XOtLC'L; ?!J.- .

-.-i

TECHNICAL I\rlEMORANDUM
X-422

4
FULL-SCALE FLIGHT TEST FROM SEA LEVEL O F AIg ABORT-ESCAPE

SYSTEM FOR A PR0,JECT MERCURY CAPSULE

By Willard S. Blanchard, Jr., and James L. IZaper

Langley Research Center

Langley Field, Va.

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

WASHlb:GTON October 1960

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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM X-422

FULL-SCALE FLIGHT TEST FROM SEA LEVEL OF AN ABORT-ESCAPE

SYSTEM FOR A PROJECT MERCURY CAPSULE*

By Willard S. Blanchard, Jr., and James L. Raper

Declassified by authority of NASA

SUMMARY classificat.on Change Notices NO--fL3--
Dated **-h,b/bq-
A system designed t o provide safe escape f o r a P r o j e c t Mercury
manned space capsule during t h e atmospheric p a r t of t h e boosted f l i g h t
has been t e s t e d i n free f l i g h t t o determine i t s a b i l i t y t o f u n c t i o n
s a t i s f a c t o r i l y i n t h e event of b o o s t e r r o c k e t malfunction a t , o r near,
t a k e - o f f . The c o n f i g u r a t i o n t e s t e d was a geometrically similar f u l l -
s c a l e model of t h e P r o j e c t Mercury capsule and escape system. The
capsule was a body of r e v o l u t i o n c o n s i s t i n g of a l a r g e t r u n c a t e d cone
w i t h a spherical-segment base a t t h e l a r g e diameter and a c y l i n d r i c a l
c a n i s t e r surmounted by a s m a l l t r u n c a t e d cone a t t h e small end. The
escape system, c o n s i s t i n g of a tower t o which w a s mounted t h e escape
rocket motor, was a t t a c h e d t o t h e s m a l l end of t h e capsule. A s m a l l
drogue parachute was used t o deploy a l a r g e parachute which provided
t h e low sinking rate r e q u i r e d f o r safe landing.

The escape system performed s a t i s f a c t o r i l y . Maximum a l t i t u d e

a t t a i n e d was 1,950 f e e t . The main parachute provided a t sea l e v e l a
s t a b i l i z e d sinking r a t e of about 28 feet p e r second. The a c c e l e r a t i o n s
throughout t h e f l i g h t were w i t h i n t h e t o l e r a n c e s of a p r o p e r l y p o s i -
t i o n e d and supported human. The m a x i m u m sound l e v e l w i t h i n t h e capsule
(which was n o t i n s u l a t e d ) w a s approximately 144 d e c i b e l s during escape
motor t h r u s t i n g .

INTRODUCTION

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration i s devoting con-

s i d e r a b l e e f f o r t t o t h e design of v e h i c l e s capable of safe manned o r b i t a l
space f l i g h t and r e t u r n . One such v e h i c l e i s the P r o j e c t Mercury one-
man space capsule. This v e h i c l e c o n s i s t s of a conical-shaped capsule
. which w i l l be mounted atop a l a r g e b o o s t e r rocket motor. The capsule
w i l l r e e n t e r t h e e a r t h ' s atmosphere l a r g e end forward i n o r d e r t o allow
i t s l a r g e b l u n t h e a t s h i e l d t o absorb t h e high h e a t i n g rates a s s o c i a t e d
b w i t h r e e n t r y from o r b i t . I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e high h e a t i n g rates involved,
high d e c e l e r a t i o n s r e s u l t i n g from aerodynamic drag w i l l be p r e s e n t during
*T i t l e , Unclassified.
V
 2

r e e n t r y . This, i n t u r n , r e q u i r e s t h a t t h e occupant be supported i n a .L

semisupine p o s i t i o n with r e s p e c t t o t h e l o n g i t u d i n a l axis of t h e capsule,

i n o r d e r t o withstand the r e s u l t a n t high loads. It i s required, t h e r e -
f o r e , i n order t o avoid excessive loads i n an adverse ( o t h e r than supine)
d i r e c t i o n on t h e occupant during t h e boosted, o r a c c e l e r a t i n g , p o r t i o n
of t h e f l i g h t , t h a t t h e capsule be mounted small end upstream during
t h e boosted p a r t of t h e f l i g h t .

It i s imperative t h a t a v e h i c l e such as t h e Mercury capsule have a

system capable of providing safe escape f o r t h e capsule i n case of m a l -
function p r i o r t o t h e take-off or during t h r u s t i n g of t h e booster rocket.
During a r e l a t i v e l y l a r g e p o r t i o n of t h e boosted f l i g h t , where dynamic
p r e s s u r e i s high, a s t a b i l i t y problem e x i s t s i f an abort-escape maneuver
i s required. Since t h e capsule (minus t h e abort-escape system) i s
designed t o be aerodynamically s t a b l e l a r g e end forward during r e e n t r y
( s e e r e f , 1) b u t i s boosted s m a l l end forward, t h e abort-escape system
m u s t , i n a d d i t i o n t o supplying t h e t h r u s t r e q u i r e d f o r r a p i d movement
away from t h e booster, be capable of s t a b i l i z i n g t h e capsule s m a l l end
forward i n order t o avoid t h e high t r a n s v e r s e and adverse l o n g i t u d i n a l
loads t h a t would be a s s o c i a t e d with an immediate turn-around a t high
dynamic p r e s s u r e . Further, t h e abort-escape system must be capable of
providing s u f f i c i e n t a l t i t u d e f o r deployment of a landing parachute i n &

event of b o o s t e r rocket malfunction a t , or near, take-off.

Small-scale t e s t s conducted a t t h e Langley Research Center showed

t h a t one promising method of s t a b i l i z i n g t h e capsule f o r t h e escape from
t h e booster c o n s i s t e d of mounting t h e escape rocket motor on a tower
from t h e s m a l l end of t h e capsule, t h u s moving t h e c e n t e r of g r a v i t y
s u f f i c i e n t l y t o provide aerodynamic s t a b i l i t y when s m a l l end i s forward.
(See r e f s . 2 t o 4 . )

The Langley Research Center f l i g h t t e s t e d a f u l l - s c a l e model bas-

i c a l l y similar t o t h e P r o j e c t Mercury capsule t o determine t h e a b i l i t y
of t h e abort-escape system t o provide safe escape from sea l e v e l (simu-
l a t i n g b o o s t e r rocket malfunction a t , o r near, t a k e - o f f ) . The r e s u l t s
of t h i s t e s t ( r e f . 5 ) using an e x i s t i n g XM-19 Recruit rocket motor i n d i -
c a t e d t h a t t h e b a s i c system was workable. Subsequently, a capsule geo-
m e t r i c a l l y s i m i l a r t o t h e P r o j e c t Mercury capsule and u t i l i z i n g a Grand
Clentral escape rocket motor developed expressly f o r t h e Mercury capsule
was flown on a s i m i l a r mission. Motions and r e s u l t i n g a c c e l e r a t i o n s ,
. along w i t h sound l e v e l w i t h i n t h e capsule during escape motor t h r u s t i n g ,
were determined.
. I

SYMBOLS

*L longitudinal accelerometer reading, g units

AN normal accelerometer reading, g units

transverse accelerometer reading, g units

azimuth angle, deg

thrust, lb

acceleration due to gravity, 32.2 ft/sec2

altitude, ft

mass moment of inertia in pitch, slug-ft2

mass moment of inertia in yaw, slug-ft.2

moment in pitch, ft-Lb

moment in yaw, ft-lb

NRe Reynolds number, based on maximum capsule diameter

P free-stream static pressure, lb/sq ft

R range, ft

Rx range component along abscissa, ft

RY range component along ordinate, ft

T free-stream temperature, OF

t time, sec

v velocity along flight path, ft/sec

. W capsule weight, lb

X station measured from maximum diameter, positive toward tower,

in.
4

X center-of-gravity s t a t i o n , measured from maximum diameter,

cg
in.
e' angular a c c e l e r a t i o n i n p i t c h , radians/sec 2
.. angular a c c e l e r a t i o n i n yaw, radians/sec 2
4J
P c o e f f i c i e n t of v i s c o s i t y , lb-sec/sq f t

P free-stream d e n s i t y , slugs/cu f t
0

MODEL

Figure 1 shows t h e general dimensions of t h e test model and r e l a t e d

components. Figure l(a) shows t h e dimensions of t h e t e s t model as it was
flown o f f t h e beach and t h e nomenclature used throughout t h i s paper.
Figure l ( b ) gives d e t a i l e d dimensions of t h e capsule which was used i n
t h e t e s t . The maximum diameter of t h e capsule (&)-inch s p h e r i c a l - r a d i u s
base) was 74.5 inches. The s p h e r i c a l base was constructed of 3/16-inch
s t e e l p l a t e r e i n f o r c e d with cross members of 5/16-inch s t e e l p l a t e . The
conical s i d e s of t h e capsule were constructed of 1/8-inch s t e e l p l a t e .
The base and s i d e s of t h e capsule simulated t h e shape of t h e f i n a l
P r o j e c t Mercury capsule b u t t h e y were not intended t o simulate t h e con-
s t r u c t i o n . A c y l i n d r i c a l c a n i s t e r 30 inches i n diameter was placed on
t h e s m a l l diameter of t h e c o n i c a l capsule. A c o n i c a l antenna f a i r i n g
20 inches i n diameter a t t h e smallest cross s e c t i o n was placed on t h e
t o p of t h e main parachute compartment. The antenna f a i r i n g housed t h e
drogue parachute and t h e antenna-fairing r e l e a s e mechanism.

B a l l a s t was added t o t h e capsule i n order t o l o c a t e t h e c e n t e r of

g r a v i t y a t t h e proper s t a t i o n along t h e l o n g i t u d i n a l axis; a f t e r which
a d d i t i o n a l ballast was added symmetrically about t h e d e s i r e d c e n t e r of
g r a v i t y , which was a t s t a t i o n 19.5, i n order t o o b t a i n t h e desired
capsule weight of 2,169 pounds. The moments of i n e r t i a were approxi-
mately 485 s l u g - f t 2 i n p i t c h and yaw and 236 s l u g - f t 2 i n r o l l .

The tower, shown i n f i g u r e l(c), was constructed of steel tubes f o r

main l o n g i t u d i n a l members and h o r i z o n t a l and diagonal trusswork. The
tower was a t t a c h e d t o t h e capsule a t t h e t o p of t h e c a n i s t e r by means
of a segmented Marman clamp secured by t h r e e explosive b o l t s . A s m a l l
tower j e t t i s o n motor was employed t o move t h e tower away from t h e
capsule upon i g n i t i o n of t h e t h r e e explosive b o l t s securing t h e Marman
clamp t o avoid entanglement of t h e tower with t h e parachute system.
The j e t t i s o n motor was mounted on t h e nozzle block between t h e t h r e e
escape motor nozzles, as shown i n f i g u r e l ( d ) . A c o n i c a l b l a s t s h i e l d
was f i t t e d over t h e antenna f a i r i n g and w a s intended t o p r o t e c t t h e top
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of t h e capsule from t h e tower j e t t i s o n motor exhaust blast. The upper

end of t h e tower was b o l t e d t o t h e nozzle block, shown i n f i g u r e l ( d ) .
Three 12O half-angle nozzles were attached t o t h e nozzle block and were
symmetrically spaced a t i n t e r v a l s of 120°. The c e n t e r l i n e of each
nozzle was canted l9O away from t h e c e n t e r l i n e of t h e t e s t model i n
order t o d i r e c t t h e rocket motor exhaust away from t h e capsule. The
escape rocket motor was canted i n order t o o b t a i n a misalinement of
t h e t h r u s t v e c t o r of 0.78 inch, t o give the capsule a l a t e r a l displace-
ment. Additional b a l l a s t was added t o t h e upper end of t h e Grand Central
motor t o provide t h e d e s i r e d launch center-of-gravity l o c a t i o n
( s t a t i o n 77.8). The m a s s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of t h e capsule are shown i n
t a b l e I.

Two parachutes were employed. The first parachute deployed was a

72-inch-diameter nylon drogue parachute w i t h a p o r o s i t y of approximately
23 percent. The drogue parachute had a three-point connection t o t h e
antenna f a i r i n g and had a riser l e n g t h of 30 feet. A 5-inch-diameter
aluminum mortar was contained i n t h e antenna f a i r i n g f o r e j e c t i n g the
drogue parachute. The drogue parachute weighed approximately 7.5 pounds.
The main parachute was a 64-foot r i n g s a i l type w i t h p o r o s i t y of about
15 percent, had a single-point suspension, a shroud l e n g t h of 60 feet,
Y a r i s e r l e n g t h of 6 f e e t , and w a s not reefed. The main parachute was
packaged i n a deployment bag which made a f r e e - s l i d i n g f i t i n an aluminum
can 40 inches long l o c a t e d i n t h e c a n i s t e r and extending 21 inches down
i n t o t h e capsule. The main parachute weighed approximately 60 pounds.
Reference 6 p r e s e n t s a d d i t i o n a l f l i g h t tests of t h e main parachute. The
c a n i s t e r a l s o contained a main-parachute release mechanism which was
a c t u a t e d when t h e capsule impacted w i t h t h e water. Figure l ( e ) shows
t h e o r i e n t a t i o n of t h e drogue and main parachutes.

INSTRUMEDJTATION

Two "g" a c t u a t e d t i m e r s connected i n p a r a l l e l were used t o program

t h e i g n i t i o n of t h e Mannan clamp explosive b o l t s , i g n i t i o n of t h e tower
j e t t i s o n motor, i g n i t i o n of t h e drogue mortar, and i g n i t i o n of t h e
explosive b o l t r e t a i n i n g t h e antenna f a i r i n g .

Four GSAP 1 6 - m i l l i m e t e r cameras were c a r r i e d onboard t h e capsule f o r

t h e purpose of observing the tower and rocket motor burning and f o r
obtaining a " p i l o t ' s view" from t h e capsule. Figure l ( f ) shows t h e loca-
t i o n of t h e cameras, three of which pointed up and one of which pointed
down.

Two onboard recorders recorded the sound l e v e l during t h e f l i g h t .

6

Flight-path d a t a were obtained by continuous t r a c k i n g of t h e model

w i t h an FPS-16 t r a c k i n g r a d a r , an NASA modified SCR 584 t r a c k i n g r a d a r , .
and a commercially modified SCR 584 r a d a r . Velocity along t h e t r a j e c t o r y
was determined by CW Doppler velocimeter up t o deployment of t h e main
parachute. The v e l o c i t y of descent with t h e main parachute opened was
obtained from t h e time-history v a r i a t i o n s of t h e t r a j e c t o r y as d e t e r -
mined by t h e FPS-16 r a d a r . Motion p i c t u r e s of t h e f l i g h t were taken
by cameras l o c a t e d near t h e launching s i t e .

A six-channel telemeter was employed t o t r a n s m i t normal, t r a n s v e r s e ,

and l o n g i t u d i n a l a c c e l e r a t i o n s a t two l o n g i t u d i n a l p o s i t i o n s t o ground
r e c e i v i n g s t a t i o n s . A s shown i n f i g u r e 2 ( a ) , t h e accelerometers were
l o c a t e d on t h e capsule c e n t e r l i n e a t a p p r o x h a t e l y 20 and 52 inches from
t h e capsule maximum diameter.

TEST

P r i o r t o assembly of t h e model on t h e launch pad, a temperature-

s e n s i t i v e p a i n t was a p p l i e d t o t h e e x t e r i o r of t h e model a t s e v e r a l
l o c a t i o n s i n order t o determine whether and where regions of high h e a t
f l u x r e s u l t i n g from t h e rocket exhaust e x i s t e d . The p a i n t was a p p l i e d
*
t o t h e l e g s and c r o s s members of t h e tower a t various l o n g i t u d i n a l p o s i -
t i o n s , t o t h e c o n i c a l s i d e s of t h e antenna f a i r i n g , t o t h e s i d e s of t h e 1

c a n i s t e r , and a t various l o n g i t u d i n a l p o s i t i o n s along t h e capsule. The

t r a n s i t i o n temperatures of t h e p a i n t s used ranged between approximately
150° F and 1,300' F.

Figure 3 shows t h e model on t h e launcher p r i o r t o t a k e - o f f . The

model w a s launched a t an e l e v a t i o n angle of 71' t o i n s u r e a water impact.
The v a r i a t i o n o f . f r e e - s t r e a m density, pressure, temperature, and c o e f f i -
c i e n t of v i s c o s i t y f o r t h e f l i g h t t e s t a r e shown i n f i g u r e s 4 and 5 . The
f l i g h t - t e s t Reynolds number, shown i n f i g u r e 6, based on maximum capsule
diameter, v a r i e d from approximately 22 x 106 a t escape motor t a i l off
t o 1.1 x 106 during main parachute descent. The time-history v a r i a t i o n
of weight and c e n t e r of g r a v i t y of t h e t e s t model i s shown i n f i g u r e 7.

Ground s t a t i c t e s t s of t h e tower j e t t i s o n motor and t h e escape

motor were performed p r i o r t o t h e c u r r e n t t e s t i n order t o o b t a i n t y p i c a l
thrust-time curves of t h e r e s p e c t i v e motors. R e s u l t s of t h e s e t e s t s are
shown i n f i g u r e s 8 and 9, r e s p e c t i v e l y .
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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Sequence photographs, showing t h e p r i n c i p a l events i n t h e f l i g h t

t e s t , are presented i n f i g u r e 10. Take-off and powered f l i g h t , shown
i n sequence photographs 1, 2, and 3, occurred with t h e model experi-
encing v e r y l i t t l e f l i g h t - p a t h deviation. A t t h e t h e corresponding
t o s e p a r a t i o n of t h e escape tower (photograph 4 ) t h e model had experi-
enced approximately 11 r e v o l u t i o n s i n p i t c h and about 1/8 r e v o l u t i o n i n
4
yaw. This motion was due p r i m a r i l y t o t h e d e l i b e r a t e escape motor t h r u s t
misalinement and t h e l a c k of damping of t h e model i n t h e a b o r t confTgura-
t i o n . The purpose of t h i s misalinement was t o d i s p l a c e t h e capsule from
t h e i a t h of t h e booster i n l a t e r boosted f l i g h t s . I n t h e l a t t e r p a r t
of t h e p i t c h i n g r e v o l u t i o n during motor t a i l o f f ( t h r u s t decay), t h e
model s t a r t e d t o yaw. A f t e r tower separation, t h e capsule continued t o
tumble u n t i l t h e drogue parachute was deployed and p a r t i a l l y s t a b i l i z e d
t h e capsule as shown i n sequence photographs 5 , 6, and 7. Sequence
photographs 8 and 9 show t h e main parachute after it was p u l l e d out by
t h e drogue parachute and t h e antenna f a i r i n g . The main parachute sta-
b i l i z e d t h e capsule and lowered it t o t h e water. A t impact w i t h t h e
4 water t h e main parachute w a s automatically r e l e a s e d . The capsule f l o a t e d
w i t h i t s l o n g i t u d i n a l axis n e a r l y h o r i z o n t a l a f t e r impact. Unpublished
d a t a i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e capsule w a s capable of maintaining a v e r t i c a l
a t t i t u d e only i f it d i d not exceed a 30' tilt on landing. This condi-
t i o n was exceeded as a r e s u l t of t h e wind d r i f t a t landing. The capsule
was recovered by a Marine h e l i c o p t e r s h o r t l y after it impacted w i t h t h e
water, as seen i n f i g u r e 11. The tower and antenna f a i r i n g were recov-
ered by a U.S. Navy underwater demolition team.

The motion p i c t u r e s obtained from t h e t h r e e up-cameras showed t h a t

motor burning was normal and t h a t t h e tower separated without any apparent
i n t e r f e r e n c e . Examination of t h e temperature-sensitive p a i n t on t h e
capsule and tower showed no evidence of heating s u f f i c i e n t t o be i n d i -
c a t e d by t h e lowest range p a i n t (150' F) .
Examination of t h e onboard
r e c o r d e r records showed t h a t t h e maximum sound l e v e l w a s approximately
144 d e c i b e l s during escape motor burning; t h i s condition i n d i c a t e d a
need for i n s u l a t i o n a g a i n s t noise f o r manned f l i g h t s .

An isometric view of t h e f l i g h t t r a j e c t o r y showing t h e p r i n c i p a l

events during t h e f l i g h t i s shown i n f i g u r e 12. The v a r i a t i o n s of a l t i -
tude w i t h range, a l t i t u d e w i t h t i m e , and a h o r i z o n t a l p r o j e c t i o n of t h e
t r a j e c t o r y are shown i n f i g u r e s 13, 14, and 15, r e s p e c t i v e l y . The escape
. motor burned out a t an a l t i t u d e of approximately 300 f e e t and t h e tower
was s e p a r a t e d a t an a l t i t u d e of about 1,850 feet. The drogue parachute
w a s deployed a t an a l t i t u d e of about 1,900 feet and a v e l o c i t y of about
" 95 f e e t p e r second. The main parachute w a s f u l l y opened a t an a l t i t u d e
of about 1,500 f e e t and a v e l o c i t y of about 90 feet p e r second; thus,
 .
8
r

ample time was allowed f o r t h e s i n k i n g speed t o s t a b i l i z e . Inrpact

occurred a t approximately 1,600 feet from take-off a f t e r about 63.1 sec-
onds of f l i g h t time. Figure 16 shows t h e v a r i a t i o n of v e l o c i t y along
t h e f l i g h t p a t h and the v e r t i c a l component of v e l o c i t y w i t h time. The
maximum v e l o c i t y occurred a t escape motor t a i l o f f and was about
595 feet per second. Rate of descent was about 28 f e e t p e r second a t
s e a l e v e l (impact), which agreed w i t h expected performance of t h e
parachute.

The time-history v a r i a t i o n of l o n g i t u d i n a l , normal, and t r a n s v e r s e

a c c e l e r a t i o n s as measured by t h e accelerometers i s presented i n f i g u r e 17.
The a c c e l e r a t i o n s a t s t a t i o n 20 a r e approximately those which would be
experienced by an occupant during an escape maneuver. The maximum l o n g i -
t u d i n a l a c c e l e r a t i o n was approximately 22g and lasted f o r about 0 . 1 sec-
ond. The maximum a c c e l e r a t i o n s a f t e r burnout (about '1.2 seconds) and
p r i o r t o impact d i d not exceed +5g i n any d i r e c t i o n . Time-history p l o t s
of a c c e l e r a t i o n a f t e r 24 seconds were omitted from f i g u r e 17 because t h e
.
v a r i a t i o n s of a c c e l e r a t i o n s were s m a l l ( l e s s t h a n + l g ) Based on refer-
ences 7 t o 11, t h e loads encountered throughout t h i s f l i g h t were w i t h i n
t h e t o l e r a n c e of a properly p o s i t i o n e d and supported occupant. Acceler-
ometer values a t impact have been omitted because t h e frequency response
of t h e accelerometers was not adequate t o determine t h e loads a t impact. 4

The normal and t r a n s v e r s e accelerometer readings a t t h e two l o n g i -

t u d i n a l s t a t i o n s were i n d i c a t i v e of t h e angular a c c e l e r a t i o n s i n p i t c h c

and yaw. The angular a c c e l e r a t i o n s presented i n figure 18 were d e t e r -

mined from t h e following expressions:

and

;r; = i2.2(*52
AT52 - AT20
x20
) l2

where s u b s c r i p t s 52 and 20 refer t o l o n g i t u d i n a l s t a t i o n s .

The maximum angular a c c e l e r a t i o n s were about 6 radians/sec2 during

t h e t h r u s t i n g period of t h e escape motor and about 40 radians/sec2 during
main parachute opening. After t h e main parachute opened and t h e
descending capsule s t a b i l i z e d , t h e maximum angular a c c e l e r a t i o n was
about 20 radians/sec2.
 .... ..
0.
0 .
0..
0 0
0
. .
0

0
0

0 . 0
0 . .
0.
0
0.

0
0
0 .
8 . 0
0.0 0

0 .
0.0

8 . 0
....
0. 0 0. . ~ J ! J F f0D0& 0~ f i O L 0 0 0 0 0 .0 0 0 0. .
Y 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0
9
i

It should be noted t h a t l a r g e percentage e r r o r s i n 6 and $ are

l i k e l y when t h e d i f f e r e n c e s i n t h e a c c e l e r a t i o n s a t the two s t a t i o n s are
small. However, t h e angular a c c e l e r a t i o n s are a l s o small i n these cases.

The p i t c h i n g and yawing moments during t h e f l i g h t were p r o p o r t i o n a l

t o t h e 6 and $ values given i n f i g u r e 18 and may be determined from:

My = Iy9

and

The maximum moment was obtained a t 1.1 seconds after launch and was
approximately 37,000 foot-pounds i n p i t c h . The l a r g e s t moment obtained
after t h e main parachute opened was approximately 18,000 foot-pounds i n
pitch.

CONCLUSIONS

The system proposed t o provide safe abort escape f o r a P r o j e c t

Mercury manned space capsule has been i n v e s t i g a t e d by a f u l l - s c a l e
f l i g h t t e s t t o determine i t s a b i l i t y t o provide safe escape f o r t h e
capsule i n t h e event of booster rocket malfunction a t , o r near, take-off.
The t e s t r e s u l t s i n d i c a t e t h e following conclusions:

1. The maximum a c c e l e r a t i o n s about t h e t h r e e axes were w i t h i n t h e

t o l e r a n c e of a properly positioned and supported human.

2. The escape motor provided s u f f i c i e n t a l t i t u d e f o r s u c c e s s f u l

opening of t h e landing parachute.

3. The s t a b i l i z e d rate of descent of t h e capsule (parachute f u l l y

open) was about 28 feet p e r second at sea l e v e l .

4. The maximum sound l e v e l w i t h i n t h e capsule was about 144 d e c i b e l s

during escape motor burning and i n d i c a t e d t h e need f o r i n s u l a t i o n a g a i n s t
sound.

5 . There were no i n d i c a t i o n s of high temperatures on t h e escape

tower o r t h e capsule as a r e s u l t of escape motor exhaust.

Langley Research Center,

National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
Langley F i e l d , Va., June 29, 1960.
“*sa;* - * .‘-‘Ttr.*,: ‘r
10
c

1. Scallion, William I.: Full-scale Wind-Tunnel Investigation of the

Low-Speed Static Aerodynamic Characteristics of a Model of a Reentry
Capsule. NASA TM X-220, 1959.

2. Johnson, Joseph L, Jr.: Wind-Tunnel Investigation at Low Subsonic

Speeds of the Static and Oscillatory Stability Characteristics of
Models of Several Space Capsule Configurations. NASA TM x-285,
1960.
3. Pearson, Albin 0.: Wind-Tunnel Investigation at Mach Numbers From
0.50 to 1.14 of the Static Aerodynamic Characteristics of a Model
of a Project Mercury Capsule. NASA TM X-292, 1960.

4. Shaw, David S., and Turner, Kenneth L.: Wind-Tunnel Investigation

of Static Aerodynamic Characteristics of a 1/9-Scale Model of a
Project Mercury Capsule at Mach Numbers From 1.60 to 4.65. NASA
m x-291, 1960.
t
5. Blanchard, Willard S., Jr., and Hoffman, Sherwood: Full-scale Flight
Test of a Proposed Abort-Escape System for a Manned Space Capsule
From Sea Level. NASA TM X-351, 1960. ..
6. Kurbjun, Max C.: High-Altitude Performance of a 64-Foot-Diameter
Ring Sail Parachute. NASA TM X-232, 1959.

7. Clark, Carl C., and Gray, R. Flanagan: A Discussion of Restraint and

Protection of the Human Experiencing the Smooth and Oscillating
Accelerations of Proposed Space Vehicles. MA-5914, Aviation Medical
Acceleration Lab., U.S. Naval Air Dev. Center (Johnsville, Pa.) ,
Dec. 1959.

8. Collins, C. C., Crosbie, R. J., and Gray, R. F.: Pilot Performance

and Tolerance Studies of Orbital Re-entry Acceleration. MA-8,
Aviation Medical Acceleration Lab., U.S. Naval Air Dev. Center
.
(Johnsville, Pa. ) , Sept 1958.

9. Collins, C. C., and Gray, R. F.: Pilot Performance and Tolerance

Studies of Orbital Re-entry Acceleration. MA-1.1, Aviation Medical
Acceleration Lab., U.S. Naval Air Dev. Center (Johnsville, Pa. ) ,
Sept. 1959.
.
10. Lombard, Charles F.: Human Tolerance to Forces Produced by Accelera-
tion. Rep., No. ES2lO72, Douglas Aircraft CO., Inc., Feb. 27, 1948.
L
 11

11. Smedal, Harold A , , S t i n n e t t , Glen W., and I n n i s , Robert C.: A

R e s t r a i n t System Enabling P i l o t Control Under Moderately High
Acceleration i n a Varied Acceleration F i e l d . NASA TN D-91, 1960.
 ...............
..
.........
...... . ....
. . . . . .c&.@I&&.:
0

...
. 0 ..
. .
........
. .. . . .
0. 0.. 0 . 0
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12 c

TABLE I

CAPSULE MASS CHAFUiCTERISTICS

Weight, X
Ci3’
Condition lb in.

Take-off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,109 77.8

Burnout ...................... .2,819 63.2
Capsule alone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,169 19.5
Capsule a f t e r landing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,048 16.7
Take-off i n e r t i a s :
....................
P i t c h o r yaw, s l u g - f t 2 6,100
Roll, s l u g - f t 2 ........................ 330

Burnout i n e r t i a s :
....................
P i t c h o r yaw, s l u g - f t 2 4,770
Roll, s l u g - f t 2 ........................ 330
Capsule alone i n e r t i a s :
....................
P i t c h o r yaw, s l u g - f t 2 485
Roll, s l u g - f t 2 ........................ 236
 t
f

sta.
253 00 Ballaa t

-Grand Central
escape motor

fairing

Sta.
61.4

Sta.
0

-1 Iq--
74.5

(a) Principal dimensions and nomenclature of the vehicle tested.

Figure 1.- Drawings of model and components. All dimensions are in

inches.
 .

14 c

10.5'
Antenna f a i r i n g
I

sta.
82.12
x
R e c o v e r y hook
- 30.0
y Canister

sta.

Sta. - - Pitch
0 axi S

c 74.5

I
( b ) Dimensions of the capsule.

Figure 1.- Continued.

 Grand Central
escape motor

A
A

lo
lo
B Y-
d
d
A

I
\o
?
CD A -A
d
r-i

\ one l e g and port

of trusswork omitted
for c l a r i t y

I
28.7 D. +-/
1

( c ) Dimensions and d e t a i l s of tower.

Figure 1.- Continued.

 16.75 Spherical
radius
I
1 \,

( d ) Nozzle and nozzle mounting block d e t a i l s .

Figure 1.- Continued.

 .
Y
.a
a *
..a
* a
a
* .
. a
a
* *
a.
a
.a a
0
*
.
e
.
a *.a
. a
a.
a .

C. G. of capsule
a t take-off

Thrust target

Y Main parachute
Inconel corrugated -
skin ( t y p i c a l )

Yaw axis

Pitch axis
//

Drogue chute
I c- c

ii
Tower leg

B-B

(e) Cross-sectional views showing thrust misalinement, main parachute

arrangement, drogue parachute arrangement, and axis notation.

Figure 1.- Continued.

18 .

(f) Orientation schematic diagram of test capsule.

Figure 1.- Concluded.

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20 CONFIDENTIAL

Figure 3.- Photograph of capsule and launcher.

L-59-5120
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L-59-5452

L-59-5453
Figure 11.- Photographs of h e l i c o p t e r i n recovery area.
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NASA - Langley Field, Va. L- 1133