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Mercury

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Mercury June 1958
Langley Mercury capsule layout, June 1958
Credit: NASA

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Status: Operational 1960. First Launch: 1960-01-21. Last Launch: 1963-05-15. Number: 18 . Thrust: 13.33 kN (2,997 lbf). Gross mass: 1,355 kg (2,987 lb). Unfuelled mass: 1,136 kg (2,504 lb). Height: 4.03 m (13.22 ft).

The capsule had to be as small as possible to match the payload capability of America's first ICBM, the Atlas, which would be used for orbital missions. The much smaller Redstone was used for suborbital flights. The resulting design was less than a third of the weight of the Russian Vostok spacecraft, and more limited as a result. While the Vostok was capable of missions of up to a week, the Mercury's final 24 hour mission was barely completed, with virtually all of the spacecraft's systems having broken down by the end. NASA felt lucky to have astronaut Cooper back alive (although the flight demonstrated a pinpoint re-entry was possible with no electrical power, no ECS, no guidance or instruments!) Alan Shepard's desired week-long Mercury 10 flight was cancelled as a result, an ironic capstone to a program that could have made Shepard the first man in space if NASA had not desired one more unmanned test of the Redstone rocket before his suborbital flight.

A few follow-on uses of Mercury were studied, but the real follow-on was the Gemini, also built by McDonnell.

Unit Cost $: 5.500 million. Crew Size: 1. Orbital Storage: 1.00 days. Habitable Volume: 1.70 m3. RCS total impulse: 30 kgf-sec. Spacecraft delta v: 98 m/s (321 ft/sec). Electric System: 151.00 kWh. Electric System: 2.16 average kW.

Adam American manned spacecraft. In early 1958 Wernher von Braun proposed launching an American aboard an Army Redstone on a suborbital mission into space before the end of 1959 at a cost of under $12 million.

Mercury-Jupiter 2 (MJ-2) Planned manned Mercury long-range suborbital flights using the Jupiter IRBM as a booster. These were considered as an intermediary step in the Mercury program before use of the Jupiter booster in the program was cancelled in July 1959 on cost grounds.

Little Joe 5A In April 1959, plans were made for three or four Mercury-Little Joe flights with animal passengers. NASA secretly considered a manned mission but quickly dropped the idea when the dynamic pressures involved were reviewed.

Mercury Balloon Flight Tests In January 1959, balloon flights were planned for qualification of the Mercury spacecraft. These would occur from July 1959 to January 1961. Final flights would be manned tests of up to 24 hours duration, with recovery of the capsule at sea. Cancelled May 1959.

Mercury MR-3A Planned manned Mercury flight that would have put an American in space before the Russians. But after booster problems on Mercury MR-2, von Braun insisted on a further unmanned booster test. This proved to be unnecessary. If NASA had overruled Von Braun, Shepard would have been the first man in space, beating Gagarin's flight by three weeks.

Mercury MR-3 First American in space, less than a month after Gagarin, but only on a 15 minute suborbital flight. First manual orientation of a manned spacecraft.

Mercury Mark I American manned spacecraft. Study 1959. Proposed derivatives of the basic one-crew Mercury capsule for investigation of earth orbit rendezvous, lifting re-entry and land landing.

Mercury MR-4 Suborbital flight; second American in space. Hatch blew after splashdown; capsule sank; astronaut barely saved before drowning.

Mercury MR-5 Planned Mercury suborbital flight. After Soviet full-day orbital flight in August 1961, NASA's suborbital hops looked pathetic. Further suborbital Mercury flights were cancelled.

Mercury MR-6 Planned Mercury suborbital flight. Cancelled July 1961; delays in Redstone flights meant Atlas orbital flights were imminent.

Mercury MA-6 First US manned orbital mission, three orbits. False landing bag deploy light led to reentry being started with retropack left in place. It turned out the indicator light was false, but a spectacular reentry ensued.

Mercury MA-7 Delta 7 Planned second US manned orbital flight. Cancelled 18 March 1962 when astronaut's minor heart condition became public.

Mercury MA-7 Second US manned orbital mission. Excessive fuel use and pilot error led to late re-entry, and landing 300 km past the intended point. Capsule ran out of orientation fuel during re-entry.

Mercury MA-8 Most successful American manned space flight to that date, six orbits, returning to earth precisely, with astronaut aboard recovery ship 40 minutes after landing. Speed record (7,850 m/s).

Mercury MA-9A Planned Mercury six-orbit mission. Canceled and NASA moved directly to an 18-orbit mission due to astronaut shortage and change in concept (flights no longer used just to train astronauts).

Mercury MA-9 Final Mercury mission, After 22 orbits, virtually all capsule systems failed. Nevertheless the astronaut was able to manually guide the spacecraft to a pinpoint landing.

Mercury MA-10 Planned second one-day Mercury flight. Cancelled as too risky after Mercury MA-9 achieved objective only after failure of many spacecraft systems.

Mercury MA-11 Planned third one-day Mercury flight. Cancelled as too risky after Mercury MA-9 achieved objective, but only after failure of many spacecraft systems.

Mercury MA-12 Planned fourth one-day Mercury flight. Cancelled mid-1962 in order to move on to Gemini.

Photo Gallery

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Mercury Atlas 5 Credit: NASA

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Mercury Credit: � Mark Wade

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Mercury Proposals Before Mercury, the US Air Force had a project 'Man in Space Soonest'. This chart summarizes the initial contractor proposals. Credit: � Mark Wade

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Pigs In Space Pigs In Space - NASA used pigs to test human survivability in case of a land 'splashdown' by using pigs - they showed no apparent ill effects - truly 'Spam in a Can'. Credit: NASA

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Mercury Gemini Comparison of the Mercury and Gemini capsules. Credit: � Mark Wade

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Mercury Credit: Manufacturer Image

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Mercury Balloon-Subs Credit: Manufacturer Image

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Project 7969 Designs Project 7969 designs. From left, top row: North American X-15B; Bell Dynasoar; Northrop Dynasoar; Republic Demi body; Avco manoeuvrable drag cone. Second row: Lockheed; Martin; Aeronutronics; Goodyear; McDonnell; Convair Credit: � Mark Wade

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Gemini 5 Artist concept of Rendezvous Evaluation Pod in orbit with Gemini spacecraft Credit: NASA

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• Blunt reentry vehicle concept advocated. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  H. Julian Allen of NACA Ames Laboratory conceived the "blunt nose principle" which submitted that a blunt shape would absorb only one-half of 1 perecent of the heat generated by the reentry of a body into the earth's atmosphere. This principle was later significant to ICBM nose cone and the Mercury capsule development.

• Use of existing ballistic missiles for manned orbital space flight studied. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Personnel of the NACA were studying the possibilities of utilizing existing ballistic missile boosters, which were then under development, for manned orbital space flight..

• USAF RFP - Manned Ballistic Rocket Research System - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Class: Manned. Type: Manned space station. USAF issues request for industry proposals for Project 7969 Manned Ballistic Rocket Research System. Two year study period..

• Faget presentation on manned orbital flight. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Faget. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  A presentation on manned orbital flight was made by Maxime A. Faget. The concept included the use of existing ballistic missiles for propulsion, solid-fuel retrorockets for reentry initiation, and a nonlifting ballistic shape for the reentering capsule. This concept was considered to be the quickest and safest approach for initial manned flights into orbit.

• Mercury ballistic shape proposed. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Faget. Program: Mercury. Maxime Faget of NACA Langley proposed ballistic shape of Mercury capsule, while A. Eggers of Ames and E. S. Love and J. V. Becker of Langley proposed glider configurations of manned spacecraft later incorporated in Dyna-Soar and Apollo studies..

• Eleven proposals for Project 7969 initial manned spacecraft - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. The Air Force received 11 unsolicited industry proposals for Project 7969, and technical evaluation was started. Observers from NACA participated..

• The Air Research and Development Command convened a committee to prepare a final planning draft of an Air Force Astronautics Program for presentation to Mr. W. M. Holaday, Department of Defense Direct - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, Mercury, Lunex.

  The Air Force proposed five year space program included development of research and test vehicles, satellite reconnaissance systems, a lunar based intelligence system, defense systems, logistic requirements of lunar transport, and strategic communications. If the program wei.accepted in its entirety, $1.156 billion in initial funding would be needed in fiscal 1959. (Memo, Col L. D. Ely, Dir Tech Div, to Col C. H. Terhune, AFBMD, 28 Jan 58, subj: Trip Report.) The Air Force invited the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) to participate in "a research vehicle program to explore and solve the problems of manned space flight. " Specifically, the Air Force objective was to achieve the earliest possible manned orbital flight which would significantly contribute to development of "follow-on scientific and military space systems." An immediate decision was therefore necessary to determine the best approach to the design of an orbiting research vehicle--should it be a glide vehicle or one designed only to accomplish the satellite mission? Inasmuch as both NACA and the Air Force were well along in their investigations of the best approach to be taken in the design of a manned orbiting research vehicle it was suggested that, "These efforts should be joined at once and brought promptly to a conclusion. " Accordingly NACA was invited to collaborate with Air Research and Development Command on an over-all evaluation of relevant space plans and projects and any program resulting from the joint evaluation would be, it was suggested, "managed and funded along the lines of the X-15 effort. " Specific guide lines were furnished the Advisory Committee to facilitate its response to the Air Force request. (Ltr, Lt Gen D. L. Putt, DCS/D, Hq USAF, to Dr. H. L. Dryden, Dir NACA, 31 Jan 58, no subject.)

• Conference reviews concepts for manned orbital vehicles. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Faget. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Project 7969.

  A conference was held at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, to review concepts for manned orbital vehicles. The NACA informally presented two concepts then under study at Langley Aeronautical Laboratory: the one proposed by Maxime A. Faget involved a ballistic, high-drag capsule with heat shield on which the pilot lies prone during reentry, with reentry being accomplished by reverse thrust at the apogee of the elliptical orbit involving a deceleration load of about 8g, and proceeding to impact by a parachute landing; the other Langley proposal called for the development of a triangular planform vehicle with a flat bottom having some lift during reentry. At this same meeting there were several Air Force contractor presentations. These were as follows: Northrop, boost-glide buildup to orbital speed; Martin, zero-lift vehicle launched by a Titan with controlled flight estimated to be possible by mid-1961; McDonnell, ballistic vehicle resembling Faget's proposal, weighing 2,400 pounds and launched by an Atlas with a Polaris second stage; Lockheed, a 20 degree semiapex angle cone with a hemispherical tip of 1-foot radius, pilot in sitting position facing rearward, to be launched by an Atlas-Hustler combination; Convair reviewed a previous proposal for a large-scale manned space station, but stated a minimum vehicle - a 1,000-pound sphere - could be launched by an Atlas within a year; Aeronutronics, cone-shaped vehicle with spherical tip of 1-foot radius, with man enclosed in sphere inside vehicle and rotated to line the pilot up with accelerations, and launched by one of several two-stage vehicles; Republic, the Ferri sled vehicle, a 4,000 pound, triangular plan with a two-foot diameter tube running continuous around the leading and trailing edge and serving as a fuel tank for final-stage, solid-propellant rockets located in each wing tip, with a man in small compartment on top side, and with a heat-transfer ring in the front of the nose for a glide reentry of 3,600 miles per hour with pilot ejecting from capsule and parachuting down, and the launch vehicle comprising three stages (also see July 31, 1958 entry); AVCO, a 1,500-pound vehicle sphere launched by a Titan, equipped with a stainless-steel-cloth parachute whose diameter would be controlled by compessed air bellows and which would orient the vehicle in orbit, provide deceleration for reentry, and control drag during reentry; Bell, reviewed proposals for boost-glide vehicles, but considered briefly a minimum vehicle, spherical in shape, weighing about 3,000 pounds; Goodyear, a spherical vehicle with a rearward facing tail cone and ablative surface, with flaps deflected from the cone during reentry for increased drag and control, and launched by an Atlas or a Titan plus a Vanguard second stage; North American, extend the X-15 program by using the X-15 with a three-stage launch vehicle to achieve a single orbit with an apogee of 400,000 feet and a perigee of 250,000, range about 500 to 600 miles and landing in the Gulf of Mexico, and the pilot ejecting and landing by parachute with the aircraft being lost.

• Air Force headquarters instructed the Air Research and Development Command to expedit man-in-space projects. - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, Mercury, Dynasoar.

  Air Force headquarters instructed the Air Research and Development Command, in collaboration with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics to " expedite the evaluation of existing or planned projects, appropriate available proposals and other competitive proposals with a view to providing an experimental system capable of an early flight of a manned vehicle making an orbit of the earth." Furthermore, it was asserted that it was "vital to the prestige of the nation that such a feat be accomplished at the earliest technically practicable date--if at all possible before the Russians. " It was therefore important that the evaluation determine whether the objective of a manned space flight could be accomplished more readily under the Dyna Soar program or by means of an orbiting satellite. The minimum time to the first orbital flight and the associated costs were to be determined. The approach to this objective was also to furnish tangible contributions to the over-all Air Force astronautics program. Furthermore, the hazard accompanying such a flight was to be the minimum dictated by sound engineering and experimental flight safety practices. If at all possible, pilot safety was to be secured by furnishing an emergency escape system. (Ltr, Lt Gen D. L. Putt, DCS/D, Hq USAF, to Cmdr, ARDG, 31 Jan 58, subj: Advanced Hypersonic Research Aircraft.)

• USAF proposes NACA participation in the Air Force effort in the manned ballistic rocket program. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Project 7969.

  Lieutenant General Donald Putt, Air Force Director of Research and Development, sent a letter to Dr. Hugh Dryden, Director of NACA, inviting NACA participation in the Air Force effort in the manned ballistic rocket program. Dr. Dryden informed the Air Force that NACA was preparing manned spacecraft designs for submission in March 1958.

• The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics informed the Air Force that it was working on the design of a space capsule and would coordinate on the Air Force space program late in March when the d - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, Mercury.

  (DF, Lt Col C. C. Strathy, Ch Research and Tgt Sys Div, Dir of Systems Plans, Dep Cmdr for Weapon Sys, to Asst for Msls, Dep Cmdr for Weapon Sys, Hq ARDC, 25 Feb 58, subj: Man in Space; Outline History of Man-in-Space, R&D; Program, 10 Nov 59, prep by Col J. L. Martin, Hq USAF.)

• NACA estimated weights for manned reentry vehicle too low. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury, X-15A.

  Experience with the X-15 design indicated that many of the weight figures advanced by the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory for the drag or lift configurations of the reentry vehicle (later to become the Mercury spacecraft) were too low, according to Walter C. Williams, Chief of the NACA High-Speed Flight Station. Weights of auxiliary-power fuel, research instrumentation, and cockpit equipment as set by Langley were too low in terms of X-15 experience. Williams stated the total weight should be 2,300 pounds for the drag configuration and 2,500 pounds for the lifting configuration.

• NACA design concepts to achieve manned orbital flights. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Gilruth. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Robert R. Gilruth, Clotaire Wood, and Hartley A. Soule of NACA transmitted a document to the Air Research and Development Command, which listed the design concepts NACA believed should be followed to achieve manned orbital flights at the earliest possible date. These were: (1) design and develop a simple ballistic vehicle, (2) use existing intercontinental ballistic missile propulsion systems, and (3) use the heat sink method for reentry from orbital conditions.

• Manned satellite development plan studied. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  At the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory, a working committee studied various manned satellite development plans and concluded that a ballistic-entry vehicle launched with an existing intercontinental ballistic missile propulsion system could be utilized fpr the first manned satellite project.

• MISS Working Conference - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Johnson, Caldwell, Schriever. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Project 7969.

  A working conference in support of the Air Force 'Man-in-Space Soonest' (MISS) was held at the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division in Los Angeles, California. General Bernard Schriever, opening the conference, stated that events were moving faster than expected. By this statement he meant that Roy Johnson, the new head of the Advanced Research Projects Agency, had asked the Air Force to report to him on its approach to putting a man in space soonest. Johnson indicated that the Air Force would be assigned the task, and the purpose of the conference was to produce a rough-draft proposal. At that time the Air Force concept consisted of three stages: a high-drag, no-lift, blunt-shaped spacecraft to get man in space soonest, with landing to be accomplished by a parachute; a more sophisticated approach by possibly employing a lifting vehicle or one with a modified drag; and a long-range program that might end in a space station or a trip to the moon.

• NACA manned satellite configurations - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Reports were made on recoverable manned satellite configurations being considered by NACA. One involved a blunt, high-drag, zero-lift vehicle that would depend on a parachute landing for final deceleration. Another was a winged vehicle that would glide to a landing after reentering the atmosphere. The third proposal involved features of each of the above. Besides the configuration studies, significant reports were completed relative to motion and heating, stabilization, and attitude control.

• The NACA staff completed a program outline for conducting the manned satellite program. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  At that time, NACA was already actively engaged in research and study of several phases. For example, in the basic studies category effort had been expended on the study of orbits and orbit control, space physical characteristics, configuration studies, propulsion system research, human factors, structures and materials, satellite instrumentation, range requirements, and noise and vibration during reentry and exit. In addition, NACA outlined the complete program covering full-scale studies of mockups, simulators, and detail designs; full-scale vertical and orbiting flights involving unmanned, animal, and manned flights and recovery; and exploitation of the program to increase the payloads. As to the design concepts for such a program, NACA believed that the Atlas launch vehicle was adequate to meet launch-vehicle requirements for manned orbital flights; that retrograde and vernier controllable thrust could be used for orbital control; that heat-sink or lighter material could be used against reentry heating; that guidance should be ground programed with provisions for the pilot to make final adjustments; that recovery should be accomplished at sea with parachutes used for letdown; that a network of radar stations should be established to furnish continuous tracking; and that launchings be made from Cape Canaveral. It was estimated that with a simple ballistic shape accelerations would be within tolerable limits for the pilot. Temperature control, oxygen supply, noise, and vibration were considered engineering development problems, which could be solved without any special breakthroughs.

• Preliminary Studies of Manned Satellites, Wingless Configuration, Non-Lifting - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Faget. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  An NACA report was published entitled, 'Preliminary Studies of Manned Satellites, Wingless Configuration, Non-Lifting,' by Maxime A. Faget, Benjamine Garland, and James J. Buglia. Later this document became the basic working paper for the Project Mercury development program, and was reissued as NASA Technical Note D-1254, March 1962.

• NACA Conference on High-Speed Aerodynamics - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Faget. Spacecraft: Dynasoar, Mercury.

  An 'NACA Conference on High-Speed Aerodynamics' was held at the Ames Aeronautical Laboratory, Moffett Field, California, to acquaint the military services and industrial contractors interested in aerospace projects with the results of recent research conducted by the NACA laboratories on the subject of space flight. The conference was attended by more than 500 representatives from the NACA, industry, the military services, and other appropriate government agencies. Some 46 technical papers were presented by NACA personnel, and included specific proposals for manned space flight vehicle projects. One of these was presented by Maxime A. Faget. Other papers within the category of manned orbital satellites included: 'Preliminary Studies of Manned Satellites, Wingless Configuration, Lifting Body' by Thomas J. Wong and others; 'Preliminary Studies of Manned Satellites, Winged Configurations' by John V. Becker; 'Preliminary Aerodynamic Data Pertinent to Manned Satellite Reentry Configurations' by Jim A. Penland and William O. Armstrong; and 'Structural Design Considerations for Boost-Glide and Orbital Reentry Vehicles' by William A. Brooks and others.

• Faget conceived contour couch to withstand the high g-loads. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Faget. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Maxime A. Faget and associates conceived the idea of using a contour couch to withstand the high g-loads attendant to acceleration and reentry forces of manned space flight. Fabrication of test-model contour couches was started in the Langley shops in May 1958, and the concept was proved feasible on July 30 of that same year.

• President Eisenhower sent to Congress a detailed recommendation for a national space program. - . Related Persons: Eisenhower. Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, Mercury.

  The President, basing his recommendation on the March Z6th report of his Science Advisory Committee, stated it was essential that the nation adopt the program because it represented the next step forward in man's compelling urge to explore and discover, it would develop space technology essential to our defense, enhance our national prestige, and furnish the nation new opportunities for scientific observation and experiment which would add to man's "understanding of the earth, the solar system and the universe." The President therefore advised Congress that a National Aeronautics and Space Administration be created to furnish, "a civilian setting for administration of space functions [which] will emphasize the concern of our nation that outer space be devoted to peaceful and scientific purposes." (History, Hq ARDC, 1 Jan 31 Dec 1958, p. 13; Max Rosenberg, The Air Force in Space, 1959-1960, dtd Jun 62, USAF Hist Div Liaison Ofc, p.3.)

• The Air Research and Development Command announces man-in-space plan. - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, Mercury.

  The Air Research and Development Command informed the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics that it had initiated a 30 day effort at the ballistic missile division to prepare a detailed development plan for "an extended manned space vehicle program of which man in space at the earliest practicable date is an integral part." The advisory committee was invited to participate in the preparation of the plan and to advise the Air Force of their anticipated action. (Msg, 04-9-01, Cmdr, ARDC, to Cmdr AFBMD, 9 Apr 58.)

• Major General B. A. Schriever takes on initial responsibility for the Manned Military Space System Program. - . Related Persons: Schriever. Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, Mercury.

  In an attempt to define more clearly the role of the ballistic missile division in space projects, Major General B. A. Schriever, division commander, outlined his understanding that he was assigned initial responsibility for "planning, initiating and managing the Manned Military Space System Program. " Planning had advanced to the point of contractor selection, awaiting only allocation of sufficient funds to begin the Man-In-Space-Soonest program. Moreover, General Schriever was arranging to meet with Dr. H. L. Dryden of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, "... at the earliest practicable time," to establish the highest level of support and mutual cooperation possible. Working level conferences were already underway to develop concrete application of this cooperative interest in the program. It was also intended that other organizations were to be used as appropriate to "insure maximum utilization of the Air Research and Development Command's Resources. (Ltr, Maj Gen B. A. Schriever, Cmdr, AFBMD, to Lt Gen S. E. Anderson, Cmdr, ARDC, 21 May 58, no subject.)

• Preliminary specifications of the first manned satellite vehicle. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Faget. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Preliminary specifications of the first manned satellite vehicle were drafted by Langley Aeronautical Laboratory personnel under the supervision of Maxime Faget and Charles W. Mathews. After a number of revisions and additions, these specifications were used for the Project Mercury spacecraft contract with McDonnell Aircraft Corporation. A working group of representatives from the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory and the Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory was formed for the purpose of outlining a manned satellite program.

• NACA representatives at ARPA - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. NACA representatives were assigned to the Advanced Research Projects Agency, Manned Satellite Committee..

• Advanced Research Projects Agency manned space project. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Faget. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Man-In-Space-Soonest.

  After serving as a liaison officer of NACA and as a participating member of an Advanced Research Projects Agency panel, Maxime A. Faget reported to Dr. Hugh Dryden on resulting studies and attending recommendations on the subject of manned space flight. He stated that the Advanced Research Projects Agency panel was quite aware that the responsibility for such a program might be placed with the soon-to-be-created civilian space agency, although they recommended program management be placed with the Air Force under executive control of NACA and the Advanced Research Projects Agency. The panel also recommended that the program start immediately even though the specific manager was, as yet, unassigned. Several of the proposals put forth by the panel on the proposed development were rather similar to the subsequent evolvement. The system suggested by the Advanced Research Projects Agency was to be based on the use of the Atlas launch vehicle with the Atlas-Sentry system serving as backup; retrorockets were to be used to initiate the return from orbit; the spacecraft was to be nonlifting, ballistic type, and the crew was to be selected from qualified volunteers in the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

• A conference was scheduled at Air Force headquarters on 25-26 Jun 1958 to discuss the "over-all problems of the manned satellite development program." - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, Mercury.

  The conference was sponsored by the Advanced Research Projects Agency with representatives of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, Air Research and Development Command, Air Force Ballistic Missile Division, Space Technology Laboratories, and Convair invited to the meeting. Questions to be attacked were: Could the booster be an Atlas without a second stage? What would be the subsystem distribution of payload weight? What was Atlas maximum payload weight performance? question of ablation or heat sink capsule design was to be resolved before the conference. If it was concluded that Atlas weight lifting performance was inadequate an alternate choice would be the Atlas with a 117L second stage. Complete funding plans covering program options were to be available to the conferees. (Msg, AFDRD 51947, Hq USAF, to Hq ARDC, 13 Jun 58.)

• No "go ahead" for the man in space program. - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, Mercury.

  The Advanced Research Projects Agency had not yet directed a "go ahead" for the man in space program. However, Air Force headquarters considered it a certainty that direction of an Atlas boosted manned space flight would be given to the Air Force at an early date, that funds for the project would probably total $66 million and that a series of Thor boosted, instrument and animal capsule flights would precede the Atlas full sized instrumented capsule, chimpanzee, and manned shots. The Air Force would probably re-program to obtain whatever additional funds were required to support the program. The ballistic missile division was advised that while waiting for an authoritative "go ahead" it should continue preparation of work statements for industry competition and contractor selection so they might be coordinated with the Advanced Research iProjects Agency and the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. (Ltr, Maj Gen J. E. Smart, Asst V/CS, to Lt Gen S. E. Anderson, Cmdr ARDC, 19 Jun 58, no subject given, quoted in TWX, RDZGW6-33-K, Hq ARDC, to Hq AFBMD, 27 Jun 58.)

• NACA space budget - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. NACA personnel discussed the proposed space agency budget, including the manned satellite project, with Bureau of Budget officials..

• Materials for thermal protection of satellite reentry vehicles - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Meetings were held with NACA, AVCO, and Lockheed representatives in attendance to consider materials for thermal protection of satellite reentry vehicles..

• Mercury escape rocket conceived. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Faget. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Escape Tower. The initial concept of the use of a tractor rocket for an escape device was suggested by Maxime A. Faget. The idea was developed into the Mercury escape rocket..

• General Electric studies related to manned space flight. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  General Electric Company personnel presented a briefing at NACA headquarters on studies related to manned space flight. The company held contracts let by the Wright Air Development Center for study and mock-up of a manned spacecraft. NACA made no official comment.

• McDonnell manned orbital spacecraft concept. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury, Project 7969.

  Cook Electric Company submitted a proposal to the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation as a part of a preliminary study and design effort by McDonnell for a manned satellite. McDonnell, prior to being awarded the Mercury prime development contract in February 1959, spent 11 months under a company research budget working on a manned orbital spacecraft concept.

• Congress passed the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

• NASA heritage from NACA. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury, X-15A.

  In a memorandum to Dr. James R. Killian, Jr., Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, Dr. Hugh L. Dryden, Director of NACA, pointed out that NASA would inherit from NACA a rich technical background, competence, and leadership in driving toward the objective of a manned satellite program. For years NACA groups had been involved in research on such items as stabilization of ultra-high speed vehicles, provision of suitable controls, high temperature structural designs, and all the problems of reentry. In fact, a part of this work had been directed specifically toward the problem of designing a manned satellite. Also, the X-15 program had provided much experience in human factors applicable to the orbital flight of man. Therefore, Dr. Dryden concluded, in consonance with the intent of the Space Act of 1958, the assignment of the program to the NACA would be consistent.

• Air Force Ballistic Missile Division representatives again presented a series of Washington briefings. - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, Mercury.

  These were to Lt General S. E. Anderson, Commander, Air Research and Development Command; the Air Staff; Secretary of the Air Force and Staff; and Director Roy Johnson, of the Advanced Research Projects Agency. The latter presentation, in addition to reporting detailed man in space planning, requested prompt program approval and emphasized the urgency of firm funds commitment if further delay was to be avoided. Johnson's response to the briefing may be summarized as follows: (a) the man in space program would not be approved at this time; (b) it appeared that $50 million would be an optimistic estimate of man in space funding until the Space Council, authorized by recent legislation, was organized and working, an event that was not probable before Thanksgiving; (c) planning anything over a $50 million program, the maximum likely to be approved under any circumstances, was wasted effort; (d) statements of prominent scientists had convinced the White House there was no currently valid reason for Man-InSpace: (e) when the Space Council became a viable organization, man in space would probably become a joint effort of the Advanced Research Projects Agency and the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics; (f) The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (the National Aeronautics and Space Act creating the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was to become law on 29 July 1958) was already thinking of an independent but very similar space program that would cost about $40 million in fiscal 1959. After these two days of briefings it was clear that quick approval of a military man in space program was not forthcoming. (MFR, Col J. D. Lowe, Ch, Space Sys Div, AFBMD, 30 Jul 58, subj: MISS Briefing to Hq ARDC, Hq USAF, the Secretary of the Air Force and ARPA on 24-25 July 1958.)

• The President signed the law by which the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics would be succeeded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration with an expanded role of peaceful exploita - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, Mercury.

  The new agency would have custody of all space programs except those clearly oriented toward military objectives. Air Force headquarters obtained approval of the Office of the Secretary of Defense to establish within the Deputy Chief of Staff, Development, a Directorate of Advanced Technology. Brigadier General H. A. Boushey was appointed director of the new office and its primary function, although the words "space" and "astronautics" were conspicuously absent from its mission description, was to serve as the control point for all Air Force space projects. (Bowen, The Threshold of Space, p. 21.)

• Despite mounting evidence that the Air Force would not be assigned management of any national lunar program, it continued to press for a manned space program. - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, Mercury, Lunex.

  On this date there was a meeting of Dr. Dryden, National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics; Mr. R. Johnson, Advanced Research Projects Agency; and Secretary of Defense Neil McElroy but future management of a manned space program was not resolved and it appeared that resolution would only bp attained at the Presidential level. It was assumed, however,that the Air Force would have at least $50 million in fiscal 1959 funds to further its space program. (MFR, Col J.D. Lowe, AFBMD, 29 Jul 58, subj: Man-In-Space Program, cited in Chronological Space Hist, 1958.)

• The military services and particularly the Air Force found their space prospects disheartening. - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, Mercury.

  Obviously the military services no longer controlled development of space vehicles and programs. Through fiscal 1958 all space programs had been managed by the Department of Defense through the Advanced Research Projects Agency. The new fiscal year offered little hope for change and, on 29 July, the President ordered transfer to National Aeronautics and Space Administration of nonmilitary space programs such as lunar probes, scientific satellites, and the Vanguard project. (Bowen, The Threshold of Space, p. 28.)

• Test subject withstood a 20g load on the centrifuge using Langley contour couch. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Faget. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  By using the development model of the Mercury contour couch designed by Maxime A. Faget and associates, Carter C. Collins withstood a 20g load on the centrifuge at Johnsville, Pennsylvania. This test proved that the reentry accelerations of manned space flight could be withstood.

• Republic Aviation man-in-space studies. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury, Project 7969.

  Republic Aviation representatives briefed NACA Headquarters personnel on the man-in-space studies in which the company had been engaged since the first of the year. They envisioned a four-stage solid launch vehicle system and a lifting reentry vehicle, which was termed a sled. The vehicle was to be of triangular shape with a 75 degree leading-edge sweep. Aerodynamic and reaction controls would be available to the pilot. For the launch vehicle, Republic proposed a Minuteman first stage, a Polaris first stage, a Minuteman upper stage, and a Jumbo rocket fourth stage. Other details relative to reentry and recovery were included in the briefing.

• NACA program on the technology of manned space flight vehicles. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Dr. Hugh L. Dryden, NACA Director, presented a program on the technology of manned space flight vehicles to the Select Committees of Congress on Astronautics and Space Exploration..

• Eisenhower assigns the manned space flight program to NASA. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eisenhower. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Project 7969. President Eisenhower assigned the responsibility for the development and execution of a manned space flight program to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. However, NASA did not become operational until October 1, 1958..

• Project Adam - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Adam, Mercury.

  A memorandum from the Secretary of the Army to the Secretary of Defense recommended Project Adam for a manned space flight program. This plan proposed a ballistic suborbital flight using existing Redstone hardware as a national political-psychological demonstration. This memo proposed that funds in the amount of $9 million and $2.5 million for fiscal years 1959 and 1960, respectively, be approved for program execution.

• General Schriever summarized the status of Air Force Manned Military Space Systems by pointing out that a series of man in space programs had been developed, each with different ground rules, without - . Related Persons: Schriever. Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, Mercury.

  Moreover, Air Force Ballistic Missile Division was currently preparing an abbreviated development plan, based on a fiscal 1959 level of $40 million. National Aeronautics and Space Administration cooperation in planning the program was worthwhile but it did not bring the Air Force any closer to an active development effort. In all probability this situation would prevail until high level civilian and military management relationships and certain national policy questions were settled. Since the director of the civilian space agency had now been named an "early high level meeting to resolve problems" was suggested. (Msg, AFBMD to ARDC, 11 Aug 58, cited in Chronological Space Hist, 1958.)

• The future of the proposed Air Force space program was uncertain; it was evident that the creation of the Advanced Research Projects Agency and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration had st - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, Mercury, Lunex, , KH-1.

  It also appeared probable that final over-all space program would be adopted until the large area of overlapping jurisdiction between the two agencies was sorted out. In addition, the Department of Defense was required to transfer some $117 million in fiscal 1959 funds to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of which $58.8 million was Air Force money. Thus it appeared that of the various proposed programs already within National Aeronautics and Space Administration's legitimate area of interest it might well take over the man in space program primarily because it had the money to undertake its development. In respect to the lunar probe program, the Air Force had to wait for further direction before proceeding further. The large booster (one million pound thrust) authorized for Air Force development was transferred to the civilian. space agency. The Air Force would continue development of the 117L system under the over-all direction of the Advanced Research Projects Agency. (Memo, Col C. R. Roderick, Committee Liaison Div, Ofc of Legislative Liaison, to Asst Dir, Legislative Liaison, Sep 58, no subj.)

• Mercury tracking network study begun - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Study was started on the tracking and ground instrumentation networks for the manned satellite project..

• Little chance for approval of Project Adam. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Adam, Mercury. At an Army Advanced Research Projects Agency conference, the Army was advised there was little chance for approval of Project Adam..

• NASA/ARPA Manned Satellite Panel - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  A joint National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Advanced Research Projects Agency Manned Satellite Panel was formed. This panel, with the aid of technical studies prepared by the Langley and Lewis Research Centers and assistance from the military services, drafted specific plans for a program of research leading to manned space flight.

• A joint Manned Satellite Panel was established by the Advanced Research Projects Agency and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, Mercury. (Rpt, Comparison of NASA Manned Space Program and USAF Manned Military Space Proposal, 25 Feb 60.).

• Basic plan for a manned satellite program. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Faget, Gilruth. Program: Mercury.

  A series of meetings were held in Washington, with Robert R. Gilruth serving as chairman to draft a manned satellite program and provide a basic plan for meeting the objectives of this program. Others attending included S. B. Batdorf, A. J. Eggers, Maxime A. Faget, George Low, Warren North, Walter C. Williams, and Robert C. Youngquist.

• Evaluation of life support Phase I contractor efforts at North American Aviation and General Electric was completed. - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, Mercury.

  The studies of both contractors were considered excellent. The contract winner, however, was not announced because the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was taking over the manned space program. The mockup of the manned capsule developed I by North American Aviation, together with associated technical data was, subsequently, delivered to the civilian agency's Space Task Group at Langley Re"-search Center., (Rpt, Comparison of NASA Manned Space Program and USAF Manned Military Space Proposal, 25 Feb 60, prep by AFBMD; Cmdrs Ref Book, 25 Mar 59.)

• NASA created - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Class: Manned. Type: Manned space station.

  NASA was activated in accordance with the terms of Public Law 85-568, and the nonmilitary space projects which had been conducted by the Advanced Research Projects Agency were transferred to the jurisdiction of the NASA. Concurrently, NACA, after a 43-year tenure, was inactivated, and its facilities and personnel became a part of NASA.

• Drop tests of full-scale Mercury capsules started - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Parachute.

  Drop tests of full-scale capsules from a C-130 airplane were started to check parachute deployment and spacecraft stability. Preliminary drops of the parachute system were made from a NASA helicopter at West Point, Virginia. These drops involved the use of a concrete-filled drum attached to an operating canister system. The purpose of this phase was to demonstrate the adequacy of the mechanical system of deploying the parachutes. Subsequently, the drops were made by the C-130's at Pope Field, North Carolina, from low levels to perfect a means of extracting the spacecraft from the aircraft. Full-scale spacecraft and operating parachutes were used in these drops, and all operational features of the drop-test program were worked out. The next phase was the research and development drops offshore of Wallops Island, Virginia, and the objectives here were as follows: to study the stability of the spacecraft during free fall and with parachute support; to study the shock input to the spacecraft by parachute deployment; and to study and develop retrieving operations.

• Plans of the Mercury manned satellite project presented to Advanced Research Projects Agency. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Glennan. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Studies and plans of the manned satellite project were presented to Advanced Research Projects Agency on October 3 and to Dr. T. Keith Glennan, NASA Administrator, on October 7. On October 7, 1958, Dr. Glennan approved the project by saying, in effect, 'Let's get on with it.'

• Negotiations for Redstone and Jupiter launch vehicles for Mercury project. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: von Braun. Program: Mercury. Personnel from the Langley Research Center visited the Army Ballistic Missile Agency to open negotiations for procuring Redstone and Jupiter launch vehicles for manned satellite projects..

• Project Mercury organized. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  NASA formally organized Project Mercury to: (1) place manned space capsule in orbital flight around the earth; (2) investigate man's reactions to and capabilities in this environment; and (3) recover capsule and pilot safely. A NASA Space Task Group organized at Langley Research Center drew up specifications for the Mercury capsule, based on studies by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics during the preceding 12 months, and on discussions with the Air Force which had been conducting related studies.

• Study of Mercury reentry methods. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Heat Shield.

  Personnel from the Space Task Group involved in the study of reentry methods visited the Air Force Wright Air Development Center, Dayton, Ohio, for the purpose of preparing test specimens. Along with individuals from the center and the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division, the group then met at the Chicago Midway Laboratories, Chicago, Illinois, to investigate various ablation methods of reentry. Concurrently, these same methods were being investigated at high-temperature test facilities at Langley.

• A National Aeronautics and Space Administration Space Task Group was organized to direct and conduct Project Mercury. - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, Mercury. (Ibid.; J. M. Grimwood, Project Mercury, A Chronology, 1963, NASA MSC Publication HR-i.).

• Mercury air drop program for full-scale parachute and landing system development. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Parachute. In behalf of the manned satellite project, an air drop program for full-scale parachute and landing system development was started at Langley..

• DX priority could be requested for NASA projects. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Supply and Logistics invited the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to submit nominations for materiel procurement urgency (commonly known as the DX priority rating)..

• Negotiations for Mercury Atlas launch vehicles - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Langley Research Center personnel visited the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division, Inglewood, California, to open negotiations for procuring Atlas launch vehicles for the manned satellite project..

• Bidders' briefing for the Mercury Little Joe launch vehicle. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  A bidders' briefing for the Little Joe launch vehicle was held. As earlier mentioned, this launch vehicle was to be used in the development phase of the manned satellite project. The Little Joe launch vehicle was 48 feet in height, weighed (at maximum) 41,330 pounds, was 6.66 feet in diameter, consisted of four Pollux and four Recruit clustered, solid-fuel rockets, could develop a thrust of 250,000 pounds, and could lift a maximum payload of 3,942 pounds.

• Preliminary specifications for Mercury manned spacecraft - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Preliminary specifications for a manned spacecraft were established with industry. These specifications outlined the program and suggested methods of analysis and construction..

• Committee to determine Mercury astronaut qualifications. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  A special Committee on Life Sciences was established at Langley to determine qualifications and attributes required of personnel to be selected for America's first manned space flight and to give advice on other human aspects of the manned satellite program.

• Mercury scale model transonic tests. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Escape Tower. A scale model of the Mercury spacecraft (without escape tower), oriented for the reentry phase, was tested at transonic Mach numbers in a 1-foot transonic test tunnel at the Arnold Engineering Development Center, Tullahoma, Tennessee..

• Study on spacecraft recovery operations. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Study was started on spacecraft recovery operations. During this study period, it was learned that the retrieving operation could be very difficult; but with properly designed equipment, helicopter pickup could be used and appeared to be the most favorable method.

• Mercury astronaut training plans. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. The initial contingent of military service aeromedical personnel reported for duty and began working on human factors, crew selection, and crew training plans for the manned spacecraft program..

• Space Task Group (STG) organized to implement the manned satellite project - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Gilruth, Glennan. Program: Apollo. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  The Space Task Group (STG) was officially organized at Langley Field, Va., to implement the manned satellite project (later Project Mercury), NASA Administrator T. Keith Glennan had approved the formation of the Group, which had been working together for some months, on October 7. Its members were designated on November 3 by Robert R. Gilruth, Project Manager, and authorization was given by Floyd L. Thompson, Acting Director of Langley Research Center. STG would report directly to NASA Headquarters.

• Contractor briefing on the Mercury manned spacecraft - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  A contractor briefing, attended by some 40 prospective bidders on the manned spacecraft, was held at the Langley Research Center. More detailed specifications were then prepared and distributed to about 20 manufacturers who had stated an intention to bid on the project.

• Specifications for Mercury issued. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Specifications for the manned spacecraft (Specification Number S-6) were issued, and final copies were mailed on November 17, 1958, to 20 firms which had indicated a desire to be considered as bidders..

• Twenty firms to bid on Mercury spacecraft. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Twenty firms notified the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of their intention to prepare proposals for the development of the manned spacecraft. NASA set the deadline for proposal submission as December 11, 1958..

• DX priority requested for Mercury project. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. The highest national procurement priority rating (DX) was requested for the manned spacecraft project..

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Space Task Group met at Air Force Missile Test Center, received an orientation briefing and a tour of the Cape launching facilities. - . Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. (Paper, AFBMD Support, Proj Mercury, Dec 60, prep by AFBMD Space Div (WD Z). I.

• Space Task Group orders first Mercury Atlas missile. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  The Space Task Group placed an order for one Atlas launch vehicle with the Air Force Missile Division, Inglewood, California, as part of a preliminary research program leading to manned space flight. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Headquarters requested that the Air Force construct and launch one Atlas C launch vehicle to check the aerodynamics of the spacecraft. It was the intention to launch this missile about May 1959 in a ballistic trajectory. This was to be the launch vehicle for the Big Joe reentry test shot, but plans were later changed and an Atlas Model D launch vehicle was used instead.

• Air Force Ballistic Missile Division received its first specific request.from the civilian space agency to support a "preliminary research program leading to manned space flight." - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, Mercury.

  The division was requested to procure one Atlas C ballistic missile booster with its associated control and guidance equipment." '... This request was a forerunner of a support effort for a program "requiring approximately thirteen (13) ballistic missile boosters of the Thor and Atlas class."' The space agency would procure the payload, scheduled for May 1959 delivery. The missile division was to furnish detailed plans, subject to the approval of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, for the design, construction and launching of this vehicle. One million dollars was immediately transferred to the Air Force with more money to be supplied as it was requested. (Msg, no cite number, Hq NASA, to Cmds. AFBMD, 25 Nov 58.)

• Project Mercury named. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Project Mercury, U.S. manned-satellite program, was officially named by NASA..

• Design of the Mercury Big Joe spacecraft completed. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Design of the Big Joe spacecraft for the Project Mercury reentry test (the spacecraft would be boosted by an Atlas launch vehicle over a ballistic trajectory) was accomplished by the Space Task Group. Construction of the spacecraft was assigned as a joint task of the Langley and Lewis Research Centers under the direction of the Space Task Group. The instrument package was developed by Lewis personnel assigned to the Space Task Group, and these individuals later became the nucleus of the Space Task Group's Flight Operations Division at Cape Canaveral.

• Mercury Manned Space Capsule Source Selection Board. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. A draft checklist entitled 'Overall Technical Assessment of Proposals for Manned Space Capsule,' was prepared by the Space Task Group for use by the Source Selection Board..

• Redstone and Jupiter launch vehicle use on Mercury discussed. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: von Braun. Program: Mercury.

  Space Task Group officials visited the Army Ballistic Missile Agency to determine the feasibility of using the Jupiter launch vehicle for the intermediate phase of Project Mercury, to discuss the Redstone program, and to discuss the cost for Redstone and Jupiter launch vehicles.

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration representatives met at Air Force Ballistic Missile Division to hear a Space Technology Laboratories briefing on its space capsule efforts associated with - . Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. (Rpt, AFBMD Support, Proj Mercury, Dec 1960.).

• Nine Atlas launch vehicles required for Project Mercury - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. The Space Task Group indicated that nine Atlas launch vehicles were required in support of the Project Mercury manned and unmanned flights and these were ordered from the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division..

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration ordered nine more Atlas boosters from the missile division for the Mercury Program. - . Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. (NASA Order HS-36, Msg, Hq NASA to AFBMD, 8 Dec 58).

• Mercury astronaut selection procedure. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  An aeromedical selection team composed of Major Stanley C. White, Air Force; Lt. Robert B. Voas, Navy; and Captain William Augerson, Army, drafted a tentative astronaut selection procedure. According to the plan, representatives from the services and industry would nominate 150 men by January 21, 1959; 36 of these would be selected for further testing which would reduce the group to 12; and in a 9-month training period, a hard core of 6 men would remain. At the end of December 1958, this plan was rejected.

• Eleven firms submitted proposals for the development of Mercury manned spacecraft. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. These were AVCO, Chance-Vought, Convair, Douglas, Grumman, Lockheed, Martin, McDonnell, North American, Northrop, and Republic. In addition, Winzen Research Laboratories submitted an incomplete proposal..

• Mercury technical proposal assessment - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Space Task Group personnel began technical assessment of manned spacecraft development proposals submitted by industry. Charles Zimmermann headed the technical assessment team..

• Project Mercury named - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Glennan. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. NASA Administrator T. Keith Glennan announced that the manned satellite program would be called "Project Mercury.".

• One of the most important Project Mercury meetings between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the missile division took place. - . Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  A series of agreements was approved controlling administrative arrangements and procedural channels essential to coordinated, efficient management of the joint phases of the program. Cost of the Atlas booster was set at $3.5 million, Space Technology Laboratories systems engineering and technical direction of the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division's part in the program was agreed upon, revision of program requirements was accomplished, regular technical and management meetings were arranged, and the missile division promised to prepare a development plan for the first Mercury booster (HS-24) by February 1959. (Ref .J file, AFBMD Support, Proj Mercury, Dec 60.)

• Mercury Little Joe air frame contract. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. A contract was awarded to North American Aviation for design and construction of the Little Joe air frame..

• Space Task Group evaluation of industry proposals for Mercury. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Space Task Group's technical assessment teams completed the evaluation of industry proposals for design and construction of a manned spacecraft and forwarded their findings to the Source Selection Board, NASA Headquarters..

• Letter-of-intent placed for Mercury Little Joe Test air frames. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  The letter-of-intent was placed with North American Aviation for the fabrication of the Little Joe Test vehicle air frame. Delivery of the air frames for flight testing was scheduled to occur every three weeks beginning in June 1959. Space Task Group had ordered all the major rocket motors, which were scheduled for delivery well ahead of the Little Joe flight test schedule. The spacecraft for this phase of the program was being designed and construction would start shortly. Thus the Little Joe program should meet its intended flight test schedule.

• Development of the Mercury pressure suit was started. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mark IV Model 3 Type I. Spacecraft: Mercury Space Suit.

• Balloon flights planned for Mercury. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Parachute.

  Balloon flights were planned for high-altitude qualification tests of the complete spacecraft, including all instrumentation, retrorockets, drogue parachute system, and recovery. Later balloon flights would be manned to provide as much as 24 hours of training followed by recovery at sea. The Space Task Group made surveys of organizations experienced in the balloon field and recommended that the Air Force Cambridge Research Center be given responsibilities for designing, contracting, and conducting the balloon program.

• Arnold Engineering Development Center Project Mercury work. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Investigations were conducted at the Arnold Engineering Development Center, Tullahoma, Tennessee, in support of Project Mercury. Models of the Mercury spacecraft were tested at speeds of Mach 8, 16, and 20 to investigate stability, heat transfer, and pressure distribution of Mercury components.

• Study contracts for tracking instrumentation for Project Mercury. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Study contracts were awarded to Aeronutronics, Space Electronics, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory for assistance in developing plans for tracking and ground instrumentation for Project Mercury..

• Honeywell named subcontractor for the Mercury stabilization system. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  McDonnell, as prime contractor, selected Minneapolis-Honeywell as subcontractor for the Mercury stabilization system. At that time, other subcontractors were under consideration for the fabrication of various components: Bell Aircraft Rockets Division, reaction control system; and General Electric, Barnes Instruments, and Detroit Controls were being considered for fabrication of the horizon scanner. Later Bell and Barnes were awarded contracts for respective components.

• Mercury pilot selection qualifications - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Qualifications were established for pilot selection in a meeting at the NASA Headquarters. These qualifications were as follows: age, less than 40; height, less than 5 feet 11 inches; excellent physical condition; bachelor's degree or equivalent; graduate of test pilot school; 1,500 hours flight time; and a qualified jet pilot.

• Mercury spacecraft heat protection. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Heat Shield.

  A meeting was held at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Headquarters to discuss the method for spacecraft heat protection. Two plans were considered: beryllium heat sink and ablation. Based on this meeting a decision was made to modify the spacecraft structure in order to accomodate interchangeably ablation heat shields and beryllium heat sinks , and orders were placed for 12 and 6, respectively. The material chosen for the ablation heat was Fiberglas bonded with a modified phenolic resin. This material was found to have good structural properties even after being subjected to reentry heating.

• Redstones ordered for Mercury suborbital launches. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: von Braun. Program: Mercury. NASA requested eight Redstone-type launch vehicles from the Army to be used in Project Mercury development flights..

• McDonnell selected to produce the Mercury spacecraft. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Glennan, Silverstein. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  The Source Selection Board at NASA Headquarters composed of Abe Silverstein, Ralph Cushman, George Low, Walter Schier, DeMarquis Wyatt, and Charles Zimmerman, completed their findings and reported to Dr. T. Keith Glennan, the Administrator. McDonnell Aircraft Corporation was selected as the prime contractor to develop and produce the Mercury spacecraft.

• McDonnell awarded contract for Mercury project - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. 12 capsules to be built. Other leading contender was Grumman. Original schedule was for manned flights from January - August 1960..

• Preliminary negotiations with McDonnell on the Mercury spacecraft - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Preliminary negotiations were started with McDonnell on the technical and legal aspects of the Mercury spacecraft research and development program..

• Mercury design details negotiated. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Heat Shield.

  During a meeting of the Space Task Group, it was decided to negotiate with McDonnell for design of spacecraft that could be fitted with either a beryllium heat sink or an ablation heat shield. Robert R. Gilruth, the project director, considered that for safety purposes, both should be used. He also felt that the recovery landing bag should be replaced by a honeycombed crushable structure. At this same meeting, a tentative decision was also made that design, development, and contract responsibilities for the Mercury tracking network would be assigned to the Langley Research Center.

• Eight Redstone and two Jupiter launch vehicles for Mercury - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: von Braun. Program: Mercury. NASA requested the Army Ordnance Missile Command, Huntsville, Alabama, to construct and launch eight Redstone launch vehicles and two Jupiter launch vehicles in support of Project Mercury manned and unmanned flights..

• The screening of records for prospective Mercury astronauts began. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

• Mercury pilot egress trainer received. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. The pilot egress trainer was received from McDonnell and rough water evaluation of the equipment was started immediately by Space Task Group personnel..

• NASA completed negotiations with McDonnell for the Mercury spacecraft. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  NASA completed contract negotiations with McDonnell for the design and development of the Mercury spacecraft. At that time, McDonnell estimated that the first 3 spacecraft could be delivered in 10 months. Spacecraft refinements slipped this estimated goal by only 2 months.

• The Little Joe flight test program was drafted. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  This plan was updated on April 14, 1959. Primary objectives of the test were to investigate flight dynamics, check drogue parachute operations, determine physiological effects of acceleration on a small primate, and, to some extent, check the spacecraft aerodynamic characteristics.

• Navy candidates for Project Mercury. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Glennan. Program: Mercury. Admiral Arleigh Burke, Chief of Naval Operations, advised Dr. T. Keith Glennan that Navy candidates for Project Mercury had started in the first selection process..

• NASA/USAF responsibilities for the first two Mercury Atlas firings. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  During a meeting between personnel of the Space Task Group and the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division, the responsibilities of the two organizations were outlined for the first two Atlas firings. Space Technology Laboratories, under Air Force Ballistic Missile Division direction, would select the design trajectories according to the specifications set forth by the Space Task Group. These specifications were to match a point in the trajectory at about 450,000 feet, corresponding to a normal reentry condition for the manned spacecraft after firing of the retrorockets at an altitude of 120 nautical miles. Space Technology Laboratories would also provide impact dispersion data, data for range safety purposes, and the necessary reprograming of the guidance computers. The spacecraft for the suborbital Atlas flights would be manufactured under the deriction of the Lewis Research Center, based on Space Task Group designs. Space Task Group was developing the spacecraft instrumentation, with a contingent of personnel at the Lewis Research Center. The attitude control system was being developed by Lewis.

• 110 US military pilots appeared to qualify for Mercury - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Some 508 records were reviewed for prospective pilot candidates of which about 110 appeared to qualify. The special committee on Life Sciences decided to divide these into two groups and 69 prospective pilot candidates were briefed and interviewed in Washington. Out of this number, 53 volunteered for the Mercury program, and 32 of the 53 were selected for further testing. The committee agreed there was no further need to brief other individuals, because of the high qualities exhibited in the existing pool of candidates. These 32 were scheduled for physical examination at the Lovelace Clinic, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

• Formal contract for 12 Mercury spacecraft with McDonnell. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Following industry-wide competition, a formal contract for research and development of the Mercury spacecraft was negotiated with the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation. The contract called for design and construction of 12 Mercury spacecraft, but it did not include details on changes and ground support equipment which were to be negotiated as the project developed. Later, orders were placed with the company for eight additional spacecraft, two procedural trainers, an environmental trainer, and seven checkout trainers. McDonnell had been engaged in studying the development of a manned spacecraft since the NACA presentation in mid-March of 1958.

• Medical tests for the Mercury astronaut selection started. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. At the Lovelace Clinic, Albuquerque, New Mexico, the medical tests for the Mercury astronaut selection were started..

• Wiind tunnel tests of Project Mercury configuration models were started. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. By the end of the year, over 70 different models had been tested by facilities at the Air Force's Arnold Engineering Development Center and the NASA Langley, Ames, and Lewis Research Centers..

• Redstone and Jupiter flight phases of Project Mercury. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: von Braun. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Space Task Group and Army Ballistic Missile Agency personnel met at Huntsville, Alabama, to discuss Redstone and Jupiter flight phases of Project Mercury. During the course of the meeting the following points became firm: (1) Space Task Group was the overall manager and technical director of this phase of the program, (2) ABMA was responsible for the launch vehicle until spacecraft separation, (3) ABMA was responsible for the Redstone launch vehicle recovery (this phase of the program was later eliminated since benefits from recovering the launch vehicle would have been insignificant), (4) Space Task Group was responsible for the spacecraft flight after separation, (5) McDonnell was responsible for the adapters for the Mercury-Redstone configuration, and (6) ABMA would build adapters for the Mercury-Jupiter configuration. Because many points could only be settled by detailed design studies, it was decided to establish several working panels for later meetings.

• Atlas launch vehicles in Project Mercury. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Discussions were held at Langley Field between the Space Task Group and the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division covering aspects of the use of Atlas launch vehicles in Project Mercury. Specifically discussed were technical details of the first Atlas test flight (Big Joe), the abort sensing capability for later flights, and overall program objectives.

• Final medical examinations of the Mercury astronauts started. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. The medical examinations at the Wright Air Development Center for the final selection of the Mercury astronauts were started..

• Navy-NASA Committee on Project Mercury search and recovery operations - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  The first formal meeting of the Navy-NASA Committee on Project Mercury search and recovery operations was held. They decided that joint recovery exercises would be initiated as soon as possible. The committee members determined that the Navy, particularly the Atlantic fleet, could support operations from Wallops Island; could perform search and recovery operations along the Atlantic Missile Range, using of the selected Project Mercury vehicles; and that naval units could support operations in the escape area between Cape Canaveral and Bermuda.

• Program for wind tunnel and free-flight tests in support of Project Mercury. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Members of the Space Task Group, Langley, Ames, McDonnell and NASA Headquarters drafted a coordinated program for wind tunnel and free-flight tests in support of Project Mercury..

• Project Mercury to cost over $200 million. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  In a speech, Dr. T. K. Glennan estimated that Project Mercury would cost over $200 million. The cost, he said in effect, was high because a new area of technology was being explored for the first time and there were no precedents or experience factors from which to draw, and because the world-wide tracking network construction was a tremendous undertaking.

• Langley responsible for Project Mercury tracking facilities. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Responsibility for planning and contracting for Project Mercury tracking facilities was formally assigned to the Langley Research Center..

• Mercury-Redstone-Jupiter trajectory, aerodynamics, and flight loads - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Mercury-Redstone-Jupiter Study Panel Number IV (choice of trajectory, aerodynamics, and flight loads) met at Redstone Arsenal. Subjects studied included pilot safety, simulation of entry from orbit, length of zero-g time, missile stability and aerodynamics, ascent accelerations, and range. This group reconvened on March 13, 1959.

• AEDC facilities to perform tests on scale models of the Mercury spacecraft. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Space Task Group and Langley Research Center personnel visited the Arnold Engineering Development Center, Tullahoma, Tennessee, to ascertain if the AEDC facilities were equipped to perform tests on scale models of the Mercury spacecraft and to arrange a testing schedule.

• Integration of the Mercury spacecraft with the Redstone and Jupiter launch vehicles. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Panel Number I (Design Subcommittee) met at Redstone Arsenal for the first time to discuss integration requirements for the Mercury spacecraft with the Redstone and Jupiter launch vehicles..

• Mercury Big Joe design trajectory - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Space Task Group personnel established the design trajectory for the Big Joe flight test. Convair Astronautics and Space Technology Laboratories personnel provided consultation and advice on ways in which these trajectory requirements could be met..

• Heatshield test of Mercury at lunar reentry speeds - . Nation: USA. Program: Apollo. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  H. Kurt Strass and Leo T. Chauvin of STG proposed a heatshield test of a fullscale Mercury spacecraft at lunar reentry speeds. This test, in which the capsule would penetrate the earth's radiation belt, was called Project Boomerang. An advanced version of the Titan missile was to be the launch vehicle. The project was postponed and ultimately dropped because of cost.

• Spare part and ground support equipment requirements for Project Mercury. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Space Task Group and McDonnell officials met in St. Louis, Missouri, to discuss spare part and ground support equipment requirements for Project Mercury. Shortly thereafter, McDonnell submitted a preliminary plan for spare parts and check-out equipment to Space Task Group and NASA Headquarters for review.

• Mercury abort test conducted at Wallops Island - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Escape Tower.

  An abort test was conducted at Wallops Island on a full-scale model of the spacecraft with the escape tower, using a Recruit escape rocket. The configuration did not perform as expected (erratic motion), and as a result, the Langley Research Center was requested to test small-scale flight models of the abort system to determine its motion in flight.

• Tests on several ablating materials for Mercury heat shield. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Heat Shield. Tests were in progress at Langley and Wallops Island on several types of ablating materials under environmental conditions that would be experienced by a spacecraft reentering from orbit..

• Lack of a DX priority delaying Project Mercury. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  The Space Task Group was notified by McDonnell that several of its subcontractors were experiencing difficulties in procuring material necessary to fabricate Project Mercury components. This delay was being caused by the lack of a DX priority procurement rating.

• The civilian space agency acknowledged receipt of the missile division development plan for the first booster scheduled to start the man in space effort. - . Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Except for two revisions, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration declared the plan to be "satisfactory." One of the revisions was suggested in this statement: "NASA prefers not to be committed to the specified sum of $3,556,000, but reserves the right to negotiate the costs." (Ltr, T. K. Glennan, NASA Administrator, to Cmdr, ARDC, 11 Mar 59, no subject.)

• First full-scale test simulating a Mercury pad-abort situation. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Escape Tower.

  Langley's Pilotless Aircraft Research Division conducted, at Wallops Island, the first full-scale test simulating a pad-abort situation. A full weight and size spacecraft was used. For the first 50 feet the flight was essentially straight, indicating the successful functioning of the abort rocket. Thereafter, the spacecraft pitched through several turns and impacted a short distance from the shore. The malfunction was traced to the loss of a graphite insert from one of the three abort rocket nozzles, which caused a misalignment of thrust.

• The civilian space agency acknowledged receipt of the missile division development plan for the first booster scheduled to start the man in space effort. - . Spacecraft: Mercury, .

  Except for two revisions, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration declared the plan to be "satisfactory." One of the revisions was suggested in this statement: "NASA prefers not to be committed to the specified sum of $3,556,000, but reserves the right to negotiate the costs." (Ltr, T. K. Glennan, NASA Administrator, to Cmdr, ARDC, 11 Mar 59, no subject.)

• Purchase of five developmental pressure suits for Project Mercury. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mark IV Model 3 Type I. Spacecraft: Mercury Space Suit. Purchase approval in the amount of $125,000 was requested by the Space Task Group from NASA Headquarters for the procurement of five developmental pressure suits for Project Mercury..

• 6 main parachute and 12 drogue parachute canisters for Mercury - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Parachute. Funds were requested to purchase 6 main parachute and 12 drogue parachute canisters from the Goodyear Aircraft Corporation in support of the Little Joe and Big Joe phases of Project Mercury..

• Mercury mock-up inspection. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  A Mock-Up Inspection Board meeting was held at the McDonnell plant to review the completed spacecraft mock-up. As a result of this meeting, the contractor was directed to restudy provisions made for pilot egress; rearrange crew space to make handles, actuators, and other instruments more accessible to the pilot; and modify the clock, sequence lights, and other displays. This same type of meeting was held on many subsequent occasions to review production spacecraft.

• Mercury-Redstone and Mercury-Jupiter test objectives. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Mercury-Redstone and Mercury-Jupiter test objectives were discussed in a meeting at Langley between Space Task Group and Army Ballistic Missile Agency personnel. At that time it was decided that the first flights of both the Redstone and Jupiter would be unmanned. The second flights would be 'manned' with primates, and the Jupiter phase would end at that point. The six remaining Redstones would be used in manned flights for astronaut training.

• DX priority procurement rating in support of Project Mercury. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. As of this date, the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation listed some 32 items that required a DX priority procurement rating in support of Project Mercury. This highest national priority procurement rating had been requested by NASA on November 14, 1958..

• Hypersonic flight tests for the Mercury spacecraft. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  The Langley Research Center received approval for funds to conduct hypersonic flight tests for the Mercury spacecraft. Langley's Pilotless Aircraft Research Division would conduct tests on heat transfer rates at a velocity of mach 17, and dynamic behavior tests from a velocity of mach 10 to a subsonic speed.

• Bio-pack experiments for Mercury Little Joe flights. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Space Task Group, Langley Research Center, and Air Force School of Aviation Medicine personnel met to plan bio-pack experiments that would be placed in several of the Little Joe research and development test flights..

• Instructions for the marking of vehicles launched for the NASA. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Glennan. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Dr. T. Keith Glennan, the NASA Administrator, provided instructions for the marking of vehicles launched for the NASA, including the Mercury spacecraft. He stated that policy would be to paint UNITED STATES in bold block form..

• Mercury escape system changes - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Escape Tower.

  Space Task Group officials were involved in an investigation as to whether the escape system should be changed. In the original proposal, McDonnell's plan was to use eight small rockets housed in a fin adapter, but this plan was set aside for a NASA developed plan in which a single-motor tripod would be used. Later, during a test of the escape system, the escape rockets appeared to fire properly but the spacecraft began to tumble after launch. This tumbling action caused concern, and Space Task Group engineers felt that the tower-escape system might have to be discarded, and a 'second look' was taken at the McDonnell proposal. The engineers concluded, however, that there were too many problems involved and the single-motor tripod concept was retained and has been proven to be quite effective.

• Studies on Mercury - Little Joe separation - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Studies were in progress to determine the optimum altitude for separation of the Little Joe spacecraft from its launch vehicle..

• Space Task Group personnel observe Jupiter launch vehicle firing. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Space Task Group personnel visited the Atlantic Missile Range at the invitation of the Army Ballistic Missile Agency to observe a Jupiter launch vehicle firing and the procedures followed on the day preceding the firing. The group toured the blockhouse and received briefings on various recorders that might be used in the centralized control facility for Mercury-Redstone and Mercury-Jupiter flights.

• Mercury abort methods. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Escape Tower.

  Range Safety personnel at the Atlantic Missile Range were briefed by Space Task Group personnel on the description of the Mercury spacecraft, how it would function during a normal flight on an Atlas launch vehicle, and suggest methods for initiation of an abort during different powered phases of a flight. Atlantic Missile Range personnel discussed their past experience, and work was started to draft a Project Mercury range safety plan.

• Mercury parachute design unsafe for operation. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Parachute.

  In the recovery landing system, the extended-skirt main parachute was found to be unsafe for operation at altitudes of 10,000 feet and was replaced by a 'ring-sail' parachute of similar size. This decision was made after a drop when the main parachute failed to open and assumed a 'squidding' condition. Although little damage was sustained by the spacecraft on water impact, parachute experts decided that the ring-sail configuration should be adopted, and the air drop spacecraft were fitted.

• Bidders briefing for Project Mercury worldwide tracking range - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  A preliminary briefing was conducted for prospective bidders on construction of the worldwide tracking range for Project Mercury. This meeting was attended by representatives from 20 companies. At this time the preliminary plan called for an orbital mission tracking network of 14 sites. Contacts had not been made with the governments of any of the proposed locations with the exception of Bermuda. It was planned that all the sites would have facilities for telemetry, voice communications with the pilot, and teletype (wire or radio) communications with centers in the United States for primary tracking. The tracking sites would provide the control center at Cape Canaveral, Florida, with trajectory predictions; landing-area predictions; and vehicle, systems, and pilot conditions.

• Project Mercury animal payload program. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. NASA and the military services conducted meetings to draft final plans for the Project Mercury animal payload program. The animal program was planned to cover nine flights, involving Little Joe, Redstone, Jupiter, and Atlas launch vehicles..

• Project Mercury worldwide tracking range study contracts. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  After responsibility for the worldwide tracking range construction of Project Mercury had been assumed by the Langley Research Center, the following study contracts were placed: (1) Aeronutronics to study radar coverage and trajectory computation requirements, (2) RCA Service Corporation for specification writing, (3) Lincoln Laboratories for consultant services and proposal evaluations, and (4) Space Electronics for the design of the control center at Cape Canaveral.

• Seven astronauts selected for Mercury project. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Carpenter, Cooper, Glenn, Grissom, Schirra, Shepard, Slayton. Program: Mercury. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Seven astronauts were selected for Project Mercury after a series of the most rigorous physical and mental tests ever given to U.S. test pilots. Chosen from a field of 110 candidates, the finalists were all qualified test pilots: Capts. Leroy G. Cooper, Jr., Virgil I. Grissom, and Donald K. Slayton, (USAF); Lt. Malcolm S. Carpenter, Lt. Comdr. Alan B. Shepard, Jr., and Lt. Comdr. Watler M. Schirra, Jr. (USN); and Lt. Col. John H. Glenn (USMC).

• Advanced manned space program to follow Project Mercury - . Nation: USA. Program: Apollo. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  The advanced manned space program to follow Project Mercury was discussed at a NASA Staff Conference held in Williamsburg, Va. Three reasons for such a program were suggested:

  1. Preliminary step to development of spacecraft for manned interplanetary exploration.
  2. Extended duration work in the space environment.
  3. Support of the military space mission.
  Among areas requiring study were the cost of an equatorial launch site, adequacy of tracking stations and DOD-NASA coordination of tracking systems, and the need for NASA's own propulsion test stands and facilities.

• Escape configurations for Mercury spacecraft - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Escape Tower.

  Investigations of two escape configurations for Mercury spacecraft were conducted in a 16-foot transonic circuit at the Arnold Engineering Development Center, Tullahoma, Tennessee, for determination of static stability and drag characteristics of the configurations.

• First group of US astronauts announced - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Glennan. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. At a press conference in Washington, D.C., NASA Administrator T. Keith Glennan announced the seven pilots had been selected for the Mercury program..

• Mercury escape-motor canting-angle tests completed at Wallops Island. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Escape Tower. Escape-motor canting-angle tests were completed at Wallops Island. Tests were conducted in 5 degree increments between 10 degrees to 30 degrees, and visually it appeared stability was better at the larger angle..

• Mercury impact tests - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Gilruth. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Tests were in progress at Langley in which an aluminium honeycomb structure was used partially to absorb the spacecraft impact load. Robert R. Gilruth, Project Mercury Director, had stated his belief of this requirement on January 16, 1959..

• Space Task Group conducted the second full-scale Mercury beach abort test on Wallops Island. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Parachute.

  A deliberate thrust misalignment of 1 inch was programed into the escape combination. Lift-off was effected cleanly, and a slow pitch started during the burning of the escape rocket motor. The tower separated as scheduled and the drogue and main parachutes deployed as planned. The test was fully successful.

• Mercury small-scale escape-tower combinations launched - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Parachute.

  Two small-scale spacecraft escape-tower combinations were launched successfully at Wallops Island. On the next day a full-scale spacecraft escape system was launched. The complete sequence of events - escape system firing, escape tower jettisoning, parachute deployment, landing, and helicopter recovery - was satisfactory.

• Mercury to use Navy Aviation Medical Acceleration Laboratory - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. NASA placed a request with the Navy for the use of its Aviation Medical Acceleration Laboratory at Johnsville, Pennsylvania. NASA desired to use the laboratory's AMAL human centrifuge in support of the Mercury astronaut training program..

• Ground-instrumentation requirements for Mercury Little Joe - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Ground-instrumentation requirements for firing Little Joe test vehicles at Wallops Island were drafted. These requirements involved pulse radars, camera, Doppler radar, wind-monitoring instruments, telemetry equipment, and a ground destruct system..

• TF-102B and T-33 aircraft for Project Mercury astronauts. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. NASA requested that the Air Force furnish two TF-102B and two T-33 aircraft to be used by the Project Mercury astronauts. One of the requirements in the astronaut training program was to maintain proficiency in high performance aircraft..

• Plans for Mercury Big Joe I reentry spacecraft test vehicle. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Space Task Group, Langley Research Center, and Lewis Research Center personnel met to discuss development plans regarding construction and instrumentation of Big Joe Number I reentry spacecraft test vehicle. During the course of this meeting, milestone objectives of the work to be accomplished were drafted.

• Search and recovery aspects of Project Mercury. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. NASA and the military services held a meeting to discuss the search and recovery aspects of Project Mercury. Admiral Gannon, the service spokesman, stated that the meeting was exploratory but that the Navy and other services would support the project..

• Tower configuration best escape system for the Mercury spacecraft. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Escape Tower. In a meeting at Langley, NASA officials concluded that the tower configuration was the best escape system for the Mercury spacecraft and development would proceed using this concept. However, limited studies of alternate configurations would continue..

• Air Force Ballistic Missile Division replied to the 11 March 1959 letter in which the civilian agency demurred at accepting the charge of $3.55 million without the right to negotiate the cost. - . Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  The missile division reminded National Aeronautics and Space Administration that it had already committed $2.761 million to the space agency's Order HS-24 and in the immediate future additional funds were required up to $3.556 million to cover the cost of the basic Atlas booster and additional work schedule through the launching sequence as stipulated in the development plan. (Msg, WDPP-4-4, Cmdr AFBMD, to NASA, 24 Apr 59.)

• Air Force Ballistic Missile Division replied to the 11 March 1959 letter in which the civilian agency demurred at accepting the charge of $3. - . Spacecraft: Mercury, .

  55 million without the right to negotiate the cost. The missile division reminded National Aeronautics and Space Administration that it had already committed $2.761 million to the space agency's Order HS-24 and in the immediate future additional funds were required up to $3.556 million to cover the cost of the basic Atlas booster and additional work schedule through the launching sequence as stipulated in the development plan. (Msg, WDPP-4-4, Cmdr AFBMD, to NASA, 24 Apr 59.)

• Project Mercury was accorded the DX priority procurement rating. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

• Project Mercury astronauts reported for duty - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  The seven Project Mercury astronauts reported for duty. A tentative schedule of Mercury astronaut activities for the first months of training was issued. Actual training began the next day. Within 3 months the astronauts were acquainted with the various facets of the Mercury program. The first training week was as follows: Monday, April 27, check in; April 28, general briefing; April 29, spacecraft configuration and escape methods; April 30, support and restraint; May 1, operational concepts and procedures. These lectures were presented by specialists in the particular field of study. Besides the above, unscheduled activities involved 3 hours flying time and 4 hours of athletics.

• Mercury search and rescue procedures developed. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Meeting of DOD working group on Project Mercury search and recovery operations was held at Patrick Air Force Base, with major emphasis placed on the first two ballistic Atlas shots, and command relationships..

• Mercury Little Joe Project Coordination Meeting - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  A Little Joe Project Coordination Meeting, attended by personnel from Space Task Group, McDonnell, and Wallops Island, was held for the first time. The purpose of the meeting was to determine the status of various developmental phases and whether or not proper coordination was being effected with other related projects in the Mercury program (Big Joe, Mercury-Atlas, Mercury-Redstone, and Mercury-Jupiter). The important factor with regard to the latter item was whether or not a reasonable launch schedule could be established and maintained.

• Mercury recovery test program. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Space Task Group personnel held a meeting to discuss the complete recovery test program. Items of consideration included the availability of model spacecraft for the test, deciding the areas in which the tests would be held (Phase I - Wallops Island drops, and Phase II - Atlantic drops), and establishing the time schedule for the test program.

• Pigs not to fly in space in Project Mercury - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Pigs were eliminated as Little Joe flight test subjects when studies disclosed that they could not survive long periods of time on their backs. However, McDonnell did use a pig, 'Gentle Bess,' to test the impact crushable support, and the test was successful.

• An informal meeting of the Mock-Up Inspection Board. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  An informal meeting of the Mock-Up Inspection Board was held at McDonnell to review changes to the spacecraft development program resulting from the March mock-up meeting. Besides the review, a number of suggestions were made for changes in the crew space layout to permit more effective use of the controls, particularly when the astronaut was in the pressure suit in a full-pressurized condition. Among suggested changes were the shoulder harness release, the spacecraft compression and decompression handles, the ready switch, and the spacecraft squib switch. Test subjects also found that when in the fully pressurized suit none of the circuit breakers could be reached. McDonnell was directed to act on these problem areas.

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration instructed the missile division to combine its first order for an Atlas booster (HS-24) with a later order for nine Atlas boosters. - . Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  This action would also combine fund allocations of $2,761 000 for the first booster and $6 million for the nine boosters to a fund total of $8,761, 000 for Mercury booster procurement. therefore, the missile division was requested to prepare a development and funding plan covering the amended HS-36 order and forward the plan to NASA by 15 June 1959, (Msg, no cite number, NASA to AFBMD, 14 May 1959.)

• Scale model of Mercury for launch from Wallops Island to mach 18. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. The Langley Research Center was in the process of preparing a one-fourteenth scale model of the Mercury spacecraft for launch from Wallops Island on a five-stage rocket to a speed of mach 18..

• Specifications for Tracking and Ground Instrumentation System for Project Mercury - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Langley Specification Number S-45, entitled 'Specifications for Tracking and Ground Instrumentation System for Project Mercury,' was issued. Proposals were received from seven contractor teams by June 22, 1959, and technical evaluations were started..

• Negotiations on the cost of Redstone and Jupiter boosters for Project Mercury. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  The Space Task Group, in the process of negotiations with the Army Ordnance Missile Command on the cost of Redstone and Jupiter boosters in support of Project Mercury, received revised funding estimates for study covering Contract HS-44 (Redstone) and HS-54 (Jupiter).

• The Project Mercury balloon flight test program was canceled. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Parachute.

  The Space Task Group oficials determined that the spacecraft could be tested environmentally in the Lewis Research Center's altitude wind tunnel. This included correct temperature and altitude simulations to 80,000 feet. The pilot could exercise the attitude control system and retrorockets could be fired in the tunnel. Because an active contract did exist with the Air Force, it was decided the two balloon drop tests with unmanned boiler-plate spacecraft would be accomplished.

• First meeting of the Research Steering Committee on Manned Space Flight - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Faget, Goett, Low, George. Program: Apollo. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  The first meeting of the Research Steering Committee on Manned Space Flight was held at NASA Headquarters. Members of the Committee attending were: Harry J. Goett, Chairman; Milton B. Ames, Jr. (part-time); De E. Beeler; Alfred J. Eggers, Jr.; Maxime A. Faget; Laurence K. Loftin, Jr.; George M. Low; Bruce T. Lundin; and Harris M. Schurmeier. Observers were John H. Disher, Robert M. Crane, Warren J. North, Milton W. Rosen (part-time), and H. Kurt Strass.

  The purpose of the Committee was to take a long-term look at man-in-space problems, leading eventually to recommendations on future missions and on broad aspects of Center research programs to ensure that the Centers were providing proper information. Committee investigations would range beyond Mercury and Dyna-Soar but would not be overly concerned with specific vehicular configurations. The Committee would report directly to the Office of Aeronautical and Space Research.

• Tentative manned space flight priorities - . Nation: USA. Program: Apollo. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Tentative manned space flight priorities were established by the Research Steering Committee: Project Mercury, ballistic probes, environmental satellite, maneuverable manned satellite, manned space flight laboratory, lunar reconnaissance satellite, lunar landing, Mars Venus reconnaissance, and Mars-Venus landing. The Committee agreed that each NASA Center should study a manned lunar landing and return mission, the study to include the type of propulsion, vehicle configuration, structure, anti guidance requirements. Such a mission was an end objective; it did not have to be supported on the basis that it would lead to a more useful end. It would also focus attention at the Centers on the problems of true space flight.

• Mercury astronaut centrifuge training programs - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  A meeting was held at Johnsville, Pennsylvania, to consider astronaut training programs on the centrifuge. During this meeting, Space Task Group personnel reviewed a draft memorandum prepared by the Aviation Medical Acceleration Laboratory concerning the methods they felt should be used. Also, possible centrifuge training periods for the astronauts were discussed, and tentative dates were set for August 1959 and January 1960.

• National booster program, Dyna-Soar, and Mercury discussed - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Faget, Low, George. Program: Apollo. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  The national booster program, Dyna-Soar, and Project Mercury were discussed by the Research Steering Committee. Members also presented reviews of Center programs related to manned space flight. Maxime A. Faget of STG endorsed lunar exploration as the present goal of the Committee although recognizing the end objective as manned interplanetary travel. George M. Low of NASA Headquarters recommended that the Committee:

  • Adopt the lunar landing mission as its long-range objective.
  • Investigate vehicle staging so that Saturn could be used for manned lunar landings without complete reliance on Nova.
  • Make a study of whether parachute or airport landing techniques should be emphasized.
  • Consider nuclear rocket propulsion possibilities for space flight.
  • Attach importance to research on auxiliary power plants such as hydrogen-oxygen systems.

• A quick-release, side exit hatch was designed for the Mercury spacecraft. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. The design consisted of a continuous double explosive train to assure that all bolts were actually broken upon activation of the device..

• First two Mercury Little Joe booster airframes delivered - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  North American Aviation delivered the first two Little Joe booster airframes, and noted that the four remaining were on fabrication schedule. The planned program was moving smoothly, for rocket motors to be used in the first flight were available at Wallops Station, Virginia, the test flight launching site. In addition, procurement of the test spacecraft incorporating Mercury flight items was on schedule, and the first spacecraft had been instrumented by Space Task Group personnel. Work was also in progress on other test spacecraft.

• Boilerplate Mercury spacecraft to develop recovery techniques. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. The Space Task Group furnished several boilerplate spacecraft to DesFlotFour (naval unit involved in Project Mercury recovery plans) for use in developing detailed recovery techniques..

• Northrop to fabricate the landing system for Mercury. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Parachute.

  McDonnell selected Northrop as the subcontractor to design and fabricate the landing system for Project Mercury. Northrop technology for landing and recovery systems dated back to 1943 when that company developed the first parachute recovery system for pilotless aircraft. For Project Mercury, Northrop developed the 63-foot ring-sail main parachute.

• 363 NASA personnel working on Project Mercury. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Personnel strength in support of Project Mercury included 204 at the Space Task Group, 98 at the Langley Research Center, 44 at the Lewis Research Center, and 21 on the Mercury tracking network, for a grand total of 363..

• Mercury follow-on program using maneuverable Mercury capsules. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Gilruth. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury Mark I. At a staff meeting, Space Task Group Director Robert R. Gilruth suggested studying a Mercury follow-on program using maneuverable Mercury capsules for land landings in predetermined areas. .

• Post-Mercury program using maneuverable Mercury spacecraft - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Gilruth. Program: Apollo. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. At an STG staff meeting, Director Robert R. Gilruth suggested that study should be made of a post-Mercury program in which maneuverable Mercury spacecraft would make land landings in limited areas..

• Mercury drogue parachute changed. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Parachute. The drogue parachute configuration was changed from 19.5 percent porosity, flat circular ribbon chute to a 28 percent porosity, 30 degree conical canopy..

• Mercury-Redstone inflight abort sensing system. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  The Army Ballistic Missile Agency submitted a proposal (Report No. DG-TR-7-59) for a Mercury-Redstone inflight abort sensing system. This system would monitor performance of the control system (attitude and angular velocity), electrical power supply, and launch vehicle propulsion. If operational limits were exceeded, the spacecraft would be ejected from the launch vehicle and recovered by parachute.

• Flight instrumentation necessary to support the Mercury-Atlas program. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Space Technology Laboratories and Convair completed an analysis of flight instrumentation necessary to support the Mercury-Atlas program. The primary objective of the study was to select a light-weight telemetry system. A system weighing 270 pounds was recommended, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration concurred with the proposal.

• Mercury Big Joe spacecraft for the reentry test was delivered to Cape Canaveral. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

• Bio-packs to be used in the NASA Mercury Little Joe Flight program. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Space Task Group officials met with representatives of the School of Aviation Medicine to discuss detailed aspects of the bio-packs to be used in the NASA Little Joe Flight program. The packs were to be furnished by the school. The purpose was to gather life support data that would be applicable to the manned flights of Project Mercury.

• Mercury survival kits - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  The Space Task Group advised the Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics of Government-furnished survival items that McDonnell would package in containers. These included desalter kits, dye marker, distress signal, signal mirrors, signal whistle, first aid kits, shark chaser, PK-2 raft, survival rations, matches, and a radio transceiver. Navy assistance was requested in the procurement of these items.

• Source Selection Panel to evaluate Mercury tracking proposals. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  A Source Selection Panel and a Technical Evaluation Board were organized and manned at the Langley Research Center to evaluate Mercury tracking and ground instrument action proposals. Technical evaluation of proposals was started on June 23, 1959, with seven companies under consideration. These were - in addition to Western Electric - Aeronutronics, Radio Corporation of America, Pan American Airways, Brown and Root, Chrysler Corporation, and Philco Corporation.

• Mercury spacecraft being designed to withstand 149 decibels. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  A visit was made to McDonnell and it was learned that the Mercury spacecraft was being designed structurally to withstand 149 decibels overall noise level. McDonnell, however, anticipated that the actual maximum level would not be above 128 decibels. Space Task Group personnel felt that even the 128 decibels were too high for pilot comfort, and extensive research toward the resolution of this matter was started.

• Centrifuge program to investigate the role of a pilot in the launch of a multi-stage vehicle. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Armstrong. Program: Mercury.

  A centrifuge program was conducted at Johnsville, Pennsylvania, to investigate the role of a pilot in the launch of a multi-stage vehicle. Test subjects were required to perform boost-control tasks, while being subjected to the proper boost-control accelerations. The highest g-force experienced was 15, and none of the test subjects felt they reached the limit of their control capability. As a note of interest, one of the test subjects, Neil Armstrong, was later selected for the Gemini program in September 1962.

• Mercury Capsule Review Board established - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  A Mercury Capsule Review Board was established to review, at regular intervals, action taken by the Capsule Coordination Office. Paul E. Purser was appointed chairman, with division heads, Coordination Office head, and Project and Assistant Project Directors serving as members.

• The Mercury Capsule (spacecraft) Coordination Office was organized within the Space Task Group. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Chamberlin. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  J. A. Chamberlin was appointed head of the office. Duties were divided into four major categories as follows: (1) loads, thermodynamics, structures, and aerodynamics; (2) cabin, life support, and controls; (3) electronics, recovery, and sequencing; and (4) transportation and handling, schedules and testing, and standards and specifications. This action assured continuity of effort in monitoring the McDonnell contract. Also, this office arranged and coordinated meetings with McDonnell personnel and served as a clearing house for all NASA-McDonnell contracts. The committee, of course, received a majority of its data from technical sources within the formal Space Task Group organization.

• STG worked on advanced design concepts of earth orbital and lunar missions - . Nation: USA. Program: Apollo. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Members of STG - including H. Kurt Strass, Robert L. O'Neal, Lawrence W. Enderson, Jr., and David C. Grana - and Thomas E. Dolan of Chance Vought Corporation worked on advanced design concepts of earth orbital and lunar missions. The goal was a manned lunar landing within ten years, rather than an advanced Mercury program.

• Eight Mercury Redstone launch vehicles final cost $20.1 million. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Against an original estimated cost of $15.5 million for eight Redstone launch vehicles in support of Project Mercury, the final negotiated figure was $20.1 million..

• Mercury recovery airdrop test. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Navy surface vessels and aircraft were used in a recovery operation after an airdrop of a spacecraft off the coast from Jacksonville, Florida. The spacecraft was purposely dropped 40 miles away from the predicted impact point and 45 miles away from the nearest ship. Recovery was effected in 2 and one half hours.

• Lunar mission studies under way at the Army - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: von Braun. Program: Horizon. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. During the Research Steering Committee meeting, John H. Disher of NASA Headquarters discussed the lunar mission studies under way at the Army Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA).. Additional Details: here....

• Research Steering Committee briefed on technical studies - . Nation: USA. Program: Apollo. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Alfred J. Eggers, Jr., of the Ames Research Center told the members of the Research Steering Committee of studies on radiation belts, graze and orbit maneuvers on reentry, heat transfer, structural concepts and requirements, lift over drag considerations, and guidance systems which affected various aspects of the manned lunar mission. Eggers said that Ames had concentrated on a landing maneuver involving a reentry approach over one of the poles to lessen radiation exposure, a graze through the outer edge of the atmosphere to begin an earth orbit, and finally reentry and landing. Additional Details: here....

• Study and research areas for manned flight to and from the moon - . Nation: USA. Program: Apollo. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Members of the Research Steering Committee determined the study and research areas which would require emphasis for manned flight to and from the moon and for intermediate flight steps:. Additional Details: here....

• Ablation materials for the Mercury Little Joe flights. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Heat Shield.

  Between June 28 and July 11, 1959, 12 heat-transfer tests were made in the Preflight Jet Test facility at Wallops Island on several ablation materials being considered for use on the spacecraft afterbody (not heat shield) for the Little Joe flights. Test conditions simulated those of actual Little Joe trajectories. Of the materials used, triester polymer and thermolag demonstrated the capability to protect the spacecraft against expected heat loads.

• Longitudinal static stability investigation for the Mercury spacecraft. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. A longitudinal static stability investigation was carried out for the Mercury manned orbital spacecraft model in the 16-foot transonic circuit at the Arnold Engineering Development Center..

• First automatic stabilization and control system for the Mercury spacecraft delivered - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Minneapolis-Honeywell delivered the first automatic stabilization and control system for the Mercury spacecraft to McDonnell..

• 1/14th-scale model of Mercury spacecraft tested at Mach 3.5. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  The Pilotless Aircraft Research Division of the Langley Research Center launched a 1/14th-scale model of the Mercury spacecraft at Wallops Island to a speed of Mach 3.5 and at an altitude of 40,000 feet. The model spacecraft went into a continuous tumble from separation to landing.

• Jupiter launch vehicles in Project Mercury canceled - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: von Braun. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. The order for Jupiter launch vehicles in support of Project Mercury was canceled because the same or better data could be obtained from Atlas flights..

• Mercury astronaut disorientation flights on the three-axis space simulator - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. The Mercury astronauts completed disorientation flights on the three-axis space simulator at the Lewis Research Center..

• Mercury pressure suit compatibility evaluation. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mark IV Model 3 Type I. Spacecraft: Mercury Space Suit. A pressure suit compatibility evaluation in the Mercury spacecraft mock-up was performed in suits submitted by the David Clark Company, B. F. Goodrich Company, and International Latex Company. Four subjects participated in the tests..

• Mercury astronaut MASTIF training. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Project Mercury astronauts completed disorientation flights on three-axis space-flight simulator, the MASTIF (Multiple Axis Space Test Inertia Facility), at NASA Lewis Research Center..

• Evaluations of Mercury tracking network proposals - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Results of the technical and management evaluations of Mercury tracking network propsals were presented to the Langley Research Center Source Selection Board..

• Mercury spacecraft energetic particles research. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Faget. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  As a result of a discussion between Maxime A. Faget, Space Task Group, and John E. Naugle, Space Science Division, NASA Headquarters, it was concluded that there were several important scientific experiments in the field of energetic particles research that could be performed by placing packets of emulsion within the Mercury spacecraft. Work was started to determine a suitable packet location, along with other details associated with conducting such experiments.

• Jupiter deleted as Mercury launch vehicle. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. As developmental planning for Project Mercury evolved, NASA notified the Army that to reduce the variety of launching vehicles to Jupiter missile would not be used for Project Mercury tests..

• Instrumentation to measure noise level during the Mercury Big Joe-Atlas launching. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  An agreement was made with the Air Force for Space Task Group to place microphone pickups on the skin of the Atlas launch vehicle as a part of the instrumentation to measure noise level during the Big Joe-Atlas launching. Distribution of the microphones was as follows: one inside the Mercury spacecraft, three externally about midway of the launch vehicle, and one on the Atlas skirt.

• Western Electric to build the Mercury tracking network. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. The Western Electric Company and associates were announced as winner of the competition for construction of the Mercury tracking network..

• Spacecraft horizon scanner qualification tests were started. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

• Western Electric Company selected for the Mercury tracking network. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Negotiations for construction of the Mercury tracking network were started with the Western Electric Company and their subcontractors (Bendix Aviation, International Business Machines, Bell Telephone Laboratories, and Burns and Roe), and a letter contract was signed on July 30, 1959, for the entire range. This included radar tracking; telemetry receiving, recording, and display; communications to both the spacecraft and surface stations; and the computing and control facilities.

• Mercury tracking station contractor selected. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. NASA selected Western Electric Co. to build worldwide network of tracking and ground instrument stations to be used in Project Mercury..

• Postflight handling of the Mercury special test spacecraft. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. The Space Task Group forwarded Big Joe postflight requirements to Pan American personnel at the Atlantic Missile Range for use in preparing their documents concerning postflight handling of the Mercury special test spacecraft..

• Cape Canaveral. Building S for Project Mercury support - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Alterations to Building 'S' at Cape Canaveral for Project Mercury support were discussed in a meeting at Cape Canaveral. A target date of December 1, 1959, was set for project completion. Therefore, this meant that Vanguard activities would have to be phased out of the building.

• Mercury boilerplate pad abort flight - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Escape Tower.

  A successful pad abort flight of a Mercury boilerplate spacecraft with a production version of the escape tower and rocket was made. The escape rocket motor was manufactured by Grand Central Rocket, and the flight was the first operational test of this component.

• Goodrich selected for the Mercury astronaut pressure suit - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mark IV Model 3 Type I. Spacecraft: Mercury Space Suit.

  The B. F. Goodrich Company was selected as the contractor to design and develop the Mercury astronaut pressure suit. Company technology in this field dated back to 1934, when it developed the first rubber stratosphere flying suit for attempts at setting altitude records.

• Second beach abort test leading to the Mercury Little Joe test series. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Escape Tower.

  A boilerplate spacecraft, instrumented to measure sound pressure level and vibration, was launched in the second beach abort test leading to the Little Joe test series. The purpose of the instrumentation was to obtain measurement of the vibration and sound environment encountered on the capsule during the firing of the Grand Central abort rocket. Memo, Charles A. Hardesty to NASA Langley IRD files, subject: Sound Measurements on the Second Beach Abort Test on the Little Joe Capsule, Oct. 9, 1959.

• Contract to Western Electric for the Mercury tracking and ground instrumentation system. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Letter Contract NASA 1-430 was awarded to the Western Electric Company for construction of the Mercury tracking and ground instrumentation system..

• First animal couch for the Mercury program. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury ECS.

  Personnel from the Aeromedical Field Laboratory inspected the first animal couch fabricated by McDonnell to be used in the Mercury animal flight program. The objective of the animal program was to provide verification of successful space flight prior to manned missions; to aquire data on physical and mental demands which will be encountered by the astronauts during space flight; to provide dynamic test of technical procedures and training for support personnel in handling the aeromedical program for manned flight; and to evaluate spacecraft environmental control systems and bioinstrumentation under flight conditions.

• Qualification tests completed for the Mercury main parachute. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Parachute. Qualification tests, which were started in May 1959, were completed for the 63-foot ringsail, main parachute. After this, complete parachute landing tests were initiated by spacecraft drops from a C-130 at Salton Sea, California..

• Tests were started to check the operation of the redesigned Mercury drogue parachute - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Parachute.

• F-102 for Mercury astronaut flight proficiency - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Four F-102 aircraft were made available for use by the Mercury astronauts to maintain proficiency in high performance vehicles..

• The Department of Defense appointed Major General Donald N. Yates, Commander, Atlantic Missile Range, as its representative for Project Mercury support - . Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  All plans relevant to Department of Defense support of the project were to be submitted through General Yates. He was also made responsible for direction and control of the Department of Defense facilities, forces and assets so used as well as performance of specific missions assigned for project support. (Memo, Thomas S. Gates, Dep Sec of Defense, to Secretaries of the Military Departments, 10 Aug 59, subj: Assignment of Responsibility for DOD Support of Project Mercury.)

• Negotiations for the fabrication of six additional Mercury spacecraft. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. NASA Headquarters approved a Space Task Group proposal that negotiations be undertaken with McDonnell for the fabrication of six additional Mercury spacecraft..

• Mercury astronauts began their initial centrifuge training - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  The astronauts began their initial centrifuge training at the Aviation Medical Acceleration Laboratory. During the first part of the month Space Task Group personnel had installed and checked out Mercury spacecraft simulation equipment at the Aviation Medical Acceleration Laboratory in preparation for the astronaut centrifuge training program.

• Testing completed on Mercury drogue parachute effectiveness - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Parachute.

  Testing was completed to check the effectiveness of the drogue parachute as a stabilizing device. The drogue parachute was fully qualified for deployment at speeds up to Mach 1.5 and altitudes of up to 70,000 feet. Ordinarily, during the operational phase of Project Mercury the drogue parachute was deployed at 40,000 feet, so the component well met operational requirements.

• Additional Atlas launch vehicles in support of Project Mercury. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  NASA Headquarters authorized the Space Task Group to enter into negotiations with the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division for the procurement of additional Atlas launch vehicles in support of Project Mercury. The authorization was to be incorporated into Contract No. HS-36.

• Mercury spacecraft modified to withstand lunar reentry conditions - . Nation: USA. Program: Apollo. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  McDonnell Aircraft Corporation reported to NASA the results of several company-funded studies of follow-on experiments using Mercury spacecraft with heatshields modified to withstand lunar reentry conditions. In one experiment, a Centaur booster would accelerate a Mercury spacecraft plus a third stage into an eccentric earth orbit with an apogee of about 1,200 miles, so that the capsule would reenter at an angle similar to that required for reentry from lunar orbit. The third stage would then fire, boosting the spacecraft to a speed of 36,000 feet per second as it reentered the atmosphere.

• Recovery forces for a three-orbit Mercury mission - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  An operational analysis study report of possible recovery forces required for a three-orbit Mercury mission was received from the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation. By using this document, the Space Task Group was continuing to refine recovery requirements for all Mercury flights. This work involved the development of a satisfactory helicopter recovery technique and the conduct of tests to determine optimum spacecraft location aids.

• McDonnell report on a modified Mercury capsule to explore problems of space flight. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury Mark I.

  McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, St. Louis, Missouri, issued a report on the company's studies using a modified Mercury capsule to explore some problems of space flight beyond the initial manned exploration of space through Mercury. The 300-page report discussed six follow-on experiments: touchdown control, maneuver in orbit, self-contained guidance, 14-day mission, manned reconnaissance, and lunar-orbit reentry. These were more in the nature of technically supported suggestions than firm proposals, but all six experiments could be conducted with practical modifications of Mercury capsules.

• McDonnell Mercury effort begins at Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  McDonnell moved a segment of its Mercury effort to Cape Canaveral in preparation for the operational phase of the program. Personnel were immediately assigned to committees to develop the plans for Mercury-Redstone and Mercury-Atlas missions. The McDonnell office was located in Hanger S.

• Mercury LJ-1 - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Launching of Mercury capsule mockup from Wallops Station to test the escape and recovery systems; emergency escape rocket accidentally fired 30 minutes before scheduled firing of the Little Joe booster..

• Mercury Astronauts' Handbook. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  The Space Task Group provided McDonnell with guidance in the development of the 'Astronauts' Handbook.' Topics included such items as a descriptive resume of normal and emergency procedures to be followed on the check lists. The book was divided into three sections: 'The Normal Operational Procedures,' 'The Emergency Operational Procedures,' and 'The Failure Analysis Procedures.'

• Mercury spacecraft mock-up review - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. At a spacecraft mock-up review, the astronauts submitted several recommended changes. These involved a new instrument panel, a forward centerline window, and an explosive side egress hatch..

• Mercury astronaut food and water requirements - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury ECS.

  After a preliminary study of the Mercury environment with regard to astronaut food and water requirements, Dr. Douglas H. K. Lee estimated that water use would be in the order of 500 cu cm/hr and that the caloric intake per day would be about 3,200 calories of food. Dr. Lee was a member of the Natick Quartermasters Research and Engineering Laboratory.

• Walter C. Williams Associate Director for Project Mercury Operations - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Walter C. Williams was appointed Associate Director for Project Mercury Operations, and also the prime NASA-Department of Defense contact for Mercury flight operations..

• Mark II Mercury parachute test vehicle air launch - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Parachute. An air launch of a Mark II parachute (drogue) test vehicle was conducted by the NASA Flight Research Center. This test, the 15th in the series, concluded the Project Mercury drogue parachute development and qualification tests..

• Effects of sustained acceleration on the pilot's ability to control a vehicle. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Between September 21 and October 10, 1959, a research program was carried out by the Aviation Medical Acceleration Laboratory to measure the effects of sustained acceleration on the pilot's ability to control a vehicle. Various side-arm controllers were used, and it appeared that the three-axis type (yaw, roll, and pitch) was the most satisfactory. Later this configuration was extensively evaluated and adopted for use in the control system of the Mercury spacecraft.

• Mercury Retrorocket Capability. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Retrorockets. A paper was issued covering 'Results of Studies Made to Determine Required Retrorocket Capability.' The intent of this study was to provide for pilot safety for landing during any emergency condition, as well as at the end of a normal mission..

• Proposals for follow-on experiments using Project Mercury capsules. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury Mark I. Space Task Group's (STG) New Projects Panel discussed the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation proposals for follow-on experiments using Project Mercury capsules.. Additional Details: here....

• Funds approved for major changes to the Mercury spacecraft - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Parachute.

  Funds were approved by NASA Headquarters for the following major changes to the Mercury spacecraft: egress hatch installation (CCP-58-1), astronaut observation window installation (CCP-73); rate stabilization and control system (CCP-61-2), main instrument and panel redesign (CCP-76), installation of reefed ringsail landing parachute (CCP-41), and nonspecification configurations of spacecraft (CCP-8). With reference to the last item, the original contract with McDonnell had specified only one spacecraft configuration, but the various research and development flight tests required changes in the configuration.

• McDonnell received the first Mercury ablative heat shield - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Heat Shield. McDonnell received the first ablative heat shield, designated for installation on Spacecraft No. 1. This particular heat shield was based on the Big Joe design, and was manufactured by General Electric..

• Mercury air-supplied launch-vehicle control system. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. North American Aviation and Minneapolis-Honeywell were notified to proceed with the production of hardware for an air-supplied launch-vehicle control system..

• Specifications for the Mercury pressure suit were issued. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mark IV Model 3 Type I. Spacecraft: Mercury Space Suit. The suit procurement program was divided into two phases: Phase I, operational research suits which could be used for astronaut training, system evaluation, and further suit development; and Phase II, Mercury pressure suits in the final configuration..

• Explorer VII - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Explorer VII achieved orbit and began providing significant geophysical information on solar and earth radiation, magnetic storms, and micrometeorite penetration. This satellite also successfully demonstrated a method of controlling internal temperatures..

• Project Mercury research support needs at Lewis. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Space Task Group personnel held a meeting at Langley with representatives from the Lewis Research Center to clarify Project Mercury research support needs at Lewis. During the course of discussion, several test and support areas were agreed upon. As an example, Lewis would conduct separation tests in which full-scale hardware was used to determine if a satisfactory separation existed. In these tests separation would occur when the posigrade rockets were fired after burnout of the Atlas during an ordinary mission. Lewis would seek to determine if there were any harmful effects due to flame impingement either on the Atlas booster or on the wiring of the retrograde package. In addition, Lewis would determine the actual effective impulse of the posigrade rockets during separation. Lewis also agreed to support Space Task Group in developing pilot techniques in a special tunnel at Lewis. The objectives were to determine a pilot's capability to stabilize spacecraft attitudes in space. Lewis had a large gimballed system in the tunnel that would simulate the motions of space conditions, but in a sea-level environment. It was thought, however, that experience in the gamballed system would be beneficial to the pilots. A third area of support involved retrorocket calibration tests. At that time, Space Task Group was concerned that when the retrorockets were fired, the spacecraft would be considerably upset while in orbital flight. Lewis would use its high-altitude tunnel at maximum capability to determine the extent of the upset and assist in devising means to control the situation. Lewis also agreed to check the hydrogen-peroxide-fueled control system to obtain starting and performance characteristics of the reaction jets. In the last area of this series of studies and tests, Lewis was to study the escape rocket plume when the rocket was fired at high altitudes to determine the effect of the plume on the spacecraft. It was believed that the plume would completely envelop the spacecraft.

• Mercury spacecraft afterbody shingles tested - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Requests were initiated to test the Mercury spacecraft afterbody shingles at the Navy's Dangerfield test facility for heat resistance and dynamic-pressure capabilities..

• Mercury escape-system qualification-test results. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Escape Tower.

  A meeting of Space Task Group, Wallops Station, and McDonnell personnel was held to review and evaluate Mercury escape-system qualification-test results. In the continuing efforts of this activity, the responsibility in attaining test objectives was apportioned among the three organizations.

• Mercury first manned development system tests - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Space Suit.

  The first manned development system tests were completed at the AiResearch Manufacturing Division, Garrett Corporation. Tests were conducted in the altitude chamber to determine proper functioning of all system valves and components. A McDonnell subject was clothed in a Mercury-type presure suit for these tests. Preliminary data from these tests indicated that the system functioned satisfactorily.

• Mercury full-pressure suits delivered. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mark IV Model 3 Type I. Spacecraft: Mercury Space Suit.

  Between November 1959 and January 1960, 10 developmental Mercury full-pressure suits were delivered. These suits were used in various Mercury training and development programs. Several problem areas were denoted. One involved stretching which complicated the suit mobility problem. This matter was being investigated, and one of the solutions was felt to be undersizing to allow for a suit growth factor. In addition, modifications would have to be made in suit insulation to provide for better pilot mobility. These problems were to be expected in a developmental program.

• Mercury spacesuit delivered. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Prototype Goodrich full-pressure Mercury astronaut suits (modified Navy Mark IV) were delivered to NASA. Navy Air Crew Equipment Laboratory (NACEL) of Philadelphia fitted suits and indoctrinated the astronauts on their use..

• Mercury Horizon Scanner Handbook published. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. The 'Handbook of Operation and Service Instructions, Horizon Scanner Test, Serial MDE 4590011' was published. This document was revised and reissued on June 6, 1960..

• Design of the Mercury couch was completed - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Between November 1959 and January 1960, the general design of the Mercury couch was completed, and couches were molded for the astronauts and medical personnel associated with the program..

• Mercury astronauts fitted with pressure suits. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mark IV Model 3 Type I. Spacecraft: Mercury Space Suit. The astronauts were fitted with pressure suits and indoctrinated as to use at the B. F. Goodrich Company, Akron, Ohio..

• Design of the Mercury Control Center was completed. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Between this date and December 5, 1959, the tentative design and layout of the Mercury Control Center to be used to monitor the orbiting flight of the Mercury spacecraft were completed. The control center would have trend charts to indicate the astronaut's condition and world map displays to keep continuous track of the Mercury spacecraft.

• Molding of the first production-type couch for the Mercury spacecraft. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Space Task Group personnel visited McDonnell to monitor the molding of the first production-type couch for the Mercury spacecraft..

• NASA-Department of Defense agreement on Mercury costs - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  A NASA-Department of Defense agreement was signed by NASA Administrator T. Keith Glennan and Deputy Secretary of Defense Thomas Gates, relevant to the principles governing reimbursement of costs incurred by NASA or the Department of Defense in support of Project Mercury.

• Mercury astronauts familiarized with the expected reentry heat pulse - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Space Suit. Wearing the Mercury pressure suits, the astronauts were familiarized with the expected reentry heat pulse at the Navy Aircrew Equipment Laboratory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania..

• Open-circuit television system in the Mercury-Redstone MR-2 and MR-3 flights - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-3. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  At the fifth Mercury Coordination Meeting, the Army Ballistic Missile Agency proposed the installation of an open-circuit television system in the Mercury-Redstone second and third flights (MR-2 and MR-3). The purpose of the system was to observe and relay launch vehicle and spacecraft separation data.

• Biopack experiment for Mercury Little Joe 2 flight. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. The Air Force School of Aviation Medicine agreed to provide a biopack experiment for the Mercury Little Joe 2 flight. Included in the pack were track plates of barley, nerve cells from a rat, tissue culture, and other specimens of that type..

• Solid-fuel rocket motor used to propel the Mercury spacecraft escape system tested. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Escape Tower.

  The Arnold Engineering Development Center tested the Grand Central solid-fuel rocket motor used to propel the Mercury spacecraft escape system.The purpose of the test was to verify altitude ignition and to determine the combustion-chamber-pressure-time curve.

• Preliminary flight rating test of the Mercury spacecraft reaction control automatic subsystem. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. In the development of the Mercury spacecraft reaction control system, Bell Aircraft Corporation started the preliminary flight rating test of the automatic subsystem..

• Mercury astronaut F-100 weightless flying training program - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. A weightless flying training program was started by the Mercury astronauts in the F-100 aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Eating, drinking, and psychomotor tests were conducted while the astronauts were in a weightless state..

• Monitoring facilities for the Mercury Control Center at Cape Canaveral and Bermuda. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. The Space Task Group approved monitoring facilities proposed by the Stromberg-Carlson Division for the Mercury Control Center at Cape Canaveral and Bermuda..

• Mercury Little Joe 2 (LJ-2) - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  LJ-2 was launched from Wallops Island to determine the motions of the spacecraft escape tower combination during a high-altitude abort, entry dynamics without a control system, physiological effects of acceleration on a small primate, operation of the drogue parachute, and effectiveness of the recovery operation. Telemetry was set up to record some 80 bits of information on the flight. The abort sequence was initiated by timers after 59 seconds of elapsed flight time at an altitude of about 96,000 feet and a speed of Mach 5.5. Escape motor firing occurred as planned and the spacecraft was whisked away at a speed of about Mach 6 to an apogee of 53.03 statute miles. All other sequences operated as planned, and spacecraft recovery was effected in about 2 hours from lift-off. The primate passenger, 'Sam,' an American-born rhesus monkey, withstood the trip and the recovery in good condition. All objectives of the mission were met.

• Tenney Engineering to construct Mercury altitude test chamber in Hanger S at Cape Canaveral. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Tenney Engineering Corporation was chosen by the Space Task Group to construct the Mercury altitude test chamber in Hanger S at Cape Canaveral. When completed, altitude pressure would simulate 225,000 feet. The chamber, a vertical cylinder with domed ends, was 12 feet in diameter and 14 feet high. The chamber was designed to allow a partial spacecraft functional check in a near-vacuum environment.

• Retrorockets for the Mercury spacecraft were tested - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Retrorockets. Two Thiokol retrorockets for the Mercury spacecraft were tested at the Arnold Engineering Development Center engine test facility. The test objectives were to evaluate ignition characteristics..

• Redstone for Mercury MR-1 installed on the interim test stand. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. The Redstone launch vehicle for the first Mercury-Redstone mission (MR-1) was installed on the interim test stand at the Army Ballistic Missile Agency for static testing..

• Mercury astronauts complete classroom training. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Mercury astronauts completed basic and theoretical studies in their training program and started practical engineering studies..

• Mercury thrust cut-off sensor tests were accepted. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Thrust cut-off sensor reliability and qualification tests were accepted, because of the similarity to Lockheed functional environmental evaluation tests of similar units used in the Polaris program. This component, fabricated by the Donner Scientific Company, was accepted by NASA.

• McDonnell exceeds one million labor-hours on Mercury. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Since being awarded the Mercury contract, McDonnell had expended 942,818 man-hours in engineering; 190,731 man-hours in tooling; and 373,232 man-hours in production..

• NASA funds in support of Project Mercury - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  At the end of the year, NASA funds in support of Project Mercury had been obligated to the listed organizations as follows: Air Force Ballistic Missile Division, NASA Order HS-36, Atlas launch vehicles, $22,830,000; Army Ordnance Missile Command, NASA Order HS-44, Redstone launch vehicles, $16,060,000; and McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, NASA Order 5-59, Mercury spacecraft, $49,407,540.

• Training of Mercury remote-site flight controllers - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Specifications for equipment and systems to be used for the training of the remote-site flight controllers and Mercury control center operations personnel were forwarded to the Western Electric team. The remote-site training was divided into two stages: off-range and on-range. The off-range portion consisted of practice runs on a typical set of controllers' consoles tied into an astronaut procedures trainer. The on-range part was planned at two stations within the United States and from here, controllers would be assigned to tracking sites for full range rehearsals and a mission.

• Qualification tests completed on Mercury cameras. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Qualification tests were completed on the Mercury spacecraft pilot cameras and instrument viewing cameras..

• NASA presented communications requirements for Project Mercury to Western Electric - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. NASA presented its basic communications requirements for Project Mercury to Western Electric, and the Company's interim proposal to satisfy these requirements was accepted in February 1960..

• The Project Mercury data reduction plan was approved. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Space Task Group's study entitled 'Semi-Automatic Data Reduction' had been completed and submitted to NASA Headquarters for review on December 21, 1959..

• Future wind tunnel test needs for advanced Mercury projects. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Johnson, Caldwell. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury Mark I.

  Representatives of Engineering and Contracts Division and Flight Systems Division (FSD) met to discuss future wind tunnel test needs for advanced Mercury projects. After Alan B. Kehlet remarked on available test facilities, Caldwell C. Johnson and H. Kurt Strass presented their ideas on advanced configurations. Johnson had been working on modifications to the existing Mercury configuration, chiefly in the areas of afterbody, landing system (rotors to control impact point), and retro-escape system, rather than on advanced configuration concepts. Strass suggested that advanced work be classed as either (1) modifications refining the design of the present Mercury or (2) new concepts in configuration design, and others present agreed. Johnson consented to design models for both program categories. FSD's Aerodynamics Section would arrange for and perform tests necessary to evaluate both modifications and advanced proposals. Strass also suggested another modification, a larger heatshield diameter allowing for half-ringed flaps which could be extended from the portion of the afterbody near the heatshield to provide some subsonic lifting capabilities. Strass stated the need for aerodynamic information on an advanced Mercury configuration under consideration by his group, and on the lenticular vehicle proposed by Aerodynamics Section.

• Contract signed by NASA and the Western Electrice for the Mercury tracking network. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. A contract (NAS 1-430) was signed by NASA and the Western Electric Company in the amount of $33,058,690 for construction and engineering of the Mercury tracking network..

• Qualification tests on programmer for Project Mercury completed - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Qualification tests on a programmer fabricated by the Wheaton Engineering Company for Project Mercury were started and completed by March 28, 1960..

• Mercury Operation Plan COMDESFLOTFOUR No. 1-60 - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Based on requirements listed in Space Task Group Working Paper No. 129, covering the Project Mercury recovery force, the Navy issued 'Operation Plan COMDESFLOTFOUR No. 1-60.' This plan provided for recovery procedures according to specified areas and for space recovery methods. Procedures for Mercury-Redstone and Mercury-Atlas missions were covered.

• Overall Plan for Department of Defense Support for Project Mercury Operations - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. A document entitled 'Overall Plan for Department of Defense Support for Project Mercury Operations' was reviewed and approved by NASA Headquarters and the Space Task Group..

• Mercury-Atlas flight test working group to become a standing coordination body. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  A proposal was made by Walter C. Williams, Associate Director of Project Mercury Operations, that the Mercury-Atlas flight test working group become an official and standing coordination body. This group brought together representation from the Space Task Group, Air Force Ballistic Missile Division, Convair Astronautics, McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, and the Atlantic Missile Range. Personnel from these organizations had met informally in the past on several occasions.

• Mercury-Redstone Coordination Committee - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Walter C. Williams proposed the establishment of a Mercury-Redstone Coordination Committee to monitor and coordinate activities related to Mercury-Redstone flight tests..

• English vendors for Project Mercury components. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  In keeping with a concept of using certain off-the-shelf hardware items that were available for the manufacture of Project Mercury components, companies around London, England, were visited throughout 1959. Potential English vendors of such items as the SARAH beacon batteries (later chosen), miniature indicators, time delay mechanisms, hydrogen-peroxide systems, and transducers were evaluated. A report of the findings was submitted on the cited date.

• 15 Atlas launch vehicles and 26 Mercury spacecraft purchased. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. At a meeting to draft fiscal year 1962 funding estimates, the total purchase of Atlas launch vehicles was listed as 15, and the total purchase of Mercury spacecraft was listed as 26..

• Mercury LJ-1B - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Apogee: 14 km (8 mi).

  Little Joe 1-B (LJ-1B) was launched from Wallops Island with a rhesus monkey, 'Miss Sam,' aboard. Test objectives for this flight were the same as those for Little Joe 1 (LJ-1) in which the escape tower launched 31 minutes before the planned launch, and Little Joe 1-A (LJ-1A), wherein the dynamic buildup in the abort maneuver was too low. A physiological study of the primate, particularly in areas applying to the effects of the rapid onset of reverse acceleration during abort at maximum dynamic pressure, was also made. In addition, the Mercury helicopter recovery system was exercised. During the mission, all sequences operated as planned; the spacecraft attained a peak altitude of 9.3 statute miles, a range of 11.7 statute miles, and a maximum speed of 2,021.6 miles per hour. Thirty minutes from launch time, a Marine recovery helicopter deposited the spacecraft and its occupant at Wallops Station. 'Miss Sam' was in good condition, and all test objectives were successfully fulfilled.

• McDonnell delivered first production Mercury spacecraft. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  McDonnell delivered the first production-type Mercury spacecraft to the Space Task Group at Langley in less than 1 year from the signing of the formal contract. This spacecraft was a structural shell and did not contain most of the internal systems that would be required for manned space flight. After receipt, the Space Task Group instrumented the spacecraft and designated it for the Mercury-Atlas 1 (MA-1) flight.

• Six chimpanzees ready for Mercury missions. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Six chimpanzees were rated as being trained and ready to support Mercury-Redstone or Mercury-Atlas missions. Other chimpanzees were being shipped from Africa to enter the animal training program..

• Mercury astronauts instruction in celestial navigation - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  As part of their training program, the astronauts received 2 days of instruction in star recognition and celestial navigation presented by Dr. James Balten at the Morehead Planetarium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The purpose of this training was to assist the astronaut in correcting spacecraft yaw drifts. Practical experience was gained in this task by using a motorized trainer that simulated the view of the celestial sphere through the spacecraft observation window.

• Mercury flotation collar. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  The Navy's School of Aviation Medicine modified a standard 20-man raft in such a way that it could be placed around the base of a floating spacecraft with impact skirt extended. When the device was inflated, the spacecraft rode high enough in the water to permit easy egress from the side hatch.

• Qualification tests of the Mercury spacecraft periscope were completed. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

• Mercury-Jupiter 2 (MJ-2) (cancelled) - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury-Jupiter 2 (MJ-2). In the January 1959 Mercury program plan, flights of the capsule on a Jupiter IRBM were to take place in addition to flights atop the Redstone and Atlas boosters. The Mercury-Jupiter flights were cancelled in July 1959 on cost grounds..

• Grand Canary Island Mercury tracking site. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Agreements were signed with two Spanish firms to provide communications at the Grand Canary Island Mercury tracking site..

• External and Internal Noise of Mercury Space Capsules. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  A study was completed on the 'External and Internal Noise of Space Capsules.' This study covered the acoustic environments of missile and space vehicles including noise generated by the rocket engines, air-boundary layers, and on-board equipment. Data used included noise measurements compiled from the Big Joe I and Little Joe 2 flight tests. These tests were a part of the internal and external noise study that had been in progress since early 1959. NASA officials were still of the opinion that the internal noise level was too high for pilot comfort. Space Task Group felt that data were needed on noise transmission through an actual production-model spacecraft structure.

• Beryllium shingles to be used on the cylindrical section of the Mercury spacecraft. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. A meeting was held to relay the decision that beryllium shingles would be used as the best heat protection material on the cylindrical section of the Mercury spacecraft..

• Medical-monitor training program in support of Project Mercury. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Colonel George M. Knauf of the Air Force Surgeon General's office began the compilation of a medical-monitor training program in support of Project Mercury. The aims of this program were to brief the monitors on medical problems in space prior to their participation in support of Mercury flights. Colonel Knauf is now a member of NASA Headquarters Manned Space Flight Office.

• Final design approval test of the Mercury telemetry equipment was completed. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Reliability test of this equipment was completed on February 27, 1960..

• Tests started for the mission abort sensing program for Mercury-Redstone - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Tests were started by the Army Ballistic Missile Agency for the mission abort sensing program to be integrated in the Mercury-Redstone phase of Project Mercury..

• Responsibilities of the Mercury launch coordination office - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Responsibilities of the Mercury launch coordination office were specified by the Space Task Group. A few of the listed duties included responsibilities associated with Department of Defense support; overall coordination of launch activities; compilation of information related to launch support requirements; and representing Mercury at Atlas or Redstone Flight Test Group meetings. Walter C. Williams made a proposal for an activity along these lines on January 18, 1960.

• Project Mercury operations coordination group established at the Atlantic Missile Range. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kraft. Program: Mercury. With Project Mercury about to enter a heavy operational phase, an operations coordination group was established at the Atlantic Missile Range. Christopher C. Kraft, Jr. was appointed to head this group..

• Mercury spacecraft battery qualification tests were completed. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

• Mercury landing system and post-landing equipment tests were completed. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

• Mercury remote-site flight controllers appointed. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Training was inaugurated by a series of Space Task Group lectures that covered facilities, network systems, operations, and other details. In addition, a program was established for familiarization, orientation, and specialized instruction of the Department of Defense group of aeromedical staff personnel designated as members of flight controller teams.

• Tests were completed on the Mercury spacecraft automatic stabilization and control system. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

• The establishment of a Project Mercury tracking site in Australia was sanctioned. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

• Design approval and reliability tests of the Mercury command receivers were completed. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

• Mercury analog computing facility. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  The Space Task Group placed a requirement with NASA Headquarters for the purchase of an analog computing facility. Planned use of this facility was to establish and verify Mercury system requirements; it also could be used for Mercury follow-on programs such as a manned circumlunar vehicle program and other outer space program requirements of this nature. Cost of this facility was estimated to be $424,000.

• Overall Plan for Department of Defense Support for Project Mercury Operations - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  The Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff approved the 'Overall Plan for Department of Defense Support for Project Mercury Operations' submitted by their representative, Major General Donald N. Yates. Following this decision, the Space Task Group prepared a series of documents to establish the required operations support. One was an 'Operations Prospectus' which set forth the management techniques by which NASA planned to discharge its overall program responsibility in the operations area. A second was a 'Programs Requirements Document' directed toward continuing operational support.

• Qualification tests started on the Mercury escape tower rocket. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Escape Tower.

  These tests were completed at the end of July 1960. As a part of the qualification program, three escape-rocket motors were successfully fired on a spacecraft model at conditions corresponding to approximately 100,000 feet altitude in the Lewis Research Center altitude wind tunnel. One motor was tested on a four-component balance system to determine thrust misalignment of the rocket motor. According to test results, the rocket motor appeared to meet operational requirements.

• Mercury-Atlas working panels - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  The Mercury-Atlas working panels were reorganized into four groups: coordination, flight test, trajectory analysis, and change control. Each panel was composed of at least one representative from NASA (Space Task Group), McDonnell, Air Force Ballistic Missile Division, Space Technology Laboratory, and Convair-Astronautics.

• Mercury astornaut weightless flight training. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  An indoctrination program in free-floating during weightless flight was conducted for the astronauts at the Wright Air Development Center. The rear end of a C-131B aircraft was cleared and padded. Some 90 parabolas of 12 to 15 seconds of weightlessness each were flown. The objective was to present orientation problems of floating in space with the eyes opened and closed. Also, the astronauts made attempts to use tools and move weights while they were in a weightless condition.

• Position titles for Project Mercury operational flights were issued. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. During the flights, 15 major positions were assigned to Mercury Control Center, 15 in the blockhouse and 2 at the launch pad area. The document also specified the duties and responsibilities of each position..

• Initial payment to Australia for support of the Mercury network. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. The initial payment was made to the Australian Government by the Chase National Bank, New York City, on behalf of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for support of the Mercury network..

• Pioneer V - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Pioneer V, launched as a probe of the space between Earth and Venus, began to provide invaluable information on solar flare effects, particle energies and distributions and magnetic phenomena. Pioneer V continued to transmit such data until on June 26, 1960, when at a distance of 22.5 million miles from Earth, it established a new communications record.

• The Space Task Group published recovery requirements for the Mercury-Atlas 1 (MA-1) flight test. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

• Project Mercury tracking station in the Canary Islands - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. An agreement between the United States and Spain on the Project Mercury tracking station in the Canary Islands was announced..

• Mercury tracking agreements with foreign countries - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. United States-Spanish agreement on Project Mercury tracking station in Canary Islands was announced (1 of 16 similar agreements with other nations)..

• Mercury model Re-entry vehicle test - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: Mercury. Apogee: 34 km (21 mi).

• Mercury astronaut first open-water egress training. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Between March 28,1960 and April 1, 1960, the astronauts received their first open-water egress training in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, in cooperation with the Navy's School of Aviation Medicine. The training was conducted in conditions of up to 10-foot swells, and no problems were experienced. The average egress time was about 4 minutes from a completely restrained condition in the spacecraft to being in the life raft.

• Mercury spacecraft facility at Huntsville no longer required. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  A decision was made by NASA Headquarters that the spacecraft prelaunch operation facility at Huntsville, Alabama, was no longer required. Spacecraft that were designated for Mercury-Redstone missions were to be shipped directly from McDonnell to Cape Canaveral, thereby gaining approximately 2 months in the launch schedule.

• Mercury astronauts complete centrifuge training. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Seven Mercury astronauts completed training session at the Navy Aviation Medical Acceleration Laboratory, Johnsville, Pa..

• Building 575 ready for Mercury personnel - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Building 575, Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, was in the process of being refurbished for occupancy by NASA personnel in July 1960. This building was designated for Space Task Group use in Mercury launch, network, and data coordination..

• Mercury first production spacecraft delivered to NASA - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. The first McDonnell production spacecraft was delivered to NASA at Wallops Island for the beach-abort test..

• Preliminary specifications to modify the Mercury capsule by adding a reentry control navigation system. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury Mark I.

  Preliminary specifications were issued by Space Task Group (STG) to modify the Mercury capsule by adding a reentry control navigation system. The modified capsule would obtain a small lifting capability (lift-over-drag ratio would equal approximately 0.26). The self-contained capsule navigation system would consist of a stable platform, a digital computer, a possible star tracker, and the necessary associated electronic equipment. Dispersion from the predicted impact point would be less than 10 miles. The prospective development called for a prototype to be delivered to NASA for testing in February 1961; and first qualified system, or Modification I, to be delivered by August 1961; and the final qualified system, or Modification II, to be delivered by January 1962. STG anticipated that four navigational systems (not including prototype or qualification units) would be required.

• Modification of Mercury spacecraft for a controlled reentry begun. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Gemini, Mercury Mark I.

  The Space Task Group notified the Ames Research Center that preliminary planning for the modification of the Mercury spacecraft to accomplish controlled reentry had begun, and Ames was invited to participate in the study. Preliminary specifications for the modified spacecraft were to be ready by the end of the month. This program was later termed Mercury Mark II and eventually Project Gemini.

• Ablation tests on Mercury heat shield models. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Heat Shield. Ablation tests on nine Mercury heat shield models in the subsonic arc tunnel at the Langley Research Center were completed..

• Mercury space environment chamber completed at Cape Canaveral. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Construction of an altitude facility chamber to simulate space environment was completed in Hanger S at Cape Canaveral. The purpose of this facility was for spacecraft checkout and astronaut training. Acceptance tests for this installation were completed on July 11, 1960.

• First production Mercury capsule delivered. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. First production model of McDonnell-built Mercury capsule was delivered to NASA..

• Qualification tests for the Mercury spacecraft retrorockets were started. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Retrorockets.

  One of the main purposes of this program was the development of a better igniter. The igniter tested was attached to the head end of the propellant grain and coated with a pyrotechnic. Based on three tests it appeared that the delayed ignition problem had been resolved. Thereafter, several other tests were run until the igniter was adjudged to be reliable.

• Qualification tests began on the Mercury spacecraft posigrade rocket. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Retrorockets. The first three rocket motors subjected to these tests were successfully tested in a more stringent vibration spectrum than that required for Mercury-Atlas 1 (MA-1), the maximum dynamic reentry and maximum heat on afterbody test flight..

• Manned environmental-control-system training spacecraft completed - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury ECS. Fabrication of the manned environmental-control-system training spacecraft was essentially completed and a test program on the equipment was started at McDonnell. This test was completed on April 25, 1960..

• Tests completed on the Mercury maximum altitude sensor. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Tests were completed on the maximum altitude sensor. This component was fabricated by the Donner Scientific Company..

• Agreements concluded for all overseas Mercury tracking stations - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Construction was proceeding on schedule at Cape Canaveral, Bermuda, Grand Canary Islands, the Woomera and Muchea Australian sites, and at the demonstration site on Wallops Island, Virginia. The survey of Guaymas in Western Mexico completed that phase of the program, but the construction was yet to be accomplished.

• Mercury tracking agreements completed. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Milestone achieved in completion of interim or formal agreements concluded for all oversea Mercury tracking stations..

• Two McDonnell Mercury Procedures Trainers delivered to NASA. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Number 1, delivered on May 4, 1960, was used for astronaut training in the management of the spacecraft systems at Langley Field and Number 2, delivered on July 5, 1960, was installed at Cape Canaveral, also for space flight preparations. The trainer at Langley Field, along with other equipment, later designated flight simulator, was moved in 1962 to Houston, Texas, location of the Manned Spacecraft Center, the successor to the Space Task Group.

• Training classes for 30 physicians in support of Project Mercury. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Training classes started for 30 physicians who had been selected by the Department of Defense to serve as medical monitors in support of Project Mercury operations. These personnel received a 2-week indoctrination program. The first week was spent at Cape Canaveral where they were briefed on the medical aspects of missile operations. The second week was spent at Space Task Group for a series of lectures and demonstrations on spacecraft systems, astronaut medical histories, and monitoring stations. This was followed by practice training sessions.

• Production of the manned space flight configuration of the Mercury pressure suit was started. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mark IV Model 3 Type I. Spacecraft: Mercury Space Suit.

  The astronauts and medical personnel who had tested the developmental suits received in November 1959 recommended a number of changes to increase the physical mobility of the astronaut before the production effort began. Evaluation of the test suits with the suggested modifications indicated that the mobility and suit-spacecraft compatibility had been greatly enhanced. The stretching which once had been a problem area had been significantly decreased.

• Pressurized animal couches delivered for Mercury flight test program. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  McDonnell delivered the flight-pressurized couches to be used in the animal phase of the Mercury flight test program. According to test results, the couches appeared to be satisfactory, with the exception of a slight sealing problem. McDonnell was attempting to resolve this problem.

• Beach Abort 1 - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  First production model of Project Mercury spacecraft was successfully launched from NASA Wallops Station to test escape, landing, and recovery systems. Known as the "beach abort" shot, the Mercury capsule reached 775 m before parachute landing and pickup by Marine helicopter returned it to Wallops' hangar 17 minutes after launch.

• Mercury Pad Abort 1 - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Escape Tower.

  McDonnell's first production spacecraft, with its escape rocket serving as the propulsion force, was launched from Wallops Island. Designated the beach-abort test, the objectives were a performance evaluation of the escape system, the parachute and landing system, and recovery operations in an off-the-pad abort situation. The test was successful.

• Space Task Group field office at the McDonnell plant - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  The Space Task Group established a field representative office at the McDonnell plant in St.Louis, Missouri. A technical liaison representative, W. H. Gray, had already been assigned to the plant. A resident systems test engineer, a resident instrumentation engineer, and a team of inspectors were added to the staff.

• Mercury spacecraft used in the beach-abort test returned for an integrity test. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Escape Tower. The first production Mercury spacecraft, used in the beach-abort test, was returned to the McDonnell plant for an integrity test..

• Qualification tests for the Mercury spacecraft explosive egress hatch were completed. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

• Mercury Spacecraft No. 4 delivered to Cape Canaveral. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Spacecraft No. 4 (production number), after being instrumented and prepared by the Space Task Group and the Langley Research Center for flight tests, was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the first Mercury-Atlas mission (MA-1)..

• McDonnell delivered a Mercury flight-monitoring trailer to the Space Task Group. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. This trailer was used at Cape Canaveral to house equipment which provided real-time telemetry read-outs during Mercury-Redstone flights..

• Mercury recoverable experiments - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  In the overall NASA space program, Project Mercury was the only program which included a recovery capability. For this reason, Space Task Group officials felt there were a number of experiments in the science and bioscience fields that could be placed aboard Mercury spacecraft during mission flights. An example of such experiments would be an ultra-violet camera which would provide data to assist in the design and development of an orbiting astronautical observatory; another might be bio-specimens. Obviously, decisions in experiment selections would have to be made to prevent any dilution of the primary Mercury mission.

• Possible meteoroid damage to the Mercury spacecraft. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  In considering the possible meteoroid damage to the Mercury spacecraft in orbital flight, it was concluded by the Space Task Group that damage likelihood was small even during periods of meteor showers. However, it was recommended that Mercury missions not be scheduled during forecasted shower periods.

• As of this date, the funding status of Contract NAS 5-59, Mercury spacecraft, was $75,565,196. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

• United States Weather Bureau support of Project Mercury. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  The United States Weather Bureau estimated that it would require $50,000 during fiscal year 1961 in support of Project Mercury. Bureau responsibilities included weather forecasting for Mercury launching and recovery activities, climatological studies along the area of the Mercury ground track, and environmental studies of specified areas. With reference to the last item, a study was completed in early August 1960 of annual conditions along the Atlantic Missile Range including wind velocity, visibility and cloud coverage.

• Atlas launch vehicle 50-D was delivered for the first Mercury-Atlas mission (MA-1). - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

• Manned tests of the Mercury environmental control system began. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Space Suit.

  The subjects were clothed in pressure suits and subjected to postlanding conditions for 12 hours without serious physiological effects. The purpose of this test was to evaluate human tolerance, and the results indicated that no modification to the system were necessary. However, the postlanding ventilation conditions would continue to be monitored and requirements for any modifications would be evaluated.

• Tests were completed on the Mercury spacecraft horizon scanner. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. A sandblast technique was employed in these tests, and measurements revealed that transmissibility was reduced in direct proportion to the area sand blasted. Tests covered 25, 50, and 75 percent of a germanium specimen..

• Mercury Project Orbit - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  As a complement to the Mercury spacecraft reliability program, a decision was made that one production spacecraft would be withdrawn from the operational program for extensive testing. The test environment would involve vacuum, heat, and vibration conditions. This test series was later designated 'Project Orbit.'

• Mercury spacecraft No. 2 was delivered to Huntsville. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Spacecraft No. 2 was delivered to the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama, for compatibility tests with the Redstone launch vehicle, and was shipped to Cape Canaveral on July 23, 1960..

• Manufacture of the Mercury mobile-pad egress tower (cherry picker) was completed. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. The vehicle was delivered to Cape Canaveral on October 24, 1960..

• Reporting plan for Mercury-Atlas and Mercury-Redstone missions - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. A reporting plan for Mercury-Atlas and Mercury-Redstone missions was issued. This document was amended on February 17, 1961, and April 10, 1961..

• Mercury Network Coordination Committee - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  The first meeting of the Mercury Network Coordination Committee was held at Cape Canaveral for the purpose of initiating action on existing problem areas. Subjects under review included operational procedures, range readiness, and other items associated with network operation during a mission.

• Davis appointed Department of Defense representative for Project Mercury support - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Major General Leighton I. Davis was appointed Department of Defense representative for Project Mercury support, replacing Major General Donald N. Yates..

• Mercury astronaut desert survival training - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  The astronauts underwent a five and one half day course in 'desert survival' training at the Air Training Command Survival School, Stead Air Force Base, Nevada. The possibility of an arid-area landing was remote but did exist. So this training was accomplished to supply the astronaut with the confidence and ability to survive desert conditions until recovery. The course consisted of one and one half days of academics, one day of field demonstrations, and three days of isolated remote-site training. Survival equipment normally installed in the Mercury spacecraft was used to provide the most realistic conditions.

• NASA personnel strength in support of Project Mercury was 543. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. This included 419 assigned to the Space Task Group, and 124 personnel from the Langley Research Center..

• Mercury spacecraft No. 2 delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Mercury spacecraft No. 2 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Redstone 1-A (MR-1A) mission..

• Mercury launch site recovery forces exercises - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Mercury launch site recovery forces exercised in recovery operations following simulated spacecraft landings off Cape Canaveral. Coordination and control of the recovery forces were rated highly satisfactory..

• Mercury spacecraft No. 3 was delivered to Langley Field for a noise and vibration test. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

• Mercury MA-1 - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Apogee: 13 km (8 mi).

  The first Mercury-Atlas -D (MA-1) was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral to test the Mercury capsule and Atlas D booster for future use in NASA's Project Mercury manned orbital flight program. Mercury-Atlas 1 (MA-1) was launched from the Atlantic Missile Range in a test of spacecraft structural integrity under maximum heating conditions. After 58.5 seconds of flight, MA-1 exploded and the spacecraft was destroyed upon impact off-shore. None of the primary capsule test objectives were met. The mission objectives were to check the integrity of the spacecraft structure and afterbody shingles for a reentry associated with a critical abort and to evaluate the open-loop performance of the Atlas abort-sensing instrumentation system. The spacecraft contained no escape system and no test subject. Standard posigrade rockets were used to separate the spacecraft from the Atlas, but the retrorockets were dummies. The flight was terminated because of a launch vehicle and adapter structural failure. The spacecraft was destroyed upon impact with the water because the recovery system was not designed to actuate under the imposed flight conditions. Later most of the spacecraft, the booster engines, and the liquid oxygen vent valve were recovered from the ocean floor. Since none of the primary flight objectives was achieved, Mercury-Atlas 2 (MA-2) was planned to fulfill the mission.

• Exhaustive review of Mercury-Atlas after dual Atlas failures. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Because of the failure of the Big Joe Atlas test flight and the Mercury-Atlas 1 (MA-1) flight to attain all its mission objectives, the overall Mercury-Atlas program underwent an exhaustive review. . Additional Details: here....

• Final Trajectory for Mercury MR-1 - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Marshall Space Flight Center published the 'Final Standard Trajectory for MR-1 (Mercury-Redstone).'.

• Mercury impact skirt water and land tests was completed. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Heat Shield.

  The first phase of the program in which boilerplate spacecraft with impact skirts were dropped by helicopters on water and land surfaces was completed. These tests were performed to investigate spacecraft dynamics, effects of parachute restraint and release time on spacecraft dynamics, and to determine maximum landing decelerations. During the drops into the water spacecraft water stability was shown to be unacceptable, because a portion of the spacecraft cylindrical section remained under water. McDonnell immediately investigated this problem and performed such experiments as redistribution of weight to obtain center-of-gravity positions which were acceptable but yet provided satisfactory flotation characteristics. Space Task Group was investigating the possibility of extending the heat shield from the remainder of the spacecraft and thereby creating a greater stabilizing moment. Results from the drops on land appeared to be acceptable because of the relatively low decelerations and the overall low probability of a landing on land.

• The Mercury astronauts were briefed on the Tiros weather satellite. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. The astronauts were briefed on the Tiros weather satellite project as a means providing them with information that could be used to recognize and report on weather phenomena during orbital flight..

• Mercury astronaut side-hatch-egress training was completed with no difficulties encountered. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  The astronauts later received refresher training prior to mission flights. In fact, during the refresher phases, better procedures were developed. An example was the helicopter mode in which a line was attached to the top of the spacecraft and the spacecraft was partially raised by the helicopter. Then, the astronaut emerged from the side egress hatch and was raised by a second line to the helicopter.

• Redstone launch vehicle No. 1 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the MR-1 (Mercury-Redstone). - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

• Project Mercury data reqiested for the X-20 Dyna Soar program. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. The Wright Air Development Center requested that NASA Headquarters provide the Center with pertinent working papers and reports on Project Mercury, especially on human factor aspects, for possible application in the X-20 Dyna Soar program..

• The Mercury spacecraft landing system qualification test program was completed. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Parachute.

  The entire qualification testing program consisted of 56 airdrops of full-scale engineering models of the Mercury spacecraft from C-130 aircraft at various altitudes up to 30,000 feet and from helicopters at low altitudes to simulate off-the-pad abort conditions. This test program, under contract to Northrop, had spanned one and one half years.

• Mercury-Atlas 1 (MA-1) mission malfunction discussed. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Chamberlin. Program: Mercury. Representatives of NASA, McDonnell, Ballistic Missile Division, Space Technology Laboratories, and Convair met at Cape Canaveral and later at Convair Astronautics (Aug. 30, 1960) to discuss the Mercury-Atlas 1 (MA-1) mission malfunction. . Additional Details: here....

• Weather Bureau support of Project Mercury - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Weather Bureau fund estimates for Fiscal Year 1961 for support of Project Mercury were adjusted to $180,000, but in April 1961, the Bureau Director stated he believed that actual costs would not exceed $150,000..

• Mercury spacecraft No. 7 astronaut inspection results in changes in the control panel - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  At the design engineering inspection of spacecraft No. 7, a number of requests for changes in the control panel area were made by the astronauts to facilitate pilot operation. Later, meeting procedures for design engineering inspections were standardized and conducted by a permanent team at appropriate intervals.

• McDonnell proposed a one-man space station. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury Mark I.

  McDonnell Aircraft Corporation proposed a one-man space station comprising a Mercury capsule plus a cylindrical space laboratory capable of supporting one astronaut in a shirtsleeve environment for 14 days in orbit. Gross weight of the combined vehicle at launch would be 7259 pounds (Mercury, as of October 25, 1960, was 4011 pounds), which would provide an 1100-pound, laboratory-test payload in a 150-nautical-mile orbit, boosted by an Atlas-Agena B. The result would be a 'minimum cost manned space station.'

• Coordination in the Mercury program deemed excellent - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Coordination effectiveness among organizations directly involved in the Mercury development and test program was reviewed by the Space Task Group at the request of NASA Headquarters. Conclusions were that the interchange of information had been excellent. The coordination panel meetings were cited as a fine medium for information exchange. The Mercury-Atlas Coordination Panel first met on February 19, 1959, and by the date of the review, a total of 29 days had been spent in these meetings. Interchange of visits had started even before the cited February date and had been continued with good results.

• Flight-type Mercury pressure suits received from Goodrich - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mark IV Model 3 Type I. Spacecraft: Mercury Space Suit. Flight-type pressure suits were received from the B. F. Goodrich Company and were immediately used on the human centrifuge to assist in determining final adjustments that were necessary in preparation for manned space flight..

• Specification requirements for Mercury spacecraft on-board data system instrumentation tests. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  The Space Task Group drafted and forwarded to McDonnell the specification requirements for spacecraft on-board data system instrumentation tests. McDonnell was to demonstrate the satisfactory performance of all space communication and instrumentation systems.

• Mercury spacecraft No. 6 was delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. for the Mercury-Atlas 2 (MA-2) unmanned mission intended to gain data on maximum dynamic pressure and maximum heat on the spacecraft afterbody..

• Aircraft telemetry requirements deleted from Mercury MA-3 and MA-4 missions - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Aircraft telemetry requirements were deleted from the Mercury-Atlas 3 (MA-3) and Mercury-Atlas 4 (MA-4) missions, as the spacecraft had been modified to provide telemetry transmissions from the point of main parachute deployment to landing..

• Test plans for the Mercury spacecaft systems - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. McDonnell forwarded its plans to the Space Task Group for the spacecaft systems tests and Cape Canaveral checkout plans for spacecraft Nos. 5 and 7. Later, spacecraft No. 7 was the first to undergo this type of test..

• Mercury Atlas 50-D failure evaluation - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. 'Flight Test Evaluation Report, Missile 50-D', Report No. AE 60-0323, was published. The launch vehicle was used in the unsuccessful Mercury-Atlas 1 (MA-1) reentry test mission..

• Format of first Mercury-Redstone postlaunch report - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. The format of subject matter coverage for the first Mercury-Redstone postlaunch (MR-1) report was issued. This report, covering a full range of topics related to the mission, was to be submitted within 5 days after the launch..

• Mercury Atlas launch vehicle 67-D delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. The Atlas launch vehicle 67-D was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Atlas 2 (MA-2) reentry test mission..

• The Mercury astronauts received weightless training in a modified C-135 jet aircraft. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  This was the third type of aircraft used by the astronauts in such training. The previously mentioned F-100 provided a weightless period of some 40 to 50 seconds; the C-131, 15 seconds; and the C-135, 30 seconds. During the C-135 flights, the astronauts were checked for changes in normal speech and their ability to control a tracking problem while undergoing moderate g-loads prior to entering the weightless periods.

• Mercury jettison rocket tests. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Heat Shield.

  Because of poor tower separation of the production spacecraft in the off-the-beach abort test at Wallops Island, NASA personnel at Langley started a series of jettison rocket tests. It was found that rocket performance had been only about 42 percent of the desired level, and experiments were started to raise thrust effectiveness. Measures taken included canting the motor, adding a cone to the blast shield, and, in one instance, deleting the blast shield. Space Task Group personnel advised McDonnell that plans were made to test a redesigned jettison rocket nozzle, consisting of three nozzles spaced 120 degrees apart and canted at a 30 degree angle to the rocket centerline. The three-nozzle effect, which produced the desired results, was another NASA engineering contribution.

• Roll-out inspection of Mercury Atlas launch vehicle 77-D - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. The roll-out inspection of Mercury Atlas launch vehicle 77-D was conducted at Convair-Astronautics. This launch vehicle was allocated for the Mercury-Atlas 3 (MA-3) mission, but was later canceled and Atlas booster 100-D was used instead..

• Mercury spacecraft No. 3 erected at Wallops Island. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Mercury spacecraft No. 3, initially delivered to Langley on July 29, 1959, for a noise and vibration test, was erected at the Wallops Island launch site for the Little Joe 5 (LJ-5)..

• Mercury spacecraft No. 5 delivered to the Marshall - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Mercury spacecraft No. 5 was delivered to the Marshall Space Flight Center for booster compatibility checks, and was shipped to Cape Canaveral on October 11, 1960, for the Mercury-Redstone 2 (MR-2) ballistic-primate (Ham) mission..

• Third Mercury centrifuge training program - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-3. Spacecraft Bus: Mark IV Model 3 Type I. Spacecraft: Mercury Space Suit. The third Mercury centrifuge training program was conducted for the astronauts at the Aviation Medical Acceleration Laboratory. . Additional Details: here....

• Recovery communications exercise at the Mercury Control Center. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  DESFLOTFOUR personnel, designated previously by the Department of Defense to provide recovery support for Project Mercury, conducted a communications exercise in the recovery room of Mercury Control Center. This was the first time these communication facilities had been used since the installation of the equipment. During the exercise, voice and continuous-wave communications were established with two destroyers 120 miles at sea. The purpose of this successful exercise was to acquaint personnel with equipment layout and communication procedures.

• Mercury weather support group formed. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Project Mercury weather support group established at NASA's request in the Office of Meteorological Research of the Weather Bureau..

• The Air Force no longer seriously entertained the prospect of a separate military man in space program at this time. - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, Mercury, Lunex.

  The ballistic missile division became deeply involved in support activity for the civilian space agency, especially developing and supplying hardware for the Mercury program. As of this date, Air Force Ballistic Missile Division participation included the following: providing 16 Atlas D boosters to accept Mercury capsules and adapters, to be provided by the space agency, a modified guidance structure, an installed abort system to insure pilot safety, and telemetry. Air Force Ballistic Missile Division also furnished launch facilities at the Atlantic Missile Range Complex 14, and one-half of Hangar J and the necessary modifications thereto as requested and made necessary by booster requirements. Such work included installation of capsule umbilical and checkout cabling, telemetry, communications, and data transfer equipment required by the payload. The missile division also provided the guidance site and use of the range Atlas guidance computer (Mod III) for powered trajectory guidance and the special computations requested by the space agency. Air Force Ballistic Missile Division and several Air Force contractors provided, as of this date, 401 military and civilian personnel to the program. Much of the cost of this support activity was reimbursed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, but some was not. Air Force personnel costs, military and civilian; office space and equipment; and normal base support functions were provided at Air Force expense. Cost of a 14 booster "program (the additional two boosters were ordered too late to be included in this summary) was as follows:(Millions of Dollars)
  

  �	Prior Years	FY 61	FY 62	Total
  Booster Hardware and Launch Service	19.769	15.324	5.924	41.017
  Engineering Modifications and Studies, Technical Direction, Booster Safety Program, etc.	3.436	6.367	1.362	11.165
  Miscellaneous, Propellant, Transportation, Travel, etc.	.466	1.133	.122	1.721
  Total Estimate	23.671	22.824	7.408	53.903

  
  (Msg, WDGP 17-10-5, AFBMD to Hq ARDC, 17 Oct 1960)

• Project Mercury weather support group established - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. A Project Mercury weather support group was established in the Office of Meteorological Research of the United States Weather Bureau at the request of NASA..

• Mercury Crew Support Equipment - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  James Carter of the Marshall Space Flight Center submitted a study on Mercury Crew Support Equipment.' This type of equipment was defined as that which is not an integral part of or attached to a space vehicle or space station. Specific equipment categories discussed in the report included personal safety, recovery, survival, food supplies, portable respiratory devices, and hand tools.

• Mission rules for Mercury-Redstone 1 (MR-1) issued. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. A revision was published on Nov. 1, 1960..

• Mercury spacecraft checkout facility transferred to Cape Canaveral. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. The Mercury spacecraft checkout facility at Marshall Space Flight Center was transferred to Cape Canaveral..

• Status of qualification and reliability activities for Project Mercury. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Space Task Group officials presented the status of qualification and reliability activities for Project Mercury to Dr. T. Keith Glennan, NASA Administrator..

• Complete Mercury Control Center staff operated for the first time. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. During the Mercury-Redstone 1 (MR-1) and Mercury-Redstone 1A (MR-1A) launches, the complete Mercury Control Center staff operated for the first time..

• Goddard Mercury computing and communications center operational. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MA-7. The Goddard Space Flight Center computing and communications center became operational. . Additional Details: here....

• Mercury Little Joe 5 (LJ-5) - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Escape Tower.

  LJ-5, the first of the series with a McDonnell production spacecraft, was launched from Wallops Island to check the spacecraft in an abort simulating the most severe launch conditions. The launch was normal until 15.4 seconds after lift-off, at which time the escape rocket motor was prematurely ignited. The spacecraft did not detach from the launch vehicle until impact and was destroyed. Failure to attain mission objectives was attributed to several possible causes. One of these was failure of the spacecraft-to-adpater clamp-ring limit switches. Another possibility was failure of the escape tower clamp-ring limit switches. And the third was improper rigging of the limit switches in either of those locations so that vibration or deflection could have caused switch closure. Since the test objectives were not met, a repeat of the mission was planned.

• Mercury LJ-5 - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Apogee: 16 km (9 mi).

  Little Joe 5 with a Mercury production spacecraft was launched from Wallops Island to test the spacecraft in an abort simulating the most severe launch conditions. At 15.4 seconds after liftoff, the escape rocket motor and tower jettison motor ignited prematurely. Booster, capsule, and tower remained mated through ballistic trajectory until destroyed on impact.

• System checkout on Mercury spacecraft No. 7. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. System checkout tests were completed on spacecraft No. 7. In the opinion of McDonnell, the results demonstrated that this spacecraft was adequate for a manned mission..

• Results of Mercury test programs - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  A meeting was held at Langley Field by NASA personnel to discuss the results of Mercury test programs which had been conducted. Of particular interest was the estblishment of the causes for the failure of the Mercury-Atlas 1 (MA-1) mission and to determine the status of readiness or the Mercury-Atlas 2 (MA-2) mission.

• Test of the capability of a Mercury astronaut to make celestial observations. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. The Space Task Group requested that McDonnell submit a proposal for conducting a test to determine the capability of an astronaut to make celestial observations through the Mercury spacecraft observation window..

• Standard Procedures Mercury Control Center for Flight Control and Overall Options - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. The 'Standard Procedures Mercury Control Center for Flight Control and Overall Options' was published..

• Mercury Spacecraft No. 8 delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Spacecraft No. 8 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Atlas 3 (MA-3) unmanned orbital mission..

• An attempt was made to launch Mercury-Redstone 1 (MR-1) from Cape Canaveral. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Escape Tower.

  This unmanned mission was unsuccessful because premature cut-off of the launch vehicle engines activated the emergency escape system when the vehicle was only about 1 inch off the pad. Engine cut-off was caused by premature loss of electrical ground power to the booster. The launch vehicle settled back on the pad with only slight damage. Since the spacecraft received a cut-off signal, the escape tower and recovery sequence was initiated. The undamaged spacecraft was recovered for reuse.

• Phase II of the Mercury helicopter spacecraft airdrop program was completed. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  One of the objectives of these tests was to drop a spacecraft during wind conditions of 18 knots, and this phase was successful. Secondary objectives of the program were to investigate spacecraft dynamics and water stability. Both spacecraft flotation and righting characteristics were found to be acceptable.

• Mercury MR-1 - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Apogee: 0 km (0 mi). Suborbital launch attempt. After a four- or five-inch liftoff, MR-1 launched its escape tower but not the capsule. The undamaged spacecraft was recovered for reuse..

• Little Joe 5A (cancelled) - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Little Joe was a booster lashed together by NASA Langley to test the Mercury escape tower abort system. In early NASA secretly considered a manned mission atop Little Joe but quickly dropped the idea when the dynamic pressures involved were reviewed (the concept nevertheless emerged in the trade press in 'Aviation Leak' (Aviation Week and Space Technology).

• Recovery whip antenna on the Mercury spacecraft. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. A 16 and one half foot recovery whip antenna replaced the balloon-borne system on the Mercury spacecraft..

• McDonnell completed the fabrication of the first Mercury spacecraft orbital timing device. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Qualification tests for this component were started immediately..

• Spacecraft weight and balance for the Mercury MR-2 mission - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Spacecraft weight and balance values for the Mercury-Redstone 2 (MR-2) mission were forwarded by the Space Task Group to the Marshall Space Flight Center..

• Mercury Redstone launch vehicle No. 3 shipped to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Redstone launch vehicle No. 3 was shipped to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Redstone 1A (MR-1A) mission..

• Mercury spacecraft No. 7 delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-3. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Spacecraft No. 7 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) manned ballistic mission (Shepard)..

• Mercury satellite clock canceled. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  A contract with the Waltham Precision Instrument Company for the development of a satellite clock was canceled. Technical difficulties were encountered in the manufacturing of the device, previously scheduled for delivery in August 1960, and there was little assurance that these problems could be resolved in time for the clock to be used in any of the Mercury flights. McDonnell fabricated an orbital timing device, which proved to be very satisfactory.

• Mercury MR-1A - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Apogee: 210 km (130 mi).

  Mercury-Redstone 1A (MR-1A) was launched from Cape Canaveral in a repeat of the November 21, 1960, mission and was completely successful. This was the third attempt to accomplish the objectives established for this flight. The first attempt on November 7, 1960, was canceled as a result of a helium leak in the spacecraft reaction control system relief valve, and on November 21, 1960, the mission could not be completed because of premature cut-off of the launch vehicle engines. Objectives of the MR-1A flight were to qualify the spacecraft for space flight and to qualify the flight system for a primate flight scheduled shortly thereafter. Close attention was given to the spacecraft-launch vehicle combination as it went through the various flight sequences: powered flight; acceleration and deceleration; performance of the posigrade rockets; performance of the recovery system; performance of the launch, tracking, and recovery phases of the operation; other events of the flight including retrorocket operation in a space environment; and operation of instrumentation. Except that the launch vehicle cut-off velocity was slightly higher than normal, all flight sequences were satisfactory; tower separation, spacecraft separation, spacecraft turnaround, retrofire, retropackage jettison, and landing system operation occurred or were controlled as planned. The spacecraft reached a maximum altitude of 130.68 statute miles, a range of 234.8 statute miles, and a speed of 4,909.1 miles per hour. Fifteen minutes after landing in the Atlantic Ocean, the recovery helicopter picked up the spacecraft to complete the successful flight mission.

• Mercury Redstone launch vehicle No. 2 delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Redstone launch vehicle No. 2 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Redstone 2 (MR-2) mission (chimpanzee 'Ham' flight)..

• Mercury astronaut training in spacecraft systems - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Mercury astronaut training was centered on a close study of spacecraft systems in final preparation for manned space flight. A series of lectures was presented to the astronauts by the Operations Division of the Space Task Group in this respect..

• Mercury spacecraft naming policy - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Webb. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Prior to entering the operational phase of Project Mercury, a decision was made by Robert R. Gilruth and James E. Webb that the astronaut selected for each flight would have the right to name his spacecraft, which is in keeping with past traditions. Therfore, the astronaut advised Robert R. Gilruth of the name of the spacecraft which he had chosen (Freedom 7 in the case of the first flight) and Mr. Gilruth, in turn, advised Mr. Webb of the name. The Federal Communications Commission was also notified of the name since the spacecraft would be using communications frequencies controlled by the Commission.

• Mercury Balloon Flight Tests (cancelled) - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury Balloon Flight Tests.

  In January 1959, a series of balloon flights were planned for qualification of the Mercury spacecraft. The final flights would be manned tests of up to 24 hours duration, with recovery of the capsule at sea. On May 22, 1959 the balloon flights were cancelled.

• NASA Space Task Group made official. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. NASA's Space Task Group, charged with carrying out Project Mercury and other manned space flight programs, officially became a separate NASA field element..

• Space Task Group officially became a separate NASA field element - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  The Space Task Group, charged by NASA to conduct Project Mercury and other manned space-flight programs, officially became a separate NASA field element directly under NASA Headquarters. Prior to this time, the Space Task Group was organized under the Goddard Space Flight Center and was administratively supported by the Langley Research Center. As of this date, the personnel strength of Space Task Group was 667.

• McDonnell one-man space station: Mercury capsule and a cylindrical space laboratory. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury Mark I.

  McDonnell Aircraft Corporation officials proposed to NASA a one-man space station consisting of a Mercury capsule and a cylindrical space laboratory capable of supporting one astronaut in a shirt- sleeve environment for 14 days in orbit. The complete vehicle, McDonnell said, could be placed in a 240-km orbit by an Atlas-Agena booster, thus affording NASA what the company termed a 'minimum cost manned space station.'

• Mercury MR-1A postlaunch system evaluation tests - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. The Mercury-Redstone 1A (MR-1A) postlaunch system evaluation tests were completed at Cape Canaveral. Data disclosed that the instrumentation system, communication system, and other components had operated satisfactorily during the flight mission..

• Mercury spacecraft No. 14 delivered to Wallops Island - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Escape Tower. Mercury spacecraft No. 14 was delivered to Wallops Island for the Little Joe 5A (LJ-5A) maximum dynamic pressure abort test..

• Mercury launch vehicle costs. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  The estimated cost of NASA Order HS-36, Atlas launch vehicles, was $51,504,000, of which, definitive documents in the amount of $43,671,000 had been processed as of the cited date. NASA Order HS-44 for Redstone launch vehicles was $14,918,182 and $12,534,182 had been processed. On contract NAS 5-59, Mercury spacecraft, costs were $79,245,952, and approximately $9.5 million of this figure was classed as 'Undefinitized Obligations.'

• McDonnell exceed 4.5 million labor-hours on Mercury. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. As of this date, McDonnell had expended 2,616,387 man-hours in engineering; 383,561 man-hours in tooling, and 1,538,476 man-hours in production in support of Project Mercury..

• Mercury MR-2 - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Apogee: 251 km (155 mi).

  Ham, a 37-pound chimpanzee, was aboard the spacecraft. The over-acceleration of the launch vehicle coupled with the velocity of the escape rocket caused the spacecraft to attain a higher altitude and a longer range than planned. In addition, the early depletion of the liquid oxygen caused a signal that separated the spacecraft from the launch vehicle a few seconds early. However spacecraft recovery was effected, although there were some leaks and the spacecraft was taking on water. Ham appeared to be in good physiological condition, but sometime later when he was shown the spacecraft it was visually apparent that he had no further interest in cooperating with the space flight program. Despite the over-acceleration factor, the flight was considered to be successful.

• The Mercury orbital psychomotor tester qualification tests began. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

• Astronaut personal parachute in the Mercury program. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-3. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Parachute.

  Instruction was provided to the astronauts to develop techniques and procedures for using the personal parachute as an additional safety feature in the Mercury program. This parachute was only used during the Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) mission manned by Alan Shepard.

• The Eagle-Picher Company started a 13-week life-cycle test on the Mercury spacecraft batteries. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

• Hydrogen-peroxide fuel economy for the Mercury spacecraft. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Grissom. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Retrorockets.

  Measures to be taken for hydrogen-peroxide fuel economy for the Mercury spacecraft attitude control system were studied at a coordination meeting. Items considered were orbital attitude, retroattitude hold sequence, and salvo versus ripple retrorocket firing. Astronaut Virgil Grissom reported that the salvo method had already been proven to be unsatisfactory on the Mercury procedures trainer.

• Mission rules for the Mercury MR-3 - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-3. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Mission rules for the Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3 - Shepard's flight) were published. Revisions were issued on February 27, and April 28, 1961..

• Rules for the Mercury MA-2 - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Spacecraft, mission, and launch vehicle flight safety rules for the Mercury-Atlas 2 (MA-2) mission were reviewed by Space Task Group personnel..

• Manual bilge pump in Mercury spacecraft No. 7 - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. The Space Task Group requested that McDonnell design and install a manual bilge pump in Mercury spacecraft No.7 to allow the removal of any seawater resulting from leakage after spacecraft impact..

• Egress hatch procedures for Mercury recovery force - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Egress hatch procedures for Mercury recovery force operations were discussed at a coordination meeting. One suggestion involved the installation of a pull-ring for activating the hatch explosive charge. Another proposal was made for a paint outline of an emergency outlet that could be cut through, if necessary.

• Space Task Group selected severe flight trajectory for Mercury-Atlas 2 - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Information was released by NASA Headquarters that Space Task Group engineers directing Project Mercury had selected the flight trajectory for the Mercury-Atlas 2 (MA-2) mission. . Additional Details: here....

• First Mercury crews selected. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Glenn, Grissom, Shepard. Program: Mercury. NASA Space Task Group selected John H. Glenn, Jr., Virgil I. Grissom, and Alan B. Shepard, Jr., to begin special training for first manned Mercury space flight..

• Glenn, Grissom, and Shepard selected to begin training for the first manned Mercury flight. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Glenn, Grissom, Shepard. Program: Mercury. Astronauts John Glenn, Virgil Grissom, and Alan Shepard were selected by the Space Task Group to begin special training for the first manned Mercury flight..

• Mercury MA-2 - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Apogee: 182 km (113 mi).

  Mercury-Atlas 2 (MA-2) was launched from Cape Canaveral in a test to check maximum heating and its effects during the worst reentry design conditions. The flight closely matched the desired trajectory and attained a maximum altitude of 114.04 statute miles and a range of 1,431.6 statute miles. Inspection of the spacecraft aboard the recovery ship some 55 minutes after launch (actual flight time was 17.56 minutes) indicated that test objectives were met, since the structure and heat protection elements appeared to be in excellent condition. The flight control team obtained satisfactory data; and the complete launch computing and display system, operating for the first time in a flight, performed satisfactorily.

• Studies on the separation of the Mercury spacecraft during an emergency - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Escape Tower.

  As of this date, the Space Task Group, Convair-Astronautics, Space Technology Laboratories, McDonnell, and the Marshall Space Flight Center had completed a number of extensive studies on the subject of the safe separation of the Mercury spacecraft from the launch vehicle during an emergency. The following papers include a report of these studies: NASA Project Mercury Working Paper No. 111, 'Mercury-Redstone Separation Distance ...'; NASA Project Mercury Working Paper No. 141, 'Dispersion Study of Separation Distance ...for Mercury-Redstone'; and NASA Working Paper No. 152, 'Determination of Mercury Escape Rocket Thrust Eccentricity ...from Mercury-Atlas Booster.'

• Mercury spacecraft No. 9 was delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Spacecraft No. 9 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Atlas 5 (MA-5) orbital primate (Enos) mission..

• Successful drop test using Mercury boilerplate. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Heat Shield. McDonnell conducted a successful drop test, using a boilerplate spacecraft fitted with impact skirt, straps and cables, and a beryllium heat shield. During the tests the stainless steel straps were successfully stretched to design limits..

• Mercury MA-2 flight showed low spacecraft afterbody temperatures. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Evaluation of the Mercury-Atlas 2 (MA-2) flight results disclosed that the spacecraft afterbody temperatures were somewhat lower than had been anticipated..

• Mercury Atlas launch vehicle No. 100-D rolled out. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Factory roll-out inspection of Atlas launch vehicle No. 100-D was conducted at Convair-Astronautics. This launch vehicle was allocated for the Mercury-Atlas 3 (MA-3) mission..

• "Detailed Test Objectives for NASA Mission Mercury MA-3" was published. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

• The third in the series of development engineering inspections on Mercury spacecraft was held. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. At this time, spacecraft Nos. 12 and 15 were inspected, and some 50 requests for alterations were made..

• Mercury spacecraft No. 11 delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-4. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Spacecraft No. 11 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) ballistic manned (Grissom) flight..

• Mercury Redstone launch vehicle No. 5 delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Redstone launch vehicle No. 5 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Redstone, Booster Development flight (MR-BD)..

• Mercury spacecraft No. 10 delivered to the McDonnell altitude test facility - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Spacecraft No. 10 was accepted and delivered to the McDonnell altitude test facility on March 31, 1961, for an orbital-flight environmental test..

• Mercury Atlas launch vehicle 100-D delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Atlas launch vehicle 100-D was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Atlas 3 (MA-3) mission..

• Mercury Bermuda tracking station agreement. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. United States and United Kingdom signed formal agreement covering Mercury tracking stations on Bermuda..

• Mercury spacecraft No. 10 was withdrawn from the flight program - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. It was allocated to a ground test simulating orbital flight environmental conditions at the McDonnell plant site..

• Weather reconnaissance missions beginning with Mercury MA-4 - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. The Space Task Group recommended that the Department of Defense give consideration to assigning weather reconnaissance missions to the Air Weather Service preceding Mercury orbital missions beginning with Mercury-Atlas 4 (MA-4)..

• Mercury trajectory data would be required for postflight analysis. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. The Space Task Group advised the Goddard Space Flight Center that for all Mercury orbital missions, beginning with Mercury-Atlas 3 (MA-3), trajectory data would be required for postflight analysis..

• Mercury LJ-5A - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Apogee: 12 km (7 mi).

  Mercury Little Joe 5A (LJ-5A), the sixth in the series of Little Joe missions, was launched from Wallops Island. This flight was intended to satisfy test objectives, which were not met previously because of the failure of the spacecraft to separate from the launch vehicle during the Little Joe 5 (LJ-5) mission flown on November 8, 1960. For reference, the purpose of this test was to demonstrate primarily the structural integrity of the spacecraft and the escape system during an escape maneuver initiated at the highest dynamic pressure anticipated during an Atlas launch for orbital flight. Little Joe 5A (LJ-5A) lifted off normally, but 19 seconds later the escape tower fired prematurely, a situation closely resembling the November 1960 flight. The signal to initiate the abort maneuver was given; and the launch vehicle-adapter clamp ring was released as intended, but the spacecraft remained on the launch vehicle since the escape motor was already expended. The separation was effected by using the retrorockets, but this command was transmitted before the flight had reached its apex, where separation had been planned. Therefore, the separation was rather violent. The parachutes did deploy at about 40,000 feet, and after recovery it was found that the spacecraft had actually incurred only superficial structural damage. In fact, this spacecraft was later used for the subsequent Little Joe 5B (LJ-5B) flight test. Test objectives of the Little Joe 5A (LJ-5A) were not met.

• Mercury MR-BD flight test data forwarded to the Space Task Group - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Trajectory data for the Mercury-Redstone Booster-Development (MR-BD) flight test were forwarded by Marshall Space Flight Center to the Space Task Group and other interested organizations. The purpose of this flight test was to provide a final check of the launch vehicle system prior to the manned suborbital flights.

• Phase III of the Mercury spacecraft airdrop program - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Heat Shield.

  Primary objectives of the drops were to study further the spacecraft suitability and flotation capability after water impact. Six drops were made, but later (April 24-28, 1961) the tests were extended for two additional drops to monitor hard-surface landing effects. In the water phase of the program, spacecraft components under particular scrutiny were the lower pressure bulkhead and its capability to withstanding heat shield recontact without impairing flotation capability. Helicopters were used to make the drops.

• The Mercury-Atlas Missile Range Projects Office designated as a staff function - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. The Mercury-Atlas Missile Range Projects Office, headed by Elmer H. Buller, was designated as a staff function of the Space Task Group Director's office..

• Mercury MR-3A (cancelled) - . Call Sign: Freedom 7. Crew: Shepard. Backup Crew: Grissom. Payload: Mercury SC7. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Grissom, Shepard, von Braun. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-3A. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  After booster problems on the Mercury MR-2 chimp test flight, Von Braun insisted on a further unmanned booster test flight, against the wishes of Shepard and others at NASA. A Mercury boilerplate capsule was launched on a flawless test on 24 March. If NASA had overruled Von Braun, the manned Freedom 7 capsule would have flown instead. Shepard would have been the first man in space (though not in orbit), beating Gagarin's flight by three weeks.

• Mercury MR-BD - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  After analyzing launch vehicle behavior in the Mercury-Redstone 1A (MR-1A) and Mercury-Redstone 2 (MR-2), officials at the Marshall Space Flight Center and the Space Task Group were of the opinion that there were a number of problems that needed to be corrected prior to the advent of manned flight. The problems to be resolved included jet-vane vibration, instrumentation compartment vibration, failure of the thrust-controller system, and several other areas that needed attention. Many of these problems were studied by the personnel of engineering activities and proposed solutions were formulated. It was felt, however, that flight was necessary to verify the corrections and the Mercury-Redstone Booster Development test was scheduled and flown. All test objectives were met; as a result of this test, the launch vehicle was man-rated for the planned suborbital flights.

• Mercury MR-BD - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: Mercury. Apogee: 181 km (112 mi). Suborbital test of Redstone modifications using a boilerplate Mercury capsule. The test was done at von Braun's insistence against Shepard's wishes, thereby putting the first US manned flight after Gagarin's..

• 350 correspondents to cover the first manned suborbital flight of Project Mercury. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-3.

  In a NASA Headquarters' note to editors of magazines and newspapers, a procedures and a deadline were established for submitting the applications of accredited correspondents to cover the Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) flight mission. As of April 24, 1961, the deadline date, 350 correspondents were accredited to cover the launch, the first manned suborbital flight of Project Mercury.

• Mercury Redstone launch vehicle No. 7 delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-3. Redstone launch vehicle No. 7 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) mission..

• All stations of NASA's world-wide Mercury tracking network were classed as being operational. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. An industrial team headed by the Western Electric Company turned over the $60,000,000 global network (figs. 48 and 49) to NASA in a formal ceremony later in the year..

• First simulated orbital mission of the Mercury spacecraft in an altitude chamber - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. The first simulated orbital mission, with the Mercury spacecraft in the altitude chamber, was conducted..

• Public Affairs Office named as Project Mercury information source - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. To satisfy the national interest in Project Mercury, Robert R. Gilruth designated the Public Affairs Office as the point of contact for Space Task Group activities to supply information, within the limits of security, for news dissemination..

• Glenn, Grissom, and Shepard refresher course on centrifuge for Mercury - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Glenn, Grissom, Shepard. Program: Mercury.

  Glenn, Grissom, and Shepard began refresher course on centrifuge in preparation for the first manned Mercury-Redstone suborbital flight. John Glenn, Virgil Grissom, and Alan Shepard began a refresher course on the Aviation Medical Acceleration Laboratory centrifuge in preparation for the first manned Mercury-Redstone suborbital flight.

• Mercury crew refresher centrifuge training. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-3. Three astronauts selected for Mercury-Redstone flight (MR-3) were ordered to take refresher course in Navy centrifuge at Johnsville, Pa..

• Mercury spacecraft No. 14A was delivered to Wallops Island. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Escape Tower. It would be used for the Little Joe 5B (LJ-5B) maximum dynamic-pressure abort mission. This spacecraft was first used in the Little Joe 5A (LJ-5A) mission and was then refitted for the LJ-5B flight..

• NASA issued study contract NAS 9-119 to McDonnell for improvement of the Mercury spacecraft. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury Mark I.

  McDonnell formed a small project group for the study, which immediately began looking to Mercury spacecraft component improvement, with accessibility as the guideline. Mercury had been a first step, almost an experiment, while the improved Mercury was to be an operational vehicle. One result of this line of thought was a basic change in equipment location, from inside the pressure vessel (where it had been in Mercury) to the outside. The contractor was authorized to acquire several long-lead-time procurement items under an amendment to the basic Mercury contract, but Space Task Group limited company expenditures to $2.5 million. The McDonnell project team initially included 30 to 40 engineers.

• United States Weather Bureau support for Project Mercury - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. The United States Weather Bureau stated that funds in the amount of $200,000 would be required to support Project Mercury during the fiscal year of 1962..

• Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) readiness review. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-3. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Spacecraft, mission, and launch vehicle flight safety were reviewed by Space Task Group personnel in preparation for the Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) mission..

• Mercury MA-3 - . Payload: Mercury SC8. Mass: 1,355 kg (2,987 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: Mercury. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Decay Date: 1961-04-25 .

  Mercury-Atlas 3 (MA-3) was launched from Cape Canaveral in an attempt to orbit the spacecraft with a 'mechanical astronaut' aboard. After lift-off, the launch vehicle failed to roll to a 70 degree heading and to pitch over into the proper trajectory. The abort-sensing system activated the escape rockets prior to the launch vehicle's destruction by the range safety officer after approximately 40 seconds of flight that had attained an altitude of 16,400 feet. The spacecraft then coasted up to 24,000 feet, deployed its parachutes, and landed in the Atlantic Ocean 2,000 yards north of the launch pad. The spacecraft was recovered and was found to have incurred only superficial damage; it was then shipped to McDonnell for refitting.

• Simulated countdown for Mercury MR-3 - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-3. A simulated countdown for the first Mercury-Redstone manned suborbital flight (MR-3) was successfully completed..

• Mercury LJ-5B - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi).

  Little Joe 5B (LJ-5B) was launched from Wallops Island to test the Mercury escape system under maximum dynamic pressure conditions. At the time of lift-off, one of the launch vehicle rocket motors did not ignite until after 4 seconds had elapsed. This delay caused the launch vehicle to pitch into a lower trajectory than had been planned, with a result that the abort maneuver experienced greater dynamic pressures than had been specified in the flight test plan. Other than this, all other sequential systems operated according to plan, and after landing, a normal helicopter recovery was accomplished. Thus, all test objectives were met and were actually exceeded because the spacecraft withstood the higher dynamic pressures.

• Webb warns of Mercury failures. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Webb. Program: Mercury.

  NASA Administrator Webb issued a statement concerning the 2-year Mercury manned space flight program, which said, in part: "NASA has not attempted to encourage press coverage of the first Mercury-Redstone manned flight. It has responded to press and television requests, with the result that over 100 representatives of the press, radio, and TV are now at Cape Canaveral. . . . We must keep the perspective that each flight is but one of the many milestones we must pass. Some will completely succeed in every respect, some partially, and some will fail. From all of them will come mastery of the vast new space environment on which so much of our future depends."

• Mercury MR-3 postponed. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-3. Manned Mercury-Redstone (MR-3) launch postponed because of rain squalls in the recovery area..

• Scout to evaluate the Mercury tracking system. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Radio Test Spacecraft. Spacecraft: Radio Test Spacecraft. A document was issued regarding use of a Scout test vehicle to evaluate the performance of the Mercury tracking and real-time computing system. NASA Headquarters tentatively approved the plan on May 24, 1961..

• Mercury MR-3 - . Call Sign: Freedom 7. Crew: Shepard. Backup Crew: Grissom. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Grissom, Shepard. Agency: NASA. Program: Mercury. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Flight: Mercury MR-3. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Duration: 0.0107 days. Apogee: 187 km (116 mi).

  Astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr., made the first United States manned space flight in a Mercury spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral atop the Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) vehicle. "Freedom 7" completed the suborbital, ballistic flight without incident in this historical first mission of NASA's Project Mercury. Alan Shepard first American in space, less than a month after Gagarin and only on a 15 minute suborbital flight. Only manned flight with original Mercury capsule design (tiny round porthole and periscope a la Vostok). If NASA had not listened to Von Braun, Shepard would have flown on the MR-BD flight of 24 March, beating Gagarin by three weeks and becoming the first man in space (though not in orbit). Shepard's capsule reached an altitude of 115.696 miles, range of 302 miles,and speed of 5,100 miles per hour. He demonstrated control of a vehicle during weightlessness and high G stresses. Recovery operations were perfect; there was no damage to the spacecraft; and Astronaut Shepard was in excellent condition.

• Shepard awarded NASA's Distinguished Service Medal - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kennedy, Shepard. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-3.

  Astronaut Alan Shepard, pilot of the Freedom 7 spacecraft (MR-3) was awarded NASA's Distinguished Service Medal by President John F. Kennedy in a ceremony at the White House. It was followed by an informal parade to the Capitol by the seven astronauts for lunch, and a press conference at the State Department auditorium.

• Kennedy decision to allow MR-3 flight defended. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kennedy. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-3.

  Senator Robert S. Kerr, chairman of the Senate Aeronautical and Space Sciences Committee, told a group at the National Radio and Television Convention that President Kennedy accepted the views of NASA and congressional leaders in approving the manned Mercury-Redstone flight of May 5.

• Mercury spacecraft 8A delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Mercury spacecraft 8A was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Atlas 4 (MA-4) orbital unmanned (mechanical astronaut) mission..

• NASA submitted its legislative program - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  NASA submitted its legislative program for the 87th Congress (S. 1857 and H.R. 7115), asking for authority to lease property, authority to acquire patent releases, replacement of semiannual reports to Congress with an annual one, and authority to indemnify contractors against unusually hazardous risks.

• Mercury MA-3 investigation board - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. An Atlas investigation board was convened to study the cause of the Mercury-Atlas 3 (MA-3) mission launch vehicle failure. Several possible areas were considered, and three were isolated as probable causes based on a review of test data..

• NASA to identify inventions and innovations resulting from Project Mercury. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  NASA Headquarters and the Space Task Group began a concerted effort in reviewing Mercury progress to identify technical developments that were potential inventions, discoveries, improvements, and innovations. This action was in keeping with the policy and concept of providing information on technical advances, within security limits and when appropriate, to other agencies of the government and to American industry.

• The fourth development engineering inspection on Mercury spacecraft was held at McDonnell. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Inspection activities were primarily centered on spacecraft No. 18, and some 45 requests for alterations were initiated..

• Mercury Freedom 7 at Paris Air Show. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-3. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Until June 4, 1961, the Mercury spacecraft Freedom 7 (MR-3) was displayed at the Paris International Air Show. Some 650,000 visitors received the details on the spacecraft and on Shepard's suborbital flight..

• Freedom 7 displayed at Paris Air Show. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Freedom 7, Mercury spacecraft in which Alan B. Shepard, Jr., made his space flight on May 5, was a major drawing card at the Paris International Air Show. Details of the spacecraft and of Shepard's flight were related to about 650,000 visitors..

• Centrifuge training for Mercury-Atlas orbital missions. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. A 30 day centrifuge training program was conducted at the Aviation Medical Acceleration Laboratory directed entirely toward training the astronauts for the Mercury-Atlas orbital missions..

• Prelaunch mission rules for Mercury-Atlas 4 (MA-4) were published. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

• Biomedical results of the Mercury MR-3. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-3. Biomedical results of the Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3), Shepard's suborbital space flight, were reported in a Washington conference jointly sponsored by NASA, National Institute of Health, and the National Academy of Sciences..

• Mercury-Atlas 4 (MA-4) recovery requirements were published. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

• Mercury Redstone launch vehicle No. 8 delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-4. Redstone launch vehicle No. 8 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) suborbital flight mission..

• Mercury Freedom 7 in Rome, Italy. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-3. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. The Freedom 7 (MR-3) spacecraft was viewed by approximately 750,000 visitors at the Rassegna International Electronic and Nuclear Fair at Rome, Italy..

• Freedom 7 exhibited in Rome. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Freedom 7 Mercury capsule displayed to approximately 750,000 visitors at the Rassegna International Electronic and Nuclear Fair at Rome, Italy..

• Mercury-Scout instrumentation system. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Radio Test Spacecraft. Spacecraft: Radio Test Spacecraft. The Space Task Group forwarded to NASA Headquarters the details for the Mercury-Scout instrumentation system. This mission was to check the operational effectiveness of the Mercury global tracking network..

• Mercury chimpanzees received astronaut training - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Over the following 24 days, as a part of the Mercury-Atlas animal program, chimpanzees received training in acclimation to noise and vibration and to centrifuge runs at the University of Southern California. Two of the animals flew parabolas in a C-131 aircraft for weightlessness training. The animals were also trained in advance psychomotor problems.

• Mercury MR-4 recovery requirements - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-4. Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) recovery requirements were forwarded by the Space Task Group to the Navy..

• Redstone for Mercury MR-4 manned suborbital flight erected - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-4. The Redstone booster for the Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) manned suborbital flight mission was erected on Pad 5, at Cape Canaveral..

• Modifications to Mercury spacecraft - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Modifications were made to the spacecraft designated for the second manned suborbital Mercury flight. An observation window replaced two view ports and an improved manual control system was installed..

• Mercury spacecraft No. 5 in seaworthiness test - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Using spacecraft No. 5, a spacecraft seaworthiness test was conducted 65 miles east of Wallops Island. Sea conditions varied with 2 to 4 foot ground swells and wave heights of from 1 to 2 feet. Spacecraft flotation characteristics were found to be quite satisfactory.

• Tracking network requirements for the Mercury 1 day mission - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MA-9. Tracking network requirements for the Mercury extended range or 1 day mission were discussed between Space Task Group and Goddard Space Flight Center personnel..

• Mercury Atlas vehicle 88-D roll-out - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Factory roll-out inspection of Atlas launch vehicle 88-D, designated for the Mercury-Atlas 4 (MA-4) mission, was conducted at Convair..

• Personnel strength of the Space Task Group was 794. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

• Mercury global network assigned to Goddard - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Responsibility for the operation of the Mercury global network was assigned to the Goddard Space Flight Center. During active mission periods, network control would revert to Space Task Group personnel..

• Martin proposal for a Titan-boosted Mercury vehicle. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury Mark I.

  James L. Decker of Martin Company submitted a proposal for a Titan-boosted Mercury vehicle. A Mercury-Titan program, expected to span an 18-month flight schedule, would benefit from the Air Force's booster development and test of the ballistic missile system and the considerable design and test that the Air Force had expended in the Dyna-Soar program to adapt the vehicle to manned spaceflight. The Titan, with its sea-level rating of 430,000 pounds of thrust in the first stage and 100,000 pounds in the second stage, was capable of lifting significantly heavier spacecraft payloads than the Mercury-Atlas. Its hypergolic propulsion system, using storable liquid propellants, was a much simpler system than the cryogenic propellant system in Atlas. A highly reliable booster could be provided, employing complete redundancy in the flight control systems in the form of a three-axis reference system, autopilot, servo, electrical, and hydraulic systems. The short time he proposed would depend on the availability of pad 19 at Cape Canaveral, planned for conversion to the Titan II configuration. Pad 19, unlike the other three Titan I pads, had been intended for space applications and was better designed for required prelaunch test programs.

• Key Mercury personnel assignments - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-4.

  The assignments were made by Walter C. Williams, Project Mercury Operations Officer, for the Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) manned suborbital flight mission. These appointments included on-site liaison and consultation, public affairs, photo couriers, and technical observers. Stations covered were Mercury Control Center, Atlantic Missile Range Central Control, landing area aircraft carrier, supporting destroyers, support aircraft, and Base Operations at Patrick Air Force Base.

• Flight readiness review for Mercury MR-4 - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-4. A spacecraft, launch vehicle, and mission flight safety review was held in preparation for the Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) manned suborbital flight mission..

• Mercury MR-6 booster was static tested - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-6. The Redstone launch vehicle designated for the Mercury-Redstone 6 (MR-6) mission was static tested at the Marshall Space Flight Center to ensure satisfactory operation of the turbopump assembly..

• Mercury MR-6 static engine test - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-6. Mercury-Redstone 6 was static tested for 30 seconds at Marshall Space Flight Center to ensure satisfactory operation of the turbopump assembly..

• Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) manned suborbital flight mission rules were published. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-4.

• Mercury Atlas launch vehicle 88-D delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Atlas launch vehicle 88-D was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Atlas 4 (MA-4) mission..

• Two attempts made to launch Mercury MR-4 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Grissom. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-4. Two attempts were made to launch Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) with astronaut Virgil Grissom aboard the spacecraft, but unfavorable weather forced mission postponement..

• Mercury MR-4 launch scrubbed. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Flight: Mercury MR-4. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Mercury-Redstone (MR-4) with manned Liberty Bell 7 capsule canceled within minutes of launch because of adverse weather..

• Mercury MR-4 - . Call Sign: Liberty Bell 7. Crew: Grissom. Backup Crew: Glenn. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Glenn, Grissom. Agency: NASA. Program: Mercury. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Flight: Mercury MR-4. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Duration: 0.0108 days. Apogee: 189 km (117 mi).

  The Mercury capsule, Liberty Bell 7, manned by Astronaut Virgil I. Grissom, boosted by a Redstone rocket, reached a peak altitude of 190.3 km and a speed of 8,335 km per hour. After a flight of 15 minutes and 37 seconds, the landing was made 487 km downrange from the launch site. The hatch blew while still in water, and the capsule sank; Grissom saved, though his suit was filling up with water through open oxygen inlet lines.

  This was the second and final manned suborbital Mercury Redstone flight, and the first flight with trapezoidal window. Further suborbital flights (each astronaut was to make one as a training exercise) were cancelled. An attempt to recover the capsule in very deep water in 1994 not successful. It was finally raised in the summer of 1999.

• Grissom awarded NASA Distinguished Service Medal - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Grissom, Webb. Program: Mercury. Astronaut Virgil Grissom, pilot of the MR-4 Liberty Bell 7, was awarded the NASA Distinguished Service Medal by NASA Administrator James Webb at the conclusion of the MR-4 press conference held at Cape Canaveral..

• Advanced Mercury concepts - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MA-10, Mercury MA-11, Mercury MA-12. Spacecraft: Gemini, Mercury Mark I.

  After the 2-man space concept (later designated Project Gemini) was introduced in May 1961, a briefing between McDonnell and NASA personnel was held on the matter. As a result of this meeting, space flight design effort was concentrated on the 18-orbit 1-man Mercury and on a 2-man spacecraft capable of advanced missions.

• Mercury astronaut centrifuge training program - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. The astronaut centrifuge training program at the Aviation Medical Acceleration Laboratory was directed entirely toward the Mercury-Atlas orbital missions..

• Seaworthiness characteristics of the operational Mercury spacecraft were evaluated. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Conditions during the test varied from ground swells of 5 to 15 feet, wave heights of 2 to 10 feet, and winds of 6 to 20 knots. The test lasted for 33 hours and was quite successful..

• Tests conducted on the Mercury spacecraft explosive hatch - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-4. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. A series of environmental tests was conducted on the spacecraft explosive egress hatch because of the difficulties experienced during the Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) mission..

• Key personnel operational assignments for the Mercury MA-4 - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Key personnel operational assignments for the Mercury-Atlas 4 (MA-4) unmanned orbital mission were made by the Space Task Group..

• Retrofire-from-orbit mission rules for Mercury MA-4 - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Retrorockets. Retrofire-from-orbit mission rules were published for the unmanned Mercury-Atlas 4 (MA-4) orbital flight..

• Mercury spacecraft No. 15 delivered to Cape Canaveral. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MA-10, Mercury MA-9. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  It was returned to McDonnell to be reconfigured to the orbital-manned 1-day mission and tentatively assigned for Mercury-Atlas 10 (MA-10). Redesign was completed, and the spacecraft, then designated number 15A (later redesignated 15B), was delivered to Cape Canaveral on November 16, 1962.

• Further Mercury suborbital flights cancelled. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Flight: Mercury MR-5. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. NASA announced that analysis of Project Mercury suborbital data indicated that all objectives of that phase of the program had been achieved, and that no further Mercury-Redstone flights were planned..

• Mercury MA-4 flight readiness reviews - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Between August 22 and September 12, 1961, mission, spacecraft, and launch vehicle flight safety reviews were held for the unmanned Mercury-Atlas 4 (MA-4) orbital flight..

• Mercury-Atlas 4 (MA-4) unmanned orbital flight was postponed. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

• Mercury spacecraft No. 13 was shipped to Cape Canaveral. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MA-6. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. This particular vehicle was designated for the first manned Mercury-Atlas orbital flight (MA-6, Glenn). Test and checkout work on the spacecraft was started immediately..

• Investigation of the Mercury MR-4 explosive egress hatch. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-4. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  An investigation was conducted as a result of the premature activation of the Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) explosive egress hatch. Tests were initiated in an environment more severe than had been conducted in prelaunch activities and tests, but no premature firings occurred. As a backup, McDonnell was asked to design a mechanical-type hatch. The model weighed some 60 pounds more than the explosive type, so other methods had to be sought to prevent any recurrence of the incident. A procedure was initiated which stipulated that the firing plunger safety pin would be left in place until the helicopter hook was attached to the spacecraft and tension was applied to the recovery cable.

• Mercury MR-5 (cancelled) - . Crew: Glenn. Backup Crew: Slayton. Payload: Mercury SC15. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Glenn, Slayton. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-5. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  The original Mercury project plan envisioned all of the astronauts making an initial suborbital hop aboard a Redstone booster before making an orbital flight aboard an Atlas. But Gherman Titov was launched on a full-day orbital flight in August 1961, making NASA's suborbital hops look pathetic. Further suborbital Mercury flights after that of Grissom were cancelled.

• Mercury rocket sled tests - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Three rocket sled tests were conducted at the Naval Ordnance Test Station, China Lake, California, to study the detailed launch vehicle-spacecraft, clamp-ring separation. From run to run, minor modifications were made, and by the third run the separation action was perfected.

• A report was made on possible technical advances as a result of the Mercury development program. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  A few of these are listed: (1) attenuation of impact force from astronaut couch by using crushable honeycomb structure; (2) interchangeable couch configuration for Mercury spacecraft; (3) modified tower clamp ring to improve stability in abort attitude; (4) hydrogen peroxide thrust chamber improvements; (5) oxygen pressure transducer improvements; (6) de-stabilization flap to prevent spacecraft wrong attitude reentry; (7) Mercury spacecraft landing bag design; and (8) multi-nozzle rockets.

• Mercury MA-4 - . Payload: Mercury SC8A. Mass: 1,200 kg (2,600 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: Mercury. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Decay Date: 1961-09-13 . USAF Sat Cat: 183 . COSPAR: 1961-A-Alpha-1. Apogee: 248 km (154 mi). Perigee: 156 km (96 mi). Inclination: 32.8000 deg. Period: 88.40 min.

  Mercury-Atlas 4 (MA-4) was launched from Cape Canaveral with special vibration and noise instrumentation and a mechanical crewman simulator aboard in addition to the normal spacecraft equipment. This was the first Mercury spacecraft to attain an earth orbit. The orbital apogee was 123 nautical miles and the perigee was 86 nautical miles. After one orbit, the spacecraft's orbital timing device triggered the retrograde rockets, and the spacecraft splashed in the Atlantic Ocean 161 miles east of Bermuda. Recovery was made by the USS Decatur. During the flight, only three slight deviations were noted - a small leak in the oxygen system; loss of voice contact over Australia; and the failure of an inverter in the environmental control system. Overall, the flight was highly successful: the Atlas booster performed well and demonstrated that it was ready for the manned flight, the spacecraft systems operated well, and the Mercury global tracking network and telemetry operated in an excellent manner and was ready to support manned orbital flight.

• Mission rules for the Mercury-Atlas 5 (MA-5) orbital flight. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Mission rules for the Mercury-Atlas 5 (MA-5) orbital flight were published. Revisions were issued on October 16 and 25, 1961, and November 11, 1961..

• Mercury ship recovery provisions. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Announced at Space Task Group that a 30-cubic-foot balloon would be installed in Mercury spacecraft to allow for ship recovery should helicopter be forced to drop it as happened during the MR-4 recovery..

• 30-inch balloon to be installed in the Mercury spacecraft - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-4. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  The Space Task Group announced that a 30-inch diameter balloon would be installed in the Mercury spacecraft to allow for ship recovery should the helicopter br forced to drop the spacecraft, as happened during the Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) recovery operations.

• Evaluation of the Mercury inflatable flotation collar. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Evaluation of the inflatable flotation collar, attached by ground personnel to sustain spacecraft buoyancy during recovery operations, was completed..

• NASA reorganization - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dixon, Gilruth, Holmes, Brainard, Silverstein, Webb. Program: Mercury.

  NASA Administrator Webb announced major organizational changes and top-level appointments to become effective November 1. The reorganization should provide a clearer focus on major programs and allow center directors to have a louder voice in policy making. The new appointments included the following Directors of major program offices: Ira H. Abbott, Office of Advanced Research and Technology; Homer E. Newell, Office of Space Sciences; D. Brainerd Holmes, Office of Manned Space Flight; and an as yet unnamed Director of Office of Applications Programs. Also, Thomas F. Dixon was appointed Deputy Associate Administrator; Abe Silverstein was named Director of the Lewis Research Center, and Robert R. Gilruth was chosen Director of the Manned Spacecraft Center.

• Factory roll-out inspection of Mercury Atlas booster No. 93-D - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Factory roll-out inspection of Atlas booster No. 93-D was conducted at Convair. This booster was designated for the Mercury-Atlas 5 (MA-5) mission..

• Mercury spacecraft 12 delivered to Cape Canaveral. - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MA-8. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. It was a backup for the MA-8 mission (six-orbit flight), but immediate consideration was given for its modification to the Mercury extended range or 1-day mission. The capsule was returned to McDonnell, reconfigured and stored..

• Mercury ship recovery demonstration. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Grissom. Program: Mercury. Bland demonstrated capability of a destroyer to recover MR-2 Mercury capsule, with Virgil Grissom aboard, from water in series of pickups in lower Chesapeake Bay..

• Mercury Atlas booster No. 93-D delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Atlas booster No. 93-D was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Atlas 5 (MA-5) orbital flight mission..

• Mercury MA-5 data aquisition plan - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. The Mercury-Atlas 5 (MA-5) data aquisition plan was published by the Mercury Data Coordination Office of the Space Task Group's Flight Operations Division..

• Mercury Freedom 7 presented to the Smithsonian - . Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Flight: Mercury MR-3. Spacecraft Bus: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Freedom 7, the Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) spacecraft, was presented by NASA to the National Air Museum of the Smithsonian Institution..