The p i l o t announces, ''Going
f l y by w i r e . " Simultaneously he s w i t c h e s h i s c o n t r o l mode
t o l i n k h i s hand c o n t r o l L e r t o a system of e l e c t r i c a l r e l a y s
which i n t u r n o p e r a t e t h e hydrsgen-peroxide t h r u s t o u t p u t
from nozzles around t h e neck and base of t h e w a f t .
About 30 seconds l a t e r , he announces t h a t h i s r e t r o p a c k -
age has been j e t t i s o n e d , "Going HF," he t h e n says, as he
t u r n s on t h e high frequency k r a n s m i t t e r t o check its o p e r a t i o n .
MR- 3 2-3
S i x and one-half minutes: "To r e e n t r y a t t i t u d e , " he
r e p o r t s , as t h e c r a f t s t a r t s p i t c h i n g b l u n t end down t o
r e e n t r y a t t i t u d e i n response t o t h e p i l o t ' s c o n t r o l movements.
"In reentry a t t i t u d e .. ASCS ( a u t o p i l o t ) holding," he says,
as he switches from manual c o n t r o l back t o automatic p i l o t .
A few seconds l a t e r he r e p o r t s t h e automatic r e t r a c t i o n
of h i s p e r i s c o p e .
"Going UHF and s t a r t i n g hand c o n t r o l l e r movements, t h e
p i l o t says, Can he now perform manual c o n t r o l tasks as w e k l
a f t e r 4 minutes of w e i g h t l e s s n e s s as when he e n t e r e d z e r o g?
Here i s a chance t o compare h i s performance. " P i t c h down
yaw l e f t , " he says as h i s r i g h t hand moves t h e sidearm con- I1
...
t r o l l e r , " p i t c h up, r o l l l e f t ...
yaw r i g h t , r o l l r i g h t ...
Seven minutes from launch: T i m e for the touch t e s t . The
H i s eyes are c l o s e d . "Cabin a i r , I1 he s a y s
scope ... AC v o l t s ... ...
"telemetry key
oxygen warning l i g h t . . . ' I h i s f i n g e r s
...
a s t r o n a u t touches, w i t h h i s r i g h t hand, p r e s e l e c t e d i n s t r u m e n t s .
There i s a p r o t r a c t e d p e r i o d of s i l e n c e .
"Nine g 6g 3g o o o
I1
H i s v o i c e i s c l e a r and i s no l o n g e r s t r a i n e d .
"Rate of d e s c e n t and a l t i m e t e r on scale ..*
MR-3 2-4
s i x t y thousand ... f i f t y ... f o r t y ... I1
MR-3
PILOT PREPARATION FOR THE MR-3 MISSION
MR-3 3-2
T - 55 minutes: S p a c e c r a f t t e c h n i c i a n s l e a v e t h e g a n t r y
and t h e g a n t r y i s moved away from t h e launch v e h i c l e .
T - 15 minutes: M r . Walter Williams, Mercury Operation
D i r e c t o r , informs D r . Kurt Debus, that he may o b t a i n Range
Clearance f o r t h e Redstone.
T - 4 minutes: A l l s p a c e c r a f t systems a r e i n GO condi-
t i o n . Mercum Control Center i s GO on t e l e m e t w and v o i c e
communications. A t l a n t i c M i s s i l e Range i s GO on" s p a c e c r a f t C
and S ( r a d a r ) beacons. The s p a c e c r a f t ready l i g h t i s ON.
T- 2 minutes: Onboard cameras and t a p e r e c o r d e r s are
s t a r t e d . The a s t r o n a u t s e r v i n g as c a p s u l e communicator i n t h e
blockhouse announces t h a t a l l f u r t h e r communications between
t h e s p a c e c r a f t and t h e ground w i l l be by r a d i o .
T - 1 minute: Freon flow ( s p a c e c r a f t c a b i n c o o l a n t ) i s
stopped, Remaining commands a r e i n i t i a t e d by t h e T e s t Conductor.
T - 35 seconds t o l i f t - o f f -
i n r a p i d sequence: The t e s t
conductor announces "Capsule u m b i l i c a l dropped." Other con-
t r o l l e r v o i c e s announce:
"Periscppe OK"
"Vent v a l v e s closed"
"Fuel t a n k p r e s s u r i z e d ' '
"LOX tank p r e s s u r i z e d "
MR-3 3-3
. .
MR-3 - INSIDE THE PILOT'S CABIN
MR-3 4-1
The system c o n s i s t s of two i n d i v i d u a l c o n t r o l c i r c u i t s ,
namely t h e c a b i n c i r c u i t and t h e s u i t c i r c u i t , which w i l l
normally o p e r a t e for about 28 hours. Both systems are
o p e r a t e d simultaneously. The s u i t c i r c u i t i s simply i s o l a t e d
from t h e c a b i n c i r c u i t by t h e a s t r o n a u t c l o s i n g t h e f a c e p l a t e
on h i s helmet. Unless there i s a f a i l u r e i n t h e c a b i n c i r c u i t
causing loss of p r e s s u r e , t h e p i l o t ' s p r e s s u r e s u i t w i l l n o t
be i n f l a t e d .
Aeromedical I n f o r m a t i o n - Throughout t h e f l i g h t t h e
p h y s i c a l well-being of the p i l o t w i l l be monitored, The
p i l o t ' s r e s p i r a t i o n r a t e and depth, electrocardiogram, and
body temperature w i l l be t e l e m e t e r e d t o f l i g h t surgeons on
the ground.
P i l o t Communications - The a s t r o n a u t may remain i n touch
w i t h the ground through t h e u s e of high-frequency and u l t r a -
high-frequency r a d i o s , radar recovery beacons, and i f t h e
s i t u a t i o n d i c t a t e s , a command r e c e i v e r and/or a telegraph-
type code key.
Main Battery System - Three 3,000-watt-hour b a t t e r i e s
and one 1,500-watt-hour b a t t e r y are connected i n p a r a l l e l t o
provide power f o r t h e complete mission and about a 16-hour
p o s t - l a n d i n g p e r i o d . A standby backup power system of 1,500-
watt-hour c a p a c i t y i s a l s o provided. To f u r t h e r i n s u r e
r e l i a b l e o p e r a t i o n of t h e pyrotechnic system, each d e v i c e
has a completely i s o l a t e d power feed system.
Cameras - A 16mm camera i s i n s t a l l e d t o t h e l e f t of the
a s t r o n a u t ' s head t o photograph t h e i n s t r u m e n t p a n e l d i s p l a y
from launch through recovery. A p i l o t o b s e r v e r camera i s
mounted i n t h e main instrurpent p a n e l and w i l l a l s o be
o p e r a t e d from launch t h r gh recovery.
Clock - There w i l l be a c l o c k i n t h e MR-3 s p a c e c r a f t
w i t h three major separate o p e r a t i o n a l components, I, (I) a
s t a n d a r d a i r c r a f t - t y p e elapsed time clock, ( 2 ) a seconds
from launch" d i g i t a l i n d i c a t o r w i t h a manual reset, and
(3) a time-delay relay which i s t o i n i t i a t e the r e t r o -
grade f i r e sequence. %en t h e preset time has passed, t h e
r e l a y c l o s e s and a c t u a t e s t h e r e t r o g r a d e f i r e s i g n a l , a t t h e
same time sending a telemetered s i g n a l t o t h e ground.
Altimeter - The Mercury barometer altimeter i s a single-
r e v o l u t i o n i n d i c a t o r w i t h a range from sea l e v e l t o 100,000
f e e t . The d i a l f a c e w i l l have r e f e r e n c e marks a t the drogue
and main parachute deployment a l t i t u d e s .
m-3 4-2
. . -.
4-3
MERCURY REDSTONE V E H I C J Z
MR-3 5-1
The i n s t m e f i t corrlpartment, produced by t h e Marshall
Space F l i g h t Center,, houses the s e n s i t i v e c o n t r o l system.
It i s l o c a t e d betweei-, the f u e l banks and t h e s p a c e c r a f t .
Unlike the o r d i n a r y Redstone, t h i s compartment does n o t
s e p a r a t e from t h e b o o s t e r a f t e r Surnout, rather i t descends
t o the earth a t t a c h e d t o t h e p r o p u l s i o n u n i t . The s e n s i n g
or 11a b o r t " system, a l s o developed by MSFC e n g i n e e r s , g i v e s
an e l e c t r i c s i g n a l warning of p o s s i b l e t r o u b l e . I f t h i s
s i g n a l i s i v e n , i t causes (1) t e r m i n a t i o n o f launch v e h i c l e
7
t h r u s t ( 2 s e p a r a t i o n o f the s p a c e c r a f t from t h e b o o s t e r
and (31 a c t i v a t e s t h e s p a c e c r a f t ' s escape r o c k e t which
p r o p e l s the c r a f t t o a s a f e d i s t a n c e w i t h i n a f r a c t i o n of
a second.
The a b m t system s e n s s s ;Ip,d i s a c t i v a t e d by such
c o n d i t i o n s as unacceptable d e v i a t i o n s i n '&e programmed
a t t i t u d e of the r o c k e t , e x c e s s i v e turYr;Eng rates, l o s s of
t h r u s t , c r i t i c a l i r r e g u l a r i t i e s of t h r u s t or l o s s o f e l e c t r i c a l
power. I n a manned mission, the esca2e system could b e a c t i -
v a t e d by the p i l o t i n t h e s p a c e c r a f t , a-qd mavrually i n t h e
launching blockhouse m d at; t h e NASA Mercury Control Center.
The c o n t r o l system of t h e Mercury-Redstone i s l e s s
complex t h a n t h e e a r l i e r b a l l i s t i c model. T h i s system,
s i m p l e r and more r e l i a b l e thaq b e f o r e , u s e s an a z t o p i l o t
which minimizes d r i f t &..ming powered f l i g h t . Carbon vanes
l o c a t e d i n t h e j e t exhaust of t h e p r o p u l s i o n u n i t coupled
with a i r vanes are used as c o n t r o l s u r f a c e s t o mairLtain
p r o p e r a t t i t u d e . The m J o r p o r t i o n of t h i s systen was
provided by %he Ford I n s t r a n e n % Company.
I n s t r u m e n t s are i n s t a l l e d i n t h e b o o s t e r 'GO provide
and telemeter some 65 measurements surveying a l l a s p e c t s
of b o o s t e r behavior d u r i n g f l i g h t , such as a t t i t u d e ,
v i b r a t i o n , a c c e l e r a t i o n , temperature, p r e s s u r e , and t h r u s t
l e v e l . These measurements are i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e many
channels of i n f o r m a t i o n which w i l l be telemetered from t h e
s p a c e c r a f t i t s e l f during i t s journey. S e v e r a l t r a c k l n g
signals are a l s o t e l e m e t e r e d by the b o o s t e r .
Three Mercury-Redstones have been flown. The f i r s t
f i r e d on December 1g9 1960, launched a heavily-instrumented
p r o d u c t i o n Mercury spacecraf-5 oil a s u c c e s s f u l s u b o r b i t a l
f l i g h t . The t e s t v e r i f i e d the o p e r a t i o n of t h e Mercury
system i n t h e space environment.
A second v e h i c l e , launched on January 21, c a r r i e d a
chimpanzee on a s i m i l a r f l i g h t . The passenger, named Ham,
was recovered unharmed i n a t e s t t h a t proved t h e Mercury l i f e
MR-3 5-2
p p o r t system i n f l i g- h t . The t e s t d i d , hc rever, r e v e a l
s e v e r a l t r o u b l e areas Systems v i b r a t i o n , r e s u l t i n g from
the g r e a t e r l e n g t h and a l t e r e d mass d i s t r i b u t i o n of t h e
Mercury-modified Redstone, f e d i n t o the v e h i c l e ' s automatic
p i l o t and d i s t u r b e d i t s c o n t r o l system. I n a d d i t i o n , t h e
Redstone engine r a n w i t h i t s t h r o t t l e wide open, i n c r e a s i n g
the v e h i c l e ' s speed from 4,900 t o 5,300 mph. Consequently,
liquid oxygen w a s consumed a t a h i g h e r r a t e t h a n u s u a l ,
causing the engine t o c u t o f f prematurely. The r o c k e t ' s
a b o r t sensing system r e a c t e d p r o p e r l y , a c t i v a t i n g t h e
s p a c e c r a f t ' s emergency escape d e v i c e which p u l l e d t h e c r a f t
away from t h e v e h i c l e . F i r i n g o f t h e escape r o c k e t added
f u r t h e r t o t h e a l r e a d y g r e a t e r range and a l t i t u d e of t h e
craftts flight.
A s a r e s u l t of +,his f l i g h t , s t e p s were taken t o c o r r e c t
t h e problems and a t e s t of t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s of these modi-
f i c a t i o n s was conducted on March 24., when a Mercury-Redstone
c a r r y i n g a dummy s p a c e c r a f t was f i r e d from Cape Canaveral.
P r o j e c t o f f i c i a l s at the Marshall Center t e m e d t h e
t e s t an u n q u a l i f i e d success. The r o c k e t , w i t h its space-
c r a f t remaining a t t a c h e d throughout the f l i g h t , followed i t s
p r e s c r i b e d t r a j e c t o r y , reaching an a l t i t u d e of about 100
miles and a d i s t a n c e of some 400 m i l e s .
During t h e f l i g h t , the power p l a n t f u n c t i o n e d normally,
t h e v e h i c l e was w e l l c o n t r o l l e d along t h e planned t r a J e c t o r y ,
and a l l networks a r d ground equipment operated as p r o g r s m e d .
The MR-3 roclcet, asse&led a t MSFC, w i l l be launckied
by t h e Center s Launch Operations D i r e c t o r a t e .
5-3
. .- . - . .. . . .....
PROJECT MERCURY PROGRESS
.. - ~ .. . .- . ..,.
and t h e NASA and o t h e r employes a t , C a p e Canaveral, have
been on a t h r e e - s h i f t , seven-day week. A number of NASA
employes work as much as 60 hours each week.
A s w i t h a l l r e s e a r c h and development p r o j e c t s ,
Mercury has kept pace w i t h s c i e n t i f i c and t e c h n o l o g i c a l
advances as t h e work progressed, and i t s f l i g h t schedules --
now coming i n t o t h e phase of i n c r e a s i n g frequency -- have
followed a s t e a d y c o u r s e .
ORGANIZATION
P r o j e c t Mercury was born a f e w days a f t e r t h e NASA was
born October 1, 1958. It followed c l o s e l y t h e formation of
t h e NASA Space Task Group under t h e O f f i c e of Space F l i g h t
Programs.
Space Task Group, l o c a t e d a t Langley Field, V i r g i n i a ,
has a s t a f f of more t h a n TOO headed by Robert R . G i l r u t h ,
D i r e c t o r . G i l r u t h formerly was A s s i s t a n t D i r e c t o r of N A S A ' s
Langley Research Center. Walter C, Williams, Associate
D i r e c t o r , who heads Mercury f l i g h t o p e r a t i o n s , w a s drawn
from t h e F l i g h t Research Center, Edwards, C a l i f o r n i a , where
he d i r e c t e d N A S A ' s h i g h speed arid a b t i t u d e research flights.
G r e a t e s t government support of Mercury has been given
by the Department of Defense. From i t s l a r g e pool of
experienced a e r o n a u t i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g t e s t p i l o t s , NASA
s e l e c t e d i t s seven a s t r o n a u t s . The A r m y , N a v y and A i r
Force are supplying v a l u a b l e medical s e r v i c e s and p e r s o n n e l .
Each of t h e s e r v i c e s i s p r o v i d i n g communications and t r a c k i n g
equipment and f a c i l i t i e s f o r s e c t i o n s of t h e Mercury network.
By agreement-with t h e Department, t h e NASA reimburses t h e
i n d i v i d u a l armed f o r c e s f o r s e r v i c e s above t h e i r normal
operations.
The A i r Force Space Systems Command a l s o s u p p l i e s
Atlas r o c k e t b o o s t e r s and launch s e r v i c e s , a i r r e s c u e u n i t s ,
map-making and c h a r t i n g , a i r c r a f t f o r a s t r o n a u t f l i g h t and
zero G t r a i n i n g , use of t h e A t l a n t i c M i s s i l e Range, and
animal specimens for t h e space f l i g h t program.
The U . S. Army i s f u r n i s h i n g a t r a c k i n g base a t i t s
White Sands M i s s i l e Range and amphibious v e h i c l e s for
recovery needs n e a r t h e launch s i t e . The Redstone r o c k e t ,
MR-3 7-2
originally developed by the Army and now produced
by NASA and industry, is the prime launcher for Mercury
suborbital f l i g h t series.
The Navy, whose main responsibility is location,
recovery and delivery of the capsule and astronaut fol-
lowing flight, provides ships, aircraft, early warning
c r a f t , amphibious and service vessels, Marine helicopters,
and associated gear from the Atlantic fleet. The Navy is
assisting with construction and operation of tracking and
communications stations on i t s Pacific Missile Range.
Much of the progress of t h e Mercury project to date
is due to the assistance and capability of American
industry. A large share of its work has been performed
by the hundreds of contractors and subcontractors from
many segments of industry.
- end -
7-3
. ~ . .
MR-3 RECOVERY OPERATIONS
MR-3 6-1
Air Support f o r this group will be provided by Patrol
Squadron FIVE P2V's commanded by CDR T. H. CASEX, Jr.,
USN and supplemented with Air Rescue Service Aircraft.
Carrier and shore based helicopters will be provided from
the veteran recovery unit, Marine Air Group TWENTY SIX,
commanded by COL P. T. JOHNSON, USMC.
A group positioned off shore consists of two minecraft
and the USS RECOVERY (ARS 43) under the command of LCDR R.
H, TAYLOR, USN.
Another group located at Cape Canaveral consists of
numerous land vehicles and small craft from the Air Force
Missile Test Center w i l l be under the command of LT COL
Harry E. CANNON, USAF, of the Air Force Missile Test Center.
6-2
.. I
for
MR-3 8-1
m-3 8-2
IF the spacecraft does not automatically separate from
the l-ch vehicle at booster burnout, separation can be
initiated by ground command or by the astronaut. The astro-
naut can initiate separation f r o m the cockpit manually.
IF the automatic stabilization and control system (ASCS)
fails70 orient the spacecraft after separation from the
booster, the astronaut has two separate manual backup control
systems to achieve proper attitude control.
The success of the mission and the safety of the astronaut
also depend on the Life Support System, communications, and
electrical power.
IF the automatic environmental control system, which
provizs the spacecraft cabin and astronaut with oxygen and
-
temperature control, fails alternate systems can be selected
manually by the astronaut.
IF the spacecraft pressure vessel develops a leak during
flighc the astronaut I s full-pressure suit automatically
inflates to five pounds per square inch to provide a second
closed environment.
IF the system which supplies oxygen to the astronaut's
pressure suit fails, an emergency supply, which is in parallel
w i t h the normal supply, automatically cuts into the circuit.
The astronaut can start the alternate systems.
IF the spacecraft's main batteries fail during flight,
a s t a b y system of 15-hour duration capacity is activated
automatically or manually by the astronaut.
IF the astronaut's primary ultra-high frequency voice
link with the ground-tracking network fails, he may switch
to a second UHF or a high frequency channel.
IF the astronaut's microphone fails, a second mike in
paralEl with the first automatically begins to operate.
IF all voice link systems fail, the astronaut may resort
to a code key in the cockpit and use the telemetry trans-
mitters and frequencies to send messages back to the tracking
network.
IF command receiver I I A" fails, receiver "B" may be used
to rezive commands from the ground.
MR-3 8-3
IF one telemetry transmitter fails, another with four
channzs will convey aeromedical information and 90 other
different measurements to ground-tracking stations.
IF a11 telemetry transmission equipment fails, onboard
recorzrs will record and preserve data for use after recovery.
One of the most important phases of the flight is the
landing-recovery phase. Although the retro (braking) rockets
are not needed on the Redstone-boosted flights to cause reentry,
one of the objectives of these flights is to exercise the retro-
rocket system for I1 in space" qualification. This phase of the
flight begins with the establishment of the proper retrorocket
firing attitude and ends with the successful delivery of the
spacecraft akoaTd the recovery ship.
IF the automatic attitude control system does not orient
the szcecraft to the proper retrorocket firing attitude, the
astronaut in the cockpit can assume attitude control through
one of two alternate control systems.
IF the automatic timer in the cockpit does not fire the
retroGckets, they can be fired by ground command from the
Mercury Cor,trai Center, or, they can be fired by the astronaut
in the cockpit.
IF the automatic system fails to initiate Jettisoning
of tlirspent rekrorocket pack, the pilot can initiate the
sequence from $he cocmft.
IF the automatic system does not retract the periscope
befcrrreentry i n % o the atmosphere, the pilot can retract it
namally from the cwkpit.
ALL SYSTEMS ARE AUTOMATIC IN SPACECRAFT
Since each Mercury manned mission profile is to be
flow- l.lmnmn.ed before man can fly the same profile, all
systems must be designed, manufactured, and installed in
the spacecraft to operate on a completely automated basis.
Many of the primary flight actions and systems can be activated
OF controlled from the ground. However, it has not been pos-
sible to provide for ground control over all spacecraft
systems. The introduction of the astronaut - the human
observation and judgment factor - serves to enhance
operational reliability to a great degree.
For exampie, cutomated electronic equipment which controls
the initiation of the landing and recovery aids is duplicated.
These systems are installed in parallel so that failure of one
system should automatically cause a switchover to the alternate
systern.
MR-3 8-4
IF, however, t h e s e p a r a l l e l systems f a i l t o deploy t h e
s i x - f G t - d i a m e t e r drogue p a r a c h u t e a t about 21,000 f e e t , the
a s t r o n a u t i n the c o c k p i t can deploy the c h u t e manually. At
t h i s p o i n t , small s t r i p s of aluminum (radar c h a f f ) a r e
d i s p e r s e d t o provide a t a r g e t f o r radar l o c a t i o n .
I F t h e antenna c a n i s t e r , t o which t h e drogue parachute
i s a t G c h e d , i s n o t j e t t i s o n e d t o a u t o m a t i c a l l y deploy t h e
main 63-foot r i n g s a i l - t y p e l a n d i n g parachute, t h e p i l o t can
manually j e t t i s o n t h e c a n i s t e r and deploy t h e main c h u t e .
I F t h e main l a n d i n g parachute does n o t deploy o r open
p r o p e r l y , a t about 10,000 f e e t , a r e s e r v e l a n d i n g p a r a c h u t e
i s a v a i l a b l e and can be deployed by t h e a s t r o n a u t i n t h e
cockpit.
When t h e main l a n d i n g parachute i s deployed, a SOFAR
underwater bomb i s deployed over t h e side t o provide an
a u d i b l e sound l a n d i n g - p o i n t i n d i c a t i o n , and an u l t r a - h i g h
frequency SARAH r a d i o beacon begins t r a n s m i t t i n g . A can of
sea-marker dye i s deployed w i t h the r e s e r v e p a r a c h u t e and
remains a t t a c h e d t o the s p a c e c r a f t by a l a n y a r d r e g a r d l e s s
of when the r e s e r v e chute i s deployed.
On l a n d i n g , an impact switch j e t t i s o n s t h e l a n d i n g
p a r a c h u t e and i n i t i a t e s t h e remaining l o c a t i o n and recovery
aids. These i n c l u d e release of sea-marker dye w i t h t h e
r e s e r v e p a r a c h u t e i f i t has n o t p r e v i o u s l y been deployed,
t r i g g e r i n g a h i g h - i n t e n s i t y f l a s h i n g l i g h t , e x t e n s i o n of a
16-foot whip antenna and t h e i n i t i a t i o n of t h e operatioi? of
a high-frequency r a d i o beacon.
I F t h e automatic equipment f a i l s t o r e l e a s e t h e mafr,
p a r a c E t e and j e t t i s o n t h e r e s e r v e p a r a c h u t e , t h e a s t r o n a c t
i n t h e c o c k p i t can i n i t i a t e t h e systems manually.
I F the u l t r a - h i g h frequency S A W r a d i o beacon f a i l s ,
t h e h E h - f r e q u e n c y r a d i o beacon a u t o m a t i c a l l y becomes -the
primary r a d i o l o c a t i o n a i d .
I F b o t h t h e UHF SARAH beacon and t h e HF recovery beacons
fail to o p e r a t e ,
t h e a s t r o n a u t ' s UHF and HF r a d i o t r a n s m i t t e r s
become primary r a d i o l o c a t i o n aids.
I F a l l of t h e r a d i o beacon l o c a t i o n aids f a i l , t h e high-
i n t e n x t y f l a s h i n g l i g h t and sea-marker dye become v a l u a b l e
aids t o v i s u a l l o c a t i o n by s e a r c h i n g a i r c r a f t and s h i p s .
I F a f t e r l a n d i n g , t h e s p a c e c r a f t should s p r i n g a l e a k
o r =The l i f e s u p p o r t system should become f o u l e d a f t e r
MR-3 8-5
8-6
MERCURY -REDSTONE ABORT
MR-3 9-2
J O H N HERSCHEL GLENN, Jr. BIOQRAPHY
P r o j e c t Mercury Astronaut
10-1
VIRGIL I V A N GRISSOM BIOGRAPHY
P r o j e c t Mercury Astronaut
10-2
. .
10-3
- _ _ . .... . .
_-I._. .. . . . - . ..
ASTRONAUT T R A I N I N G PROGRAM SUMMARY
MR-3 11-1
MR-3 11-2
r e c t i f y i n g emergency problems while being exposed t o
environmental c o n d i t i o n s t h a t might be a s s o c i a t e d w i t h
t h e Mercury-Redstone and Mercury-Atlas p r o f i l e s . The
environmental f a c t o r s emphasized d u r i n g t h e s e programs
were a c c e l e r a t i o n , reduced cabin p r e s s u r e s , and Mercury
p r e s s u r e s u i t c o n d i t i o n , and t h e e f f e c t s of these condi-
t i o n s on a s t r o n a u t performance. The a s t r o n a u t s a l s o
r e c e i v e d a d d i t i o n a l t r a i n i n g w i t h v o i c e communications
and code. Further e v a l u a t i o n of t h e McDonnell hand
c o n t r o l l e r , Couch, c a p s u l e l i g h t i n g and instrument
d e s i g n was a l s o accomplished during these programs.
2, Weightless f l y i n g . - The a s t r o n a u t s r e c e i v e d
f a m i l i a r i z a t i o n w i t h w e i g h t l e s s n e s s by being flown as
passengers through s e v e r a l p a r a b o l i c t r a j e c t o r i e s i n
Cl31, C135, and F-100 t y p e a i r c r a f t . The d u r a t i o n s of
w e i g h t l e s s n e s s v a r i e d from 15 seconds t o a minute, and
t h e number of p a r a b o l a s p e r f l i g h t v a r i e d from 3 t o 24,
depending upon t h e t y p e of a i r c r a f t being used. Each
a s t r o n a u t has experienced approximately 40 minutes of
w e i g h t l e s s n e s s . During t h e s e f l i g h t s , data were
c o l l e c t e d on t h e a s t r o n a u t ' s a b i l i t y t o perform a simple
t r a c k i n g task, changes i n normal speech, experience i n
e a t i n g and d r i n k i n g , v i s u a l a c u i t y and v i s u a l o r i e n t a t i o n
problems for v a r i o u s body p o s i t i o n s , and p o s t w e i g h t l e s s
psychomotor , t e s t i n g .
3. Procedures t r a i n e r s . - The procedures t r a i n e r i s
a complete mockup of t h e Mercury s p a c e c r a f t w i t h o p e r a t -
i n g inst,lwments and c o n t r o l s connected t o an analog
computer t o s i m u l a t e a11 f l i g h t c o n d i t i o n s . T h i s t r a i n e r
e n a b l e s a s t r o n a u t t r a i n i n g w i t h p r a c t i c a l l y a l l of t h e
environmental v a r i a b l e s of 'che Mercury-Redstone and
Mercury-Atlas t r a j e c t o r i e s w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n of t h e
involved a c c e l e r a t i o n s . P r i m a r y emphasis has been
astronauk t r a i n i n g on t h e s p a c e c r a f t systems, o p e r a t i o n s
and procedures. Voice communications and p r e s s u r e s u i t
experience i s a l s o accomplished d u r i n g t h i s program.
Because of t h e t r a i n e r f l e x i b i l i t y , the a s t r o n a u t can
p r a c t i c e w i t h any of the c o n t r o l - d i s p l a y modes u t i l i z i n g
a v a r i e t y of r e t r o f i r e misalinement t o r q u e s and r e e n t r y
o s c i l l a t i o n s , Astronauts have c o n c e n t r a t e d on f l y i n g
Mercusy-Redstone mission s i m u l a t i o n s f o r t h e past
s e v e r a l months, but t h e y have a l s o had e x t e n s i v e t r a i n i n g
i n f l y i n g t h e Mercury-Atlas mission, c o n t r o l l i n g c a p s u l e
a t t i t u d e s and r a t e s d u r i n g r e t r o f i r e p r a c t i c e s e s s i o n s ,
and r e s o l v i n g a m u l t i t u d e of i n f l i g h t systems f a i l u r e s .
11-3
4. ALFA t r a i n e r . - The a s t r o n a u t s r e c e i v e d exten-
s i v e t r a i n i n g i n t h e A i r Lubricated F r e e Axis T r a i n e r
u t i l i z i n g a p e r i s c o p e d i s p l a y o r a window w i t h a
simulated e a r t h horizon f o r c o n t r o l l i n g a c t u a l c a p s u l e
a t t i t u d e s and rates d u r i n g o r b i t and r e t r o r o c k e t f i r i n g .
The a s t r o n a u t s c o n t r o l t h e c a p s u l e by a Reaction Control
System c o n s i s t i n g of p r e s s u r i z e d a i r r e a c t i o n c o n t r o l
n o z z l e s . The a s t r o n a u t s r e c e i v e d p e r i o d i c t r a i n i n g i n
t h e ALFA t r a i n e r f o r t h e p a s t y e a r .
5. MASTIF. - I n March 1960 t h e a s t r o n a u t s r e c e i v e d
t r a i n i n g i n t h e m u l t i p l e axes space t e s t i n e r t i a f a c i l i t y
l o c a t e d a t NASA-Lewis Research Center. The purpose of
t h e s t u d y w a s twofold: (1) t o g i v e the a s t r o n a u t s
f a m i l i a r i z a t i o n w i t h p h y s i o l o g i c a l and p s y c h o l o g i c a l
e f f e c t s of tumbling, and ( 2 ) t o r e c o v e r from tumbling
when i t occurs. A slow buildup of axes and rates was
used t o a m a x i m u m of 30 rpm r o t a t i n g about a l l three
axes. The a s t r o n a u t s i n a l l c a s e s were a b l e t o s t o p
tumbling i n a r e l a t i v e l y s h o r t p e r i o d of time, u s i n g t h e
Mercury-type r a t e i n d i c a t o r and hand c o n t r o l l e r .
6. Summary of experience i n p r e s s u r e s u i t . -The
a s t r o n a u t s have had e x t e n s i v e experience i n t h e p r e s s u r e
s u i t , a good deal of i t while undergoing t r a i n i n g f o r
Mercury-Redstone and Mercury-Atlas f l i g h t missions.
During t h e e a r l y Mercury p r e s s u r e s u i t development s t a g e ,
much of the a s t r o n a u t s ! experience i n t h e s u i t has been
concerned w i t h f i t t i n g s both a t Goodrich and Langley.
I n t h e past y e a r , however, almost a l l t h e t r a i n i n g i n
the Centrifuge, Procedures T r a i n e r s , Egress T r a i n e r ,
Environmental Control T r a i n e r a t ACEL, and weightless
f l i g h t t r a i n i n g have i n c o r p o r a t e d t h e Mercury p r e s s u r e
s u i t i n t h e o v e r a l l t r a i n i n g programs.
7. F l i g h t record. - The a s t r o n a u t s m a i n t a i n f l y i n g
p r o f i c i e n c y as part of t h e i r r e g u l a r a s t r o n a u t t r a i n i n g
a c t i v i t i e s . C u r r e n t l y two F-1061s have been a s s i g n e d t o
them f o r these purposes. The a s t r o n a u t s c o n t i n u e t o
o b t a i n r e g u l a r p r o f i c i e n c y and annual i n s t r u m e n t checks
i n T-33 a i r c r a f t assigned t o t h e Tactical A i r Command,
Langley A i r Force Base, V i r g i n i a .
MR-3 11-4