NEWS R E L E A S E

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

1520 H STREET, N O R T H W E S T ' WASHINGTON 25. D. C.
TELEPHONES: DUDLEY 2 - 6 3 2 5 . EXECUTIVE 3 - 3 2 6 0

Cape Canaveral Press Room SUNSET 3-7626

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.

8. " I F " A Study of Contingency Planning f o r t h e P r o j e c t Mercury

Mission,

9. Mercury Redstone Abort.

10. Astronaut Biographies,

11. Astronaut T r a i n i n g Program Summary.

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

RELEASE NO, 61-88

In the next week OF so, the Project Mercury's third

Hedstone launch will take place at Cape Canaveral. In this
connection, James E. Webb, Administrator of National Aeronautics
and Space Administration, stated:
''Our NationQs space program will soon enter a new era
manus participation in the exploration of space by our first
-
ascronaut, The upcoming Mercury-Redstone flight is a most
important step in the 16. S , program -
a step that will lead
on to manps ultimate conquest of this new and hostile
environment. It is also a most serious step; for it cannot be
taken without risk to human life. It is the kind of risk that
Lindbergh t o s k when he crossed the Atlantic, that Chuck Yeager
took in the X-1's f i r s t supersonic flight, and test pilots
Scott C r o s s f i e l d , Joe Walker, and Bob White have taken in their
flights in the X-15 airplane,
''1 am, confident that in Project Mercury every reasonable
precaution has been taken to minimize this risk.
" M y very best wishes %OF success to to the Mercury team
that ha8 worked so hard to bring this day about.
''To a11 the astronauts who volunteered and to the one
making this flight, let me say 'Godspeed'.II
Mercury8s first manned apace flight is to take place
approximately one hour after daybreak at Cape Canaveral,
Florida, after a 2-day countdown operation. Maximum hold time
on any given day will be 5 hours. The flight may be postponed
fromi day to day fQP 5 days.
The one-ton-plus spacecraft, boosted by a modified
Redstone launch vehicle, will follow a ballistic arc with a
range of 290 statute miles and 8 maximum altitude of 115
statute miles, The flight time - lift-off to splash will -
be about 15 minutes.
 Primary mission t e s t o b j e c t i v e s i n c l u d e :
1. F a m i l i a r i z i n g a man w i t h a b r i e f but complete
space f l i g h t experience i n c l u d i n g l i f t - o f f " , powered f l i g h t ,
w e i g h t l e s s f l i g h t , e n t r y and l a n d i n g phases of space f l i g h t .
2 . Evaluating man's a b i l i t y t o perform u s e f u l func-
t i o n s d u r i n g space f l i g h t by ( a ) demonstrating manual c o n t r o l
of t h e s p a c e c r a f t a t t i t u d e before, d u r i n g and a f t e r r e t r o f i r e
and ( b ) u s i n g v o i c e communications d u r i n g f l i g h t .
3. Studying manos p h y s i o l o g i c a l r e a c t i o n d u r i n g
space f l i g h t ,
General o b j e c t i v e s i n c l u d e t h e continued q u a l i f i c a t i o n
of t h e Mercury s p a c e c r a f t and i t s systems f o r manned f l i g h t ,
and t o provide t r a i n i n g for ground support and recovery
f o r c e s f o r f u t u r e manned flights, During t h e f l i g h t t h e
p i l o t w i l l be s u b j e c t e d t o approximately "6g" through the
powered p o r t i o n of t h e f l i g h t , approximately 5 minutes of
w e i g h t l e s s n e s s a f t e r s e p a r a t i o n from t h e launch v e h i c l e and
approximately l l g d u r i n g r e e n t r y i n t o the e a r t h ' s atmosphere,
The s p a c e c r a f t which s t a n d s about 9 f e e t high and 6 f e e t
a c r o s s i t s b l u n t base w i l l be launched v e r t i c a l l y on a p a t h
s l i g h t l y s o u t h of e a s t ,

Here i s t h e noma1 OF planned mission p r o f i l e : The

Redstone engine w i l l be s h u t down about two and a h a l f minutes
a f t e r l i f t - o f f when t h e v e h i c l e has achieved a speed of about
4500 miles p e r hour i n a climbing a t t i t u d e about 40 degrees
above t h e h o r i z o n t a l , A t engine c u t o f f , t h e escape tower
clamp r i n g i s s e p a r a t e d and b o t h t h e escape r o c k e t and tower
j e t t i s o n r o c k e t are f i r e d t o remove t h e tower.
Ten seconds a f t e r engine c u t o f f , a c l w p r i n g s e c u r i n g
b o o s t e r and s p a c e c r a f t w i l l be s e p a r a t e d . Three 350-pound-
t h r u s t s o l i d p r o p e l l a n t r o c k e t s a t t h e base of t h e s p a c e c r a f t
w i l l be f i r e d t o separate t h e s p a c e c r a f t from t h e launch
v e h i c l e . The p i l o t t s p e r i s c o p e i s t h e n extended. A t t h e
same t i m e , t h e a u t o p i l o t swings t h e s p a c e c r a f t around s o t h e
b l u n t end i s forward and t i l t e d s l i g h t l y upward, 14.5 degrees
above t h e h o r i z o n t a l , t h e same p o s i t i o n t h e c r a f t i s t o
maintain i n o r b i t a l flights, T h i r t y seconds b e f o r e t h e c r a f t
reaches peak a l t i t u d e , t h e a s t r o n a u t w i l l manually c o n t r o l
t h e a t t i t u d e sf t h e c r a f t moving i t i n t o s e t r o s o c k e t f i r i n g
p o s i t i o n - 34 degrees above h o r i z o n t a l - and w i l l hold t h i s

MR-3 1-2
, . . .

a t t i t u d e manually while t h e r e t r o r o c k e t s a r e f i r e d , It must

be noted t h a t t h e r e t r o r o c k e t s are not needed f o r r e e n t r y i n
t h i s b a l l i s t i c f l i g h t but w i l l be f i r e d t o t e s t t h e i r opera-
t i o n i n space an4 t o provide p i l o t s w i t h f l i g h t experience
i n c o n t r o l l i n g t h e r e t r o f i r e maneuver, The a s t r o n a u t w i l l be
a b l e t o maneuver t h e c r a f t f o r a s h o r t p e r i o d of time b e f o r e
he e s t a b l i s h e s t h e r e e n t r y a t t i t u d e and r e t r a c t s t h e p e r i s c o p e .
After t h e p e r i s c o p e i s r e t r a c t e d , c o n t r o l of t h e c r a f t s s f l i g h t
a t t i t u d e r e t u r n s to t h e automatic mode,
When t h e "gse f o r c e s of r e e n t r y b u i l d up t o a t l e a s t
".O5g", t h e s p a c e c r a f t starts r e v o l v i n g i n a slow t o p - l i k e
motion a t two r e v o l u t i o n s p e r minute,
A t 2lp0O0 f e e t , a p r e s s u r e s e n s i t i v e s w i t c h deploys a
drogue parachute and a u t o m a t i c a l l y s c a t t e r s radar r e f l e c t i v e
"chaff .'I
A t 10,000 f e e t , t h e antenna f a i r i n g a t t h e neck of t h e
s p a c e c r a f t i s r e l e a s e d , a u t o m a t i c a l l y deploying t h e main
l a n d i n g p a r a c h u t e , Concurrent w i t h main c h u t e deployment,
a n underwater charge i s e j e c t e d t o a i d recovery f o r c e s , t h e
UHF recovery beacon i s turned on, remaining hydrogen peroxide,
used t o c o n t r o l t h e p o s i t i o n and r o l l of t h e s p a c e c r a f t , i s
j e t t i s o n e d . The p e r i s c o p e is extended s o t h e p i l o t may check
v i s u a l l y on h i s parachute; should t h e main chute f a i l t o work,
t h e p i l o t can j e t t i s o n t h e main c h u t e and deploy a r e s e r v e
l a n d i n g p a r a c h u t e , During the descent, v a l v e s open t 0 allow
outside a i r i n t o t h e cabin,
Upon landing, an impact s w i t c h j e t t i s o n s t h e parachute,
r e l e a s e s f l o u r e s c e i n sea-marking dye, t u r n s o f f instrumenta-
t i o n r e c o r d e r s and t r a n s m i t t e r s , The p i l o t , however, w i l l
s t i l l have a v o i c e r a d i o link t o Mercury recovery f o r c e s .
The s p a c e c r a f t w i l l be picked up by t h e Mercury Recovery
Forces. These f o r c e s i n c l u d e a n a i r c r a f t c a r r i e r and two
d e s t r o y e r s i n t h e prime l a n d l n g a r e a . Search a i r c r a f t w i l l
a l s o b e deployed i n t h e psime l a n d i n g area, Other s h i p s and
f o r c e s w i l l be deployed along t h e intended p a t h of f l i g h t t o
provide for recovery i n c a s e of undershoot o r overshoot.
If t h e f l i g h t and recovery are normal, a h e l i c o p t e r
w i l l l i f t t h e c r a f t out of t h e w a t e r and p l a c e i t on t h e
c a r r i e r e s f l i g h t deck, The p i l o t may e l e c t t o remain i n t h e
s p a c e c r a f t u n t i l i t i s onboard t h e c a r r i e r , He can a l s o
climb o u t t h e s p a c e c r a f t s i d e hatch, i n f l a t e a l i f e r a f t and
be picked up by h e l i c o p f e r ,

MR-3 1-3

. ... . ._. . . . . . ._. . ., - . . .,

 ASTRONAUT OBSERVATIONS AND CONTROL TASKS DURING MR-3 FLIGHT

CAPE CANAVEFUL, FLA, - One of t h e prime o b j e c t i v e s i n

P r o j e c t Mercury i s t o d e t e m i n e man's c a p a b i l i t i e s i n t h e
environment of space. During t h e MR-3 f l i g h t , t h e r e f o r e , t h e
a s t r o n a u t w i l l have s e v e r a l d e f i n i t e tasks t o perform. I n
a d d i t i o n , t h e a s t r o n a u t w i l l inform t h e ground of t h e a c t i o n he
i s t a k i n g , t h e e v e n t s as they unfold, and what he i s s e e i n g
during h i s c o n t r o l of t h e s p a c e c r a f t , ,
A t t h e moment t h e Redstone l i f t s from t h e pad a t Cape
Canaveral, t h e p i l o t w i l l check t o d e t e m i n e i f t h e f l i g h t
timer on h i s instrument panel has begun t o o p e r a t e , If i t
has not, he a c t u a t e s t h e c l o c k s t a r t b u t t o n and announces
"clock o p e r a t i n g . " The f o l l o w i n g e v e n t s w i l l o c c u r i n a
normal mission:
T h i r t y seconds a f t e r l i f t - o f f , and f o r each subsequent
30 seconds o f elapsed time d u r i n g powered f l i g h t , t h e p i l o t
wI t i I lt l r e p o r t on h i s control-system f u e l supply, t h e amount of
g l o a d i n g he i s experiencing, t h e p i t c h a n g l e of h i s craf%
( i n degrees), h i s c a b i n p r e s s u r e (in pounds p e r square inch)
and i f h i s oxygen supply i s s a t i s f a c t o r y . If a n y t h i n g unusual
happens he w i l l r e p o r t t h e event immediately t o t h e ground.
Two minutes and 15 seconds a f t e r l i f t - o f f , he w i l l
announce, I I s t a n d i n g by f a r c u t o f f . " A few seconds l a t e r t h e
Redstone engines w i l l c u t off" and t h e s p a c e c r a f t D s escape
tower w i l l j e t t i s o n . The p i l o t w i l l monitor t h e s e e v e n t s and
r e p o r t them as they o c c u r ,
About two and one-half" minutes away from t h e ground, t h e
p i l o t w i l l t u r n t h e s e t r o j e t t i s o n s w i t c h o f f t o safeguard
a g a i n s t i n a d v e r t e n t j e t t i s o n i n g of t h e r e t r o r o c k e t package
beneath t h e h e a t s h i e l d . The c r a f t w i l l t h e n s e p a r a t e when
t h e c l u s t e r of t h r e e small p o s i g r a d e r o c k e t s (contained
w i t h i n t h e r e t r o r o c k e t package) a r e f i r e d , pushing t h e cap-
s u l e up and away from t h e Redstone, The automatic p i l o t then
i s t o remove any c a p s u l e o s c i l l a t i o n s which rnigh"a; be generated
by s e p a r a t i o n , The p i P o t P s p e r i s c o p e , which w i l l r e v e a l t h e
c u r v a t u r e of t h e e a r t h a t peak a l t i t u d e , w i l l be extended
several. i n c h e s i n t o space, The p i l o t announces, " c a p s u l e
separate O O .posigrades f i r e d o o e a u x i l i a r y damping OK
o o e

p e r i s c o p e out." S e v e r a l key members of t h e Mercury Control

C e n t e r team w i l l be a b l e t 6 t a l k w i t h t h e p i l o t i f necessary.
However, i f a l l goes w e l l , all communications w i l l come from
a f e l l o w a s t r o n a u t a t t h e c a p s u l e communicator console i n t h e
Mercury Control Center,

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

(degrees) returning right to zero." The spacecraft

motions throughout this sequence of simple control actions will
be closely monitored,,
Time: Almost 4 minutes: The pilot for the first time in
the flight begins to use his earth periscope as a navigational
aid, controlling the capsulets attitude by using the periscope
presentation for attitude reference. At this time he will
describe his view of the earth and inform the ground what pre-
determined checkpoints he can see from this altitude of
approximately 100 miles, He is expected to say something U k e
this, "Holding orbit with scope o o oWeather map essentially
correct, no alto cumulus in northeast quadrant of Carolina
Coast *.,, Florida to Gulf visible, Lake Okeechobee visible
Gulf of Mexico visible e,o.,Island 5 visible Island 3
e e a

visible and so on,

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 .

move d e f t l y a c r o s s the maze of i n s t r u m e n t s ...

i n a l l t h e r e are
some 127 switches, d i a l s , b u t t o n s and f u s e s . The touch t e s t i s
a check of h i s psychomotor a b i l i t y , and t h e complete sequence
i s recorded by t h e c o n t r o l p a n e l camera.
"Returning t o manual c o n t r o l , announces t h e p i l o t At .
t h i s t i m e he r e t u r n s t o manual i n the r o l l a x i s t o c o n t r o l t h e
s p i n of t h e c r a f t on i t s v e r t i c a l axis d u r i n g r e e n t r y . (Some
r o l l i s planned, t o reduce l a n d i n g d i s p e r s i o n . )
Seven minutes, p l u s : " P o i n t O5g," s a y s the p i l o t . The
Mercury s p a c e c r a f t touches t h e d e l i c a t e f r i n g e of t h e e a r t h ' s
atmosphere. "Roll r a t e I N , " he c o n t i n u e s . The f o r c e of
g r a v i t y p r e s s e s h i m deeper and deeper i n t o h i s c o n t o u r couch.
"Three e . . e . . 9g
I1 I1
E-L-E-V-E-N . e o g o o o

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

He i s 95 minutes from launch now.

"Drogue ( t h e small 6-foot p a r a c h u t e ) deployed, I' he
v a l v e ) open ...
announces, t h e n ( f o u r seconds l a t e r ) ; " s n o r k e l (ambient a i r
twenty thousand ( f e e t ) "
Ten minutes p l u s from l i f t - o f f : From a small m i r r o r a t
one of t h e c r a f t ' s two viewport windows he should see t h e
l a r g e (63 f o o t ) red and white p a r a c h u t e u n f u r l from t h e cap-
s u l e ' s upper neck. Seconds l a t e r t h e a s t r o n a u t f e e l s a
pronounced t u g .
"Main c h u t e out," he says ... "reefed ... coming open
... rate of decent - 30 f e e t (about 20 m.p.h.) ... p e r i s c o p e
o u t ... peroxide ( c o n t r o l system f u e l ) dumped ... l a n d i n g bag
(instrument panel i n d i c a t i o n ) green. READY FOR LANDING."
Ships and a i r c r a f t have t h e c o l o r f u l p a r a c h u t e i n view
and v e c t o r t o t h e l a n d i n g area.
A P r o j e c t Mercury a s t r o n a u t has r e t u r n e d from space.
The f u n c t i o n s d e s c r i b e d h e r e a r e t h o s e e s t a b l i s h e d f o r
t e s t e x e r c i s e purposes t o i n v e s t i g a t e man's c a p a b i l i t i e s
d u r i n g a normal f l i g h t . I n a d d i t i o n t o these f u n c t i o n s , t h e
p i l o t of the Mercury c r a f t can manually a c t i v a t e every system
which i s e s s e n t i a l t o t h e completion of t h e mission.

MR-3
 PILOT PREPARATION FOR THE MR-3 MISSION

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA, - P i l o t rehearsals f o r Mercury-

Redstone-3, u s i n g a c t u a l f l i g h t hardwareunder r e a l i s t i c
c o n d i t i o n s , have been v i g o r o u s l y conducted f o r more t h a n a
month.
Before the launch, many mission s i m u l a t i o n s were con-
ducted u s i n g t r a i n i n g f a c i l i t i e s a t P r o j e c t Mercury Headquarters,
Langley F i e l d , V i r g i n i a , w i t h t h e Mercury p i l o t " f l y i n g " h i s
s p a c e c r a f t w i t h i n a s p e c i a l l y designed a l t i t u d e chamber l o c a t e d
i n Hangar " S " a t Cape Canaveral, F l o r i d a , and i n the Navy
Centrifuge a t Johnsville, Pa,
I n p r e p a r a t i o n f o r chamber runs t o space e q u i v a l e n t
a l t i t u d e , t h e p i l o t s were s u b j e c t e d t o p r e f l i g h t p h y s i c a l s ,
equipped w i t h medical s e n s o r s , and assisted i n t o t h e i r 20-lbe
f u l l - p r e s s u r e space s u i t s . The p i l o t s and medical a t t e n d a n t s
simulated all requirements as r e a l i s t i c a l l y as c o n d i t i o n s would
permit, conducting p r e s s u r e and biomedical checks on t h e s u i t ,
About two weeks b e f o r e t h e programmed launch date, t h r e e
days were devoted t o conducting simulated f l i g h t t e s t s w i t h
t h e medical t r a n s f e r van, c a r r y i n g a n a s t r o n a u t and aeromedical
a t t e n d a n t s , moving from Hanger " S " t o t h e launch s i t e . Wearing
h i s f u l l - p r e s s u r e s u i t , a p i l o t went up t h e g a n t r y and e n t e r e d
t h e s p a c e c r a f t , A r e a l i s t i c countdown and simulated Mercury
f l i g h t , followed w i t h ground f l i g h t c o n t r o l l e r s a t t h e i r
stations.
During t h e f i r s t two s i m u l a t i o n s t h e g a n t r y remained up
a g a i n s t t h e v e h i c l e and t h e s i d e h a t c h of t h e s p a c e c r a f t was
l e f t o f f . The t h i r d day, "dry run" s i m u l a t i o n included s e c u r -
i n g t h e s i d e hatch, purging t h e p i l o t ' s c a b i n w i t h oxygen and
p u l l i n g away the g a n t r y .
During the f o u r days preceding launch, t h e MR-3 mission
was r e p e a t e d l y rehearsed, b o t h i n t h e v e h i c l e and i n a Link-
t y p e s p a c e c r a f t s i m u l a t o r ( t h e Mercury Procedures T r a i n e r ) i n
t h e Mercury Control Center.
Three days b e f o r e t h e f l i g h t , t h e p i l o t s w i l l be placed
on a low-residue d i e t ,
A t two i n t h e morning on t h e day of t h e launch, l i g h t s
w i l l go on i n t h e crews' q u a r t e r s on t h e second f l o o r of
Hangar 'IS" eAfter a shower and a shave, t h e p i l o t w i l l have
MR-3 3-1
breakfast. He w i l l have a s e l e c t i o n of t h i n g s t o eat; however,
a t y p i c a l breakfast w i l l c o n s i s t o f : 4 ounces of orange
sherbert; 4 ounces of f r o z e n s t r a w b e r r i e s i n syrup, 2 s u g a r
cookies and 8 ounces of skim m i l k ,
F o r t y minutes a f t e r he i s wakened, he w i l l be g i v e n a
p r e f l i g h t p h y s i c a l , About 35 minutes w i l l be s p e n t p l a c i n g
medical s e n s o r s a g a i n s t t a t t o o e d r e f e r e n c e marks on h i s body.
Then he w i l l climb i n t o h i s p r e s s u r e s u i t .
A t T- 145 minutes the a s t r o n a u t w i l l l e a v e Hangar "S"
i n a medical van, t o g e t h e r w i t h a p r o c e s s i o n of e s c o r t v e h i c l e s
and w i l l begin t h e 15-minute t r i p t o t h e launching s i t e .
The a s t r o n a u t ' s s u i t i s purged w i t h oxygen d u r i n g t h e
t r a n s f e r p e r i o d , and as t h e p i l o t relaxes i n a r e c l i n i n g couch,
continuous medical data are read o u t from t h e t r a i l e r consoles.
A t T- 2 hours the p i l o t t s f i n a l b r i e f i n g w i l l be conducted.
The medical van w i l l have halted n e a r t h e Mercury-Redstone,

F i f t e e n minutes are devoted t h e n t o donning h i s g l o v e s

and conducting a leakage t e s t of the s u i t , An a d d i t i o n a l 5
minutes e l a p s e s as t h e p i l o t and h i s a t t e n d a n t s ascend the
gantry,
T-100 minutes:
The f l i g h t surgeon i n t h e Mercury Control Center p a s s e s
t h e word along t o the F l i g h t D i r e c t o r - "The a s t r o n a u t i s on
g a n t r y . " The p i l o t e n t e r s t h e c r a f t through the s i d e hatch
and a d j u s t s himself i n t h e c o n t o u r couch. Cornmunicationa and
biomedical leads are connected. R e s t r a i n t h a r n e s s e s are
secured about h i s shoulders, t o r s o , and knees. A t T - 75
minutes, t h e a s t r o n a u t ' s helmet v i s o r i s c l o s e d and t h e s u i t
i s i n f l a t e d t o 5 pounds p e r square i n c h , Leakage checks a r e
conducted. A b u t t o n i s depressed on t h e side of the p i l o t ' s
helmet and t h e p r e s s u r e i s exhausted. The s u i t w i l l n o t b e
i n f l a t e d d u r i n g the f l i g h t u n l e s s t h e c a b i n p r e s s u r e should
f a i l . The s u i t , t h e r e f o r e , s e r v e s as a backup " p r e s s u r e
chamber" p r o v i d i n g the p r o p e r gaseous environment t o s u s t a i n
l i f e i n the event of t h e f a i l u r e of t h e primary system ( c a b i n ) .
I n s t a l l a t i o n of t h e spacecraft's s i d e h a t c h commences.
The o p e r a t i o n takes 20 minutes. A flow of cold oxygen i s
f o r c e d i n t o t h e cabin. Leakage checks are conducted t o
i n s u r e t h a t the p i l o t ' s chamber i s p r o p e r l y sealed.

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 "

I' Vehi c 1e P owe r I'

"Boom drop"
'I Ignition"
"Main s t a g e "
"Lift-off"

MR-3 3-3

. .
 MR-3 - INSIDE THE PILOT'S CABIN

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. -- The pilot's cabin of the MR-3

spacecraft contains many items of equipment.
Instrument Panel - Instruments are located on a main
instrument panel, a left console, and a right console. The
main panel is directly in front of the pilot. Navigational
instruments are located in the left and center sections of
the panel and the periscope is located in the center. The
right section of the main panel is composed of environmental
system indicators and controls, electrical switches, and
indicators and communication system controls. The left
console includes sequerxing telelights and warning panel,
indicators and controls for the spacecraft's automatic
pilot (ASCS) , environmental control and landing systems.
All told there are well over 100 lights, fuses, switches
and miscellaneous controls and displays.
Periscope - Approximately two feet in front of the pilot
will be located the earth periscope which will provide a11 360°
view of the horizon. The pilot may manually adjust for lowll
or I 1 high" magnificaticn. On 'llowllhe will have a view of the
earth of about 1900 miles in diameter - on "high" the field of
view will be redyced to about 80 miles. Altitude can be
measured within -10 nautical miles. The Mercury-earth peri-
scope will, in addition, serve as a navigational aid.
Pilot Support Couch - The astronaut's couch is constructed
of a crushable honeycomb material bonded t o a fiberglas shell
and lined with a rubber padding. Each astronaut has a couch
contoured to his specific shape. The couch is designed to
support the pilot's body loads during all phases of the flight
and to protect him from the acceleration forces of launch and
reentry.
Restraint System - The pilot restraint system, which
consists of shoulder ard chest straps, leg straps, a crotch
strap, lap belt a d b e guards, is designed t o restrain the
astronaut in the couch during maximum deceleration.
Environmental CoRtrol System - The environmental control
system provid-es the MR-3 spacecraft cabin and the astronaut
with a 100-percent oxygen environment t o furnish breathing,
ventilation, and pressurization gas required during the flight.
The system is completely automatic, but in the event the
automatic control malfunctions, manual controls can be used.

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
. . -.

At the top right corner of the main panel are located

environmental displays, providing the pilot with readings
of cabin pressure, temperature, humidity, and oxygen quantity
remaining.
-
Food, Water, and Waste Storage As with all manned
capsules, MR-3 will be supplied'with about 3,000 calories
of non-residue food and about 6 pounds of water. The water
supply, which is sufficient for at least 28 hours, is contained
in two flat bottles, each fitted with an extendable tube. A
container f o r liquid waste is located near the entrance hatch.
Survival Equipment - A survival M t on the left side of
the pilot's couch w i l l contain a personnel parachute which
may be used as a third parachute backup for use in an extreme
emergency. The survival package will also consist of a one-
man life raft, desalting k i t , shark repellant, dye markers,
first aid kit, distress signals, a signal m i r r o r , portable
radio, survival ration, matches, a whistle, and 10 feet of
nylon cord. Although not expected to be needed in Redstone
flights it is the same k i t as carried in the orbital flights
where contingencies might arise which require its use.
For obvious reasons, it is not possible in this paper to
include a detailed breakdown of all onboard systems and dis-
plays. Information contained in this paper is for the sole
purpose of equipping newsmen with a general understanding of
the types and functions of major Mercury spacecraft equipment.
More detailed information on Mercury flight systems may be
obtained by writing: The National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, Project Mercury Public Affairs Office,
Space Task Group, Langley Field, Virginia.

4-3
 MERCURY REDSTONE V E H I C J Z

The Mercury-Redstone v e h i c l e , a proven m o d i f i c a t i o n of

one of the most r e l i a b l e l a r g e r o c k e t s developed i n t h e
United S t a t e s , w i l l s e r v e as t h e launch v e h i c l e f o r the
coming experiment i n t h e n a t i o n ' s Mercury manned space
f l i g h t program.
Personnel of NASA's George C . Marshall Space F l i g h t
Center a t H u n t s v i l l e , A l a . , who o r i g i n a l l y developed t h e
Redstone, f i r s t a l t e r e d t h e r o c k e t f o r u s e i n s c i e n t i f i c
space e x p l o r a t i o n and more r e c e n t l y for t h e Mercury p r o j e c t .
A Mercury-Redstone w i l l soon laurlch an a s t r o n a u t on a sub-
o r b i t a l f l i g h t down t h e A t l a n t i c Missile Range from Cape
Canaveral, F l a . , i n a p r e l u d e to f u t u r e U.S. manned o r b i t a l
flights.
I n an e a r l i e r modified. v e r s i o n , t h e Redstone was used
as t h e f i r s t s t a g e of $he J x p i k r C v e h i c l e , which o r i b t e d
t h e free world's f i r s t s a t e l l i t e -- Ekplorer I. The g r e a t e s t
achievement of Explorer I was t h e d i s c o v e r y of the i n n e r Van
Allen r a d i a t i o n b e l t e n c i r c l i n g t h e e a r t h . A s p e c i a l long-
range v e r s i o n o f t h e r o c k e t had p r e v i o u s l y boosted t h e f i r s t
nose cone t o s u c c e s s f u l l y reenteer the atmosphere from space.
A s t h e i n i t i a l launch v e h i c l e to be used i n t h e manned
phases of t h e Mercury p r o g r m , t h e Mercury-Redstone i s a
f u r t h e r d e p a r t u r e from i t s o r i g i n a l d e s i g n . Some 800 changes
were r e q u i r e d t o transform t h e I t o l d " Redstone i n t o a modern,
man-carrying power p l a n t . The T(IR-3 mission Redstone was
b u i l t by t h e Chrysler Corporation.
I n its r e d e s i g n , t h e r o c k e t ' s 70-inch-diameter t a n k
s e c t i o n was lengthened about 6 f e e t , adding more t h a n 20
seconds of burning time. T h i s i n c r e a s e d t h e vehicle's l e n g t h
to 83 f e e t -- i n c l u d i n g s p a c e c r a f t and escape tower -- and
i t s l i f t - o f f weight t o 66,000 pounds. Major changes i n t h e
engine, which i n c r e a s e d i t s r e l i a b i l i t y , were a l s o n e c e s s i t a t e d .
For example, p r o v i s i o n s were b u i l t i n t o t h e engine t o allow
f o r the e x t r a burning time, and major improvements were made
i n the peroxide system which d r i v e s t h e f u e l and l i q u i d oxygen
pumps and p r o v i d e s t h r u s t c o n t r o l . Other m o d i f i c a t i o n s i m -
proved the e n g i n e ' s s t a b i l i t y , and added an a n t i - f i r e hazard
system. The Mercury-Redstone engine, developed and b u i l t by
t h e Rocketdyne D i v i s i o n of N o r t h American Aviation, g e n e r a t e s
a t h r u s t of 78,000 pounds. I n a d d i t i o n , a new instrument
compartment, a completely automatic emergency s e n s i n g system,
and a s p a c e c r a f t a d a p t e r were added.

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

. .- . - . .. . . .....
 MR-3 RECOVERY OPERATIONS

Ships, a i r c r a f t , h e l i c o p t e r s and ground v e h i c l e s w i l l

be deployed i n a number of a r e a s t o e f f e c t q u i c k recovery
of t h e s p a c e c r a f t . These areas i n c l u d e Cape Canaveral, t o
cover t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of ar??abort w h i l e t h e b o o s t e r i s e i t h e r
on o r j u s t o f f t h e pad; the o f f - s h o r e waters n e a r Cape
Canaveral, f o r an a b o r t d u r i n g t h e e a r l y s t a g e s of f l i g h t ;
and t h e e n t i r e f l i g h t p a t h from Cape Canaveral t o beyond
t h e p r e d i c t e d impact p o i n t f o r t h e case of l a t e r a b o r t
i n a d d i t i o n t o a fiormal l a n d i n g .
The Task Force a s s i g n e d t o r e c o v e r t h e a s t r o n a u t and
s p a c e c r a f t , i n NASA's MR-3 t e s t , w i l l be under t h e command
of Rear Admiral F. V. 3. HILLES. The f o r c e w i l l be made up
of u n i t s from t h e Destroyer Force, Naval A i r Force, F l e e t
Marine Force, S e r v i c e Force, Mine Force, A i r Resuce S e r v i c e ,
and t h e A i r Force Missile T e s t Center. Many of t h e u n i t s
have p a r t i c i p a t e d i n the sizccessIou.1 recovery e x e r c i s e s
p r e v i o u s l y conducted. P a s t experience and c l o s e c o o r d i n a t i o n
with NASA i n t h e development of procedures and techniques
f o r safe b u t e x p e d i t i o u s recovery have been developed over
t h e p a s t two y e a r s .
Admiral HILLES, Commander Destroyer F l o t i l l a FOUR and
Commander P r o j e c t Mercury Recovery Force, w i l l e x e r c i s e
command of t h e Recovery Force from t h e Recovery Control
Room l o c a t e d i n t h e Natiorzal Aerormitics and Space Adminis-
t r a t i o n , Mercury C o c t r o l Center a t Cape Canaveral, F l o r i d a .
The Task Force i s comprised of several Task GYOUPS, each
under a n i n d i v i d u a l comnmder .
A Task Group d i s p e r s e d along t h e t r a c k and i n t h e
p r e d i c t e d l a n d i n g area w i l l be under t h e command of Rear
A d m i r a l G . P. KOCH, Commander Carrier D i v i s i o n EIGHTEENj
who w i l l f l y h i s f l a g i n t h e a i r c r a f t c a r r i e r USS LAKE
CHAMPLAIN (CVS 39). The u n i t s of t h i s group are:
USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN (CVS 39) commanded by CAPT. R.
M O U T H , USN
USS DECATUR (DD 936) coma2ded by CDR A. W. MC LANE, USN
USS WADLEIGH (DD 689) commanded by LCDR D. W. KILEY, USN
USS ROOKS (DD 804) commanded by CDR W. H. PATTILO, USN
USS THE SULLIVANS (DD 537) commanded by CDR F.H.S. HALL, USN
USS ABBOT (DD 629) commanded by CDR R. J. NORMAN, USN
USS N.K. PERRY (DDR 883) commanded by CDR 0. A. ROBERTS, USN

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
 PROJECT MERCURY PROGRESS

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. -- Project Mercury, the first

step in the United States manned space flight program, has
been vigorously pursued by the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration since the project was begun two and
one-half years ago.
Carrying the nation's highest priority (DX) the
project has had extensive support by the Department of
Defense, other Government agencies, the scientific com-
munity, and U. S. industry. Main purpose of Mercury is
to provide vitally needed information for future, more
advanced, manned space flights.
PROGRESS TO DATE
With the launching of a man into suborbital flight,
Mercury reaches a milestone -- first major event in the
research and development process which got under way in
early October, 1958. Subject to successful completion of
other tests, orbital flight by an American astronaut is
scheduled late this y e a r .
Project Mercury has been built on a solid body or
scientific knowledge and has involved a wide variety of
ground and flight tests, engineering problems and oper-
ational planning. It has involved hundreds of wind tunnel
and aircraft drop tests, wider direction of NASA's Space
Task Group and supported by the entire NASA staff and
plant. Ten major rocket launches have succeeded out of
13 tries (See attached table). Specially modified rocket
boosters have been put in production; the McDonnell Mercury
spacecraft has gone through the entire process of design,
engineering, production and test, and 12 capsules have
been completed and delivered; the seven astronauts and
the operating forces have been trained, and a worldwide
network of communications and tracking stations is in the
final phase of construction. Cost of the program i s
expected to total about $400 million for the entire
process from design and production, through the planned
series of orbital flights.
A high-priority project, Mercury has incurred over-
time work by the NASA staff and the contracting personnel.
For many months the McDonnell plant at St. Louis, Missouri,

.. - ~ .. . .- . ..,.
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

. ~ . .
 .. I

A Study of Contingency Planning

for

The P r o j e c t Mercury Mission

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

SPACE TASK GROUP

Langley Field, V a .
April 10, 1961

MR-3 8-1

- . I ..-. . .. ... . - . - . - .. . .. ... .. . . -

 In aQy research and development program in which the
state-of-the a& is being pressed or is about to be surmounted,
there is always an undetermined number of " l F 1 ~or
" unknowns.
Project Mercury is just such a program. Its purpose is to
investigate mmls capabilities -- perhaps to confirm those
capabilities --in space.
In Mercury, extreme efforts have been made to attempt to
insure operating reliability mission success and pilot safety.
But these are mechanical, man-made pieces of equipment and are
therefore subject t o malfunction. Many repetitive or backup
systems have 'bee12 built into the Mercury spacecraft and related
equipment. From prelaunch until safe recovery, hundreds of
different possible contingencies have been anticipated. For
example, in the Redstone-boosted flights:
IF space vehicle-to-ground connections indicate an unsafe
condison in the booster before lift-off and umbilical disconnect,
the escape system can be fired on signal from the blockhouse
through the launch vehicle or through the spacecraft umbilical
Line.
IF an unsafe condition is indicated before lift-off but
afterTround umbilical disconnect, the escape system can be
fired by a signal from the blockhouse ground-command equip-
ment or by the astronaut in the cockpit.
IF an impending catastrophic failure is indicated between
I )

lift-off and esca;?e tower separation about 140 seconds after

launchz the av.tomatic abort-sensing and implementation system
(ASIS) c m automstically icitia'ce an escape sequence to re-
mc;ve %he spacecraft from the booster, o r the escape system
can be fired by ground command from the blocMnouse or by
ground command! from the Mercury Control Center, o r , by the
astronaut in t h e cockpit.
IF a mission abort Secomes necessary after tower sepa-
ratioE the spacecraft can be separated from the booster by
firing the posigrade rockets on the blunt face of the space-
craft, by actomatfc sequencing equipment, or by the astronaut
in the cockpi-k. Since only about ten seconds elapse between
escape-tower jettison and spacecraft separation from the
b o o s t e r , a near-normal Redstone-boosted mission is still
possible at this point.
IF the automatic sequencing equipment does not jettison
the ezape tower, tire astronaut in the cockpit can trigger
the systen mar,i:.ail;y fron the cockpit.

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

. ._.. .. .-. ."

landing, the astronaut can escape either through the upper
neck of the spacecraft or through the side hatch.
-
IF it becomes necessary to terminate o r
IF the flight terminates early, inadvertently, elemen-ts
of thrMercury recovery forces are deployed along the intended
flight path to make the recovery.
IF it is necessary to abort the mission, either off-the-
pad oyimmediately after engine ignitlon and lift-off,
emergency rescue and recovery crew and equipment have been
stationed near the launch area to make the recovery.
The foregoing is NOT a complete stu$y o f r , a l l redundant
Mercury systems or of all of the vexing IF'S which must be
considered in the conduct of Mercury flight tests.
It is intended, rather, as a primer for the layman
interested in acquiring a basic understanding of contingency
planning in the Mercury mission and the role of the astronaut
as a "backup system" capable of greatly increasing mission
reliability.

8-6
 MERCURY -REDSTONE ABORT

What i s an "abort" i n Me-cury-Redstone? It i s any

unplanned t e r m i n a t i o z of t h e f i i g , h t i n i s s i o ~ ; , ~The p c s s i b i l i t y
of such a b o r t s has been f o r e s e e n and provided f o r i n t h i s
program through t h e i n c l u s i o n of an escape r o c k e t mounted on
a tower above t h e s p a c e c r a f t and thraiAgh t h e pwsovision of both
automatic and manual means of fi??ing t h e escape pocket t o p u l l
the s p a c e c r a f t away from an impending launch v e h i c l e malfunc-
t i o n . I n a d d i t i o n , an e l e v a t i n g bocrn know. as a "cherry.
p i c k e r " has been provided t o remove t h e p i l o t ; d u r i n g an
emergency a r i s i n g d u r i n g t h e fical, 90 minutes af t h e countdown,
Once t h e Redstone launch v e h i c l e has received i t s f i r i n g
s i g n a l and even b e f o r e i t has l i f t e d o f f t h e pad, automatic
f a i l u r e - d e t e c t i n g systems e s p e c i a l l y b u l l % i n r o the vehhcle
w i l l s e n s e impending tmuS2.e and w i l l i r i i t i a t e an a b o r t , When
t h i s happens, t h e clamp ring which attaches t h e s p a c e c r a f t t o
t h e launch v e h i c l e i s r e l e a s e d by e x p l o s i v e b o l t s , t h e r e t r o -
r o c k e t package a t t a c h e d t o t h e spa,cecrafc h e a t s h i e l d i s
j e t t i s o n e d , and t h e escape r o c k e t i s f i r e d . The t h r u s t of t h e
escape r o c k e t i s s u f f i c i e n t , t'o p u l l t h e s p a c e c r a f t 50 an
a l t i t u d e of o v e r 2000 f e e t and w e l l t o one s i d e sf 'che launch
pad. A s t h e s p a c e c r a f t reaches i t s peak a l t i t u d e i n t h i s
s h o r t f l i g h t e x p l o s i v e b o l t s ari? fSP-ed t o ? e l e a s e a n o t h e r
clamp r i n g which a t t a c h e s t h e escape roeI.cet and tower t o t h e
spacecraft A small roc,ke+, moi:n'r,ec2 beneath t h e escape r o c k e t
begins t h r u s t i n g Lo c a r r y t,h% tower axd n c m empty escape
rocket away from t h e s p a c e c r a f t and c l e a r t h e way f o r deploying
p a r a c h u t e s from t h e small upper end af t h e s p a c e c r a f t . When
t h e tower has gone t h e sn?sll 6-foot drog-de parachut,e i s
deployed. T h i s p a r a c h u t e stags any r o t a t i o n of t n e s p a c e c r a f t ,
t h e n p u l i s away t h e antenna c a n a,ad deploys the 63-foot main
l a n d i n g p a r a c h u t e . When +,he l a n d i n g p a r a c h u t e I s de2loyed t h e
heat s h i e l d i s r e l e a s e d and t h i s , i n turn, extends t h e landing-
impact bag which forms a pneumatic cushion to absorb t h e shock
of l a n d i n g . The impact bag i s needed p?;ar,arilg for impacts on
land but i s a l s o r e q u i r e d f ~ iandfngs r on w a t e r whea wind and
waves are h i g h .
I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e automatic system d e s c r i b e d above, t h e
escape r o c k e t can be f i r e d , i f necessary, by t h e a s t r o n a u t o r
by r a d i o command from t h e Redstone blockhouse, t h e Mercury
Control Center, o r t h e A t l a n t i c Missile Range range s a f e t y
o f f i c e r from t h e AMR C e n t r a l Control B u i l d i n g .
MR-3 9-1

_. . " .- . ".. .".. .. . ...-

 For impending b o a s t e r malfunctions a f t e r 1lf.t;-off t h e
automatic system described above goes through t h e $8188
sequence t o a s s u r e t h a t t h e s p a c e c r a f t i s moved well away
from any p o t e n t i a l b o o s t e r explosion.
Bor o t h e r emergencies such as systems malfunctions
w1t;hln t h e s p a c e c r a f t t h e a s t r m a u t and t h e f l i g h t monitors
i n the Mercury Control Center can a l s o i n i t i a t e an a b o r t ,
t h u s a e p a r a t i n g t h e s p a c e c r a f t f r o m t h e b o o s t e r and s a f e l y
terminatlng t h e f l i g h t .
The a t t a c h e d brochure e n t i t l e d "IF" d e s c r i b e s a number
of the p o s s l b l e emergencies t h a t could lead t o an abort i n a
Mercury f l i g h t mission and also d e s c r i b e s t h e many s t e p s that
have been taken t o minimize t h e number of such emergencies
t h a t oould reach t h e s t a g e of r e q u i r i n g an a b o r t .

MR-3 9-2
J O H N HERSCHEL GLENN, Jr. BIOQRAPHY
P r o j e c t Mercury Astronaut

John H, Glennp Jr., a l i e u t e n a n t c o l o n e l i n the U. S.

Marine Corps, was born J u l y 18, 1921 i n Cambridge, Ohio. He
c o n s i d e r s New Concord, Ohio, h i s permanent home. H e i s 5 f e e t
104 i n c h e s t a l l , weighs 168 pounds and has green eyes and red
hair, H i s wife i s t h e former Anna Margaret Castor, daughter of
D r . and Mrs. H. W. Castor, The Glenns have two c h i l d r e n : John
David, 14, and Carolyn Ann, l a e H i s p a r e n t s are M r . and Mrs.
John H. Glenn. The e l d e r M r . Glenn i s a r e t i r e d operakor of a
plumbing and h e a t i n g b u s i n e s s , The e l d e r Glenns and C a s t o r s
a l l l i v e on Bloomfield Road i n New Concord, Glenn a l s o has a
s i s t e r , Mrs. J e a n Pinkston, of Cambridge.
Glenn a t t e n d e d primary and high s c h o o l s i n Concord and
a t t e n d e d Muskingum College t h e r e a l s o , Glenn e n t e r e d the Naval
Aviation Cadet Program i n March 1942. He was graduated from
t h i s program and commissioned i n the Marine Corps a y e a r l a t e r ,
After advanced t r a i n i n g , he j o i n e d Marine F i g h t e r Squadron 155
and s p e n t a year f l y i n g F4U f i g h t e r s i n t h e Marshall I s l a n d s ,
During h i s World War 11 s e r v i c e he f l e w 59 combat missions.
A f t e r t h e war, he was a member of F i g h t e r Squadron 218 on
North China p a t r o l and had duty i n Guam, From June 1948 t o
December 1950, he was an i n s t r u c t o r i n advanced f l i g h t training
a t Corpus C h r i s t i , Texas, Glenn t h e n a t t e n d e d Amphibious
Warfare School a t Quantico, V i r g i n i a . I n Korea he flew 63
missions w i t h Marine F i g h t e r Squadrons 311 and 27 while a n
exchange p i l o t w i t h t h e A i r Force i n F-86 S a b r e j e t s . I n t h e
l a s t n i n e days of f i g h t i n g i n Korea, he downed three WXG1s i n
combat along t h e Yalu River. A f t e r Korea, Glenn a t t e n d e d
T e s t P i l o t School a t t h e Naval A i r T e s t Center, Patuxent River,
Maryland. Afeer g r a d u a t i o n , he was p r o j e c t o f f i c e r on a number
of a i r c r a f t . H e was assigned t o t h e F i g h t e r Design Branch of
the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics i n Washington from November 1956
t o A p r i l 1959, d u r i n g which time he a l s o a t t e n d e d t h e U n i v e r s i t y
of Maryland. I n A p r i l 1959 he was s e l e c t e d as an a s t r o n a u t for
P r o j e c t Mercury.
Glenn has been awarded t h e Distinguished F l y i n g Cross on
f i v e occasions, and holds t h e A i r Medal w i t h 18 Clusters f o r
h i s s e r v i c e d u r i n g World War I1 and Korea. I n J u l y 1957,
w h i l e p r o j e c t o f f i c e r of t h e FBU, he s e t a t r a n s c o n t i n e n t a l
speed record from Los Angeles t o New York, spanning t h e country
i n 3 hours and 23 minutes, T h i s was t h e f i r s t t r a n s c o n t i n e n t a l
f l i g h t t o average s u p e r s o n i c speed. He has more t h a n 5,100
hours of f l y i n g t i m e , i n c l u d i n g 1,600 hours i n jet; aircraft.
The Glenn family habbies a r e b o a t i n g and water s k i i n g .

10-1
VIRGIL I V A N GRISSOM BIOGRAPHY
P r o j e c t Mercury Astronaut

V i r g i l I. Grissom, a c a p t a i n i n t h e U. S , A i r Force, was

born A p r i l 3, 1926 i n M i t c h e l l , Indiana. He i s 5 f e e t 7 i n c h e s
t a l l , weighs 150 pounds, has brown h a i r and brown eyes. Mrs,
Grissom i s t h e former B e t t y L, Moore. They have two sons:
S c o t t , 11,and Mark, 7 . Grissom's p a r e n t s , M r , and Mrs, Dennis
D. Grisaom, l i v e a t 715 Baker S t r e e t , M i t c h e l l . He has two
b r o t h e r s : Norman, of M i t c h e l l ; and Lowell, a s e n i o r a t Indiana
U n i v e r s i t y ; and a s i s t e r , Mrs. J o e Beavers, who resides i n
Baltimore, Maryland. H i s w i f e ' s f a t h e r , Claude Moore, l i v e s i n
Mitchell; her mother i s deceased.
Grissom a t t e n d e d primary and high s c h o o l s i n M i t c h e l l .
He f i r s t e n t e r e d t h e A i r Force i n 1944 as an a v i a t i o n c a d e t
and was discharged i n November 1945. He was graduated from
Purdue U n i v e r s i t y w i t h a degree i n mechanical e n g i n e e r i n g i n
1950. He r e t u r n e d t o a v i a t i o n c a d e t t r a i n i n g a f t e r h i s gradua-
t i o n from Purdue and r e c e i v e d h i s wings i n March 1951.
Grissom j o i n e d t h e 75th F i g h t e r - I n t e r c e p t o r Squadron a t Presque
I s l e , Maine, as an F-86 f i g h t e r p i l o t . He f l e w 100 combat
m i s s i o n s i n Korea i n F-868s w i t h t h e 334th F i g h t e r - I n t e r c e p t o r
Squadron. H e l e f t Korea i n June 1952 and became a j e t p i l o t
i n s t r u c t o r a t Bryan, Texas. I n August 1955 he went t o t h e A i r
Force I n s t i t u t e of Technology a t Wright-Patterson A i r Force
Base, Ohio, t o study a e r o n a u t i c a l engineering. I n October
1956 he a t t e n d e d t h e T e s t P i l o t School a t Edwards A i r Force
Base, C a l i f o r n i a , and r e t u r n e d t o Wright-Patterson A i r Force
Base i n May 1957 as a t e s t p i l o t assigned t o t h e F i g h t e r Branch,
He has flown more t h a n 3,400 hours, o v e r Z95QO i n j e t s .
Grissom has been awarded t h e Distinguished F l y i n g Cross
and A i r Medal w i t h C l u s t e r f o r s e r v i c e i n Korea,
H i s hobbies are h u n t i n g and f i s h i n g e

10-2
 . .

ALAN BARLETT SHEPARD, JR, BIOGRAPHY

Project Mercury Astronaut

Alan B. Shepard, Jr., a commander in the U.S. Navy, was born

November 18, 1923 in East Derry, New Hampshire. The 37-year-old
astronaut is 5 feet 11 inches t a l l , weighs 160 pounds, has blue eyes
and brown hair. Shepard is married to the former Louise Brewer of
Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. The couple has two daughters:
Juliana, 9, and Laura, 13. His parents, Col. and Mrs. Alan B.
Shepard, live in East Derry where the elder Shepard, a retired
officer of the Army of the United States, is an insurance broker,
Shepard's sister, Mrs, Pauline S. Sheman, resides in Attleboro,
Massachusetts.
Shepard attended primary school in East Derry and was graduated
from Pinkerton Academy, Derry, New Hampshire, 1940., He studied one
year at Admiral Farragut Academy, Toms River, New Jersey, and then
entered the Naval Academy, Annapolis, He was graduated from Annapolis
in 1944. He was graduated from the Naval War College, Newport, m o d e
Island, in 1958.
The astronaut saw service on the destroyer COGSWELL in the
Pacific during World War 11. He then entered flying training at
Corpus Christi, Texas9 and Pensacola9 Florida, Me received his
wings in March 1947. Subsequent service was in Fighter Squadron 42
at the Norfolk Naval Air Station and Jacksonville, Florida. He also
served several tours aboard aimraft; carriers in the Mediterranean.
Shepard went to USN Test Pilot School at Pacuxent River, Maryland,
in 1950 and served two t o u r s in flight test work there. During this
service he took part in high altitude tests to obtain data on light
at different altitudes and on a variety of air masses over the North
American Continent, He also took part in experihents in test and
development of the Mavyns in-flight refueling system9 carrier suit-
ability trials of t h e F2H3 Bansheeg and Navy t r i a l s of the first
angled carrier deck. Between his flfght-tesk tours at Patuxent,
Shepard was assigned to Fighter Squadron 193 at Moffett Field,
California, a night fighter unit flying mnshee j e t s . He was Opera-
tions Officer of this squadron and made two t ~ u mwith it to the
Western Pacific on board the carrier ORISKANY. He has been engaged
in the test of the F3H Dernoc, FbU Crusader2 F4D Skyray, and Fl1F
Tigercat, He was proJect test pilot on the F5D Skylancer., The last
five months at Patuxenf;were spmt a s an instructor in the Test Pilot
School. After his graduation from the Naval War College, Shepard
joined the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet, as air-
craft readiness officer. He has 3,700 hours of flying time, 1,800
in j e t s ,
Shepard's hobbies are golf, ice skating, and water skiing.

10-3

- _ _ . .... . .
_-I._. .. . . . - . ..
 ASTRONAUT T R A I N I N G PROGRAM SUMMARY

Here are some of t h e general t r a i n i n g a c t i v i t i e s t h a t

t h e a s t r o n a u t s have undergone s i n c e May 1959,
1. Systems and v e h i c l e f a m i l i a r i z a t i o n . The
a s t r o n a u t s were given l e c t u r e s i n t h e v e h i c l e systems by
-
NASA and s e v e r a l of t h e c o n t r a c t i n g companies. Langley
Research Center gave them a 50-hour course in a s t r o n a u t i c s .
McDonnell gave t h e a s t r o n a u t s l e c t u r e s on t h e Mercury sub-
systems and s e s s i o n s on code t r a i n i n g . L e c t u r e s were
given t o t h e a s t r o n a u t s by D r . W i l l i a m K. Douglas on aero-
medical problems of space f l i g h t . A t t h e Wright A i r
Development Division, t h e a s t r o n a u t s were i n d o c t r i n a t e d
w i t h t h e Mercury p r e s s u r e s u i t , o p e r a t i o n of t h e s u i t i n
low p r e s s u r e and h e a t chambers, on t h e c e n t r i f u g e , and
during weightless f l y i n g . A t t h e Naval Medical Research
I n s t i t u t e , t h e y were f a m i l i a r i z e d w i t h t h e p h y s i o l o g i c a l
e f f e c t s of a high CO c o n t e n t i n t h e environment. The
f
Army B a l l i s t i c Missi e Agency i n d o c t r i n a t e d t h e a s t r o -
nauts an t h e Redstone, The A i r Force B a l l i s t i c M i s s i l e
Division and i t s a s s o c i a t e d c o n t r a c t o r s i n d o c t r i n a t e d t h e
a s t r o n a u t s on t h e Atlas.
2. S t a r r e c o g n i t i o n . Each a s t r o n a u t was given -
concentrated p e r s o n a l i n s t r u c t i o n on t h e elements of
c e l e s t i a l n a v i g a t i o n and on s t a r r e c o g n i t i o n a t t h e
Morehead Planetarium, Chapel H i l l , North Carolina,
d u r i n g February 1961. A t r a i n e r s i m u l a t i n g t h e c e l e s t i a l
view through a c a p s u l e window p e r m i t t e d a s t r o n a u t
p r a c t i c e i n c o r r e c t i n g yaw d r i f t .
3. Desert s u r v i v a l . - A 5$-day course i n desert
s u r v i v a l t r a i n i n g was accomplished a t t h e U. S. A i r
Force T r a i n i n g Command S u r v i v a l School a t Stead A i r
Force Baseo Nevada. The course c o n s i s t e d of s u r v i v a l
techniques through l e c t u r e s , demonstrations, and a p p l i c a -
t i o n i n a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e d e s e r t environment. The
Mercury s u r v i v a l k i t was a l s o e v a l u a t e d .
4. Egress t r a i n i n g . During March and A p r i l 1960 -
open-water normal egress t r a i n i n g was conducted i n t h e
Gulf of Mexico o f f Pensacola, F l o r i d a . Each a s t r o n a u t
made a t l e a s t 2 egresses t h r o u h t h e upper h a t c h . S t a t e
3-4 seas (up t o 10-foot swells7 were experienced. Water
s u r v i v a l t r a i n i n g was a l s o accomplished d u r i n g t h i s
program. A t r a i n i n g program of s i d e h a t c h e g r e s s was

MR-3 11-1

.. .. . ... .-.. -.I.. .. .. . ,.,... . . . .. .. -. .. . . . .- . ..

 accomplished in August 1960 at Langley. Each of the
astronauts made underwater egresses, some of which were
made in the Mercury pressure suit.
5. Specialty assignments.
uted to the Mercury development
- The astronauts contrib-
program by working directly
with Space Task Group engineers and by attending NASA-
McDonnell coordination meetings and Mercury-Redstone or
Mercury-Atlas panel meetings in their specialty areas.
Astronaut specialty areas are:
-
a. Carpenter Communication equipment and
procedures, periscope operation, navigational aids
and procedures.
b. Cooper - Redstone booster, including con-
f i g u r a t i o n , t ra je c t o r y , aerodynaml c s, countdown,
and flight procedures.
c. Glenn - Cockpit layout or configuration,
instrumentation, and controls for capsule and
simulation.
d o Grissom -
Reaction control system, hand
controller, autopilot and horizon scanners.
-
e. Schirra Environmental control systems,
pilot support and restraint, pressure suit, aero-
medical monitoring.
f. Shepard - Recovery systems, parachutes,
recovery aids, recovery procedures and range net-
work *
g. Slayton -
Atlas booster and escape system
including Atlas configuration, trajectory, aero-
dynamics, countdown, and flight procedures.
Some of the more specific training programs and equipment are:
1, Centrifuge programs. -
During the three Johnsville
centrifuge programs, astronauts received extensive training
in the full-scale simulations of the Mercury-Redstone and
Mercury-Atlas flights and the aborts associated with each
type of trajectory. The primary purpose of these programs
was to give the astronauts training in capsule attitude and
rate control, monitoring normal sequencing functions, and

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