Scott Carpenter

That's negative. I'm afraid I'm not going to make it, Gordo, unless I get the attitudes—down close.

CAPCOM

Roger. We're reading your attitudes all right at zero now.

Scott Carpenter

Roger. The gyros are caged.

CAPCOM

Aurora Seven, this is Cape Cap Com on emergency voice.

Scott Carpenter

Roger, Cape. Loud and clear. How me?

CAPCOM

Loud and clear. I'm going back to HF/UHF.

CAPCOM

Are you ready for your 2 Bravo time?

Scott Carpenter

Roger. Send 2 Bravo.

Flight

Roger. 01 49 30.

CAPCOM

Roger. And 2 Charlie time is nominal.

Scott Carpenter

Okay. Stand by one.

Scott Carpenter

Okay, Gus, my status is good; my control mode is fly-by-wire; the gyros are still caged; maneuver is off. Fuel is 62 and 68 [percent]. A little ahead on fuel consumption; fuel quantity light is on; the excess cabin-water light is on. I'll try and get auto mode here directly.

CAPCOM

Roger. Can you give us a blood pressure?

Scott Carpenter

Roger. Blood pressure coming now.

CAPCOM

And after the IOS voice has dropped, will use Zanzibar in that area.

Scott Carpenter

Roger. I heard IOS calling, but I couldn't raise him.

CAPCOM

Aurora Seven, use a normal balloon release.

Scott Carpenter

And are you going to give me a mark for that?

CAPCOM

Roger. One at an elapsed time of 01 37.

CAPCOM

Roger. In 2 minutes, Echo will be almost directly overhead.

CAPCOM

Could you give us a cabin steam and suit temperature, please?

Scott Carpenter

Roger. Suit steam is 69 [degrees] and cabin is plus 11. That dropped down very suddenly when the excess cabin-water light came on. I think I'm going to—increase . . . I'll try to increase suit-water flow one more time. If that doesn't work I'll drop—down—to closed and start over again.

CAPCOM

Aurora Seven, cut back your cabin water.

Scott Carpenter

Okay. Cabin water going back. I'll start now at two. This is 20 degrees below launch value.

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CAPCOM

Roger. I'm going to give you a Z cal.

CAPCOM

Okay. I'm going to give you an R cal.

CAPCOM

Aurora Seven, Cap Com. Do you read?

Scott Carpenter

Roger. Loud and clear.

CAPCOM

Roger. Everything looks good down here, except for your fuel usage; you better watch that a little bit.

CAPCOM

Aurora Seven, have you deployed the balloon?

Scott Carpenter

That is negative. Stand by.

Scott Carpenter

Balloon deploy, now. The balloon is out and off. I, I see it way out, but it—I think now it is way out, and drifting steadily away. I don't see the line. I don't see that any attempt was made to inflate the thing. It's just drifting off.

Scott Carpenter

I have only the rectangular shape tumbling at this point about 200 yards back, barely visible; and now wait, here is a line. That was the cover, the balloon is out.

CAPCOM

Understand. The balloon is out.

Scott Carpenter

There is very little acceleration here.

CAPCOM

Aurora Seven, did the balloon inflate?

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Spoken on May 24, 1962, 2:22 p.m. UTC (62 years, 5 months ago). Link to this transcript range is: Tweet

Scott Carpenter

The balloon is partially inflated. It's not tight. I've lost it at this moment. Wait one, I'll give you a better reading shortly.

Scott Carpenter

There is an oscillation beginning.

CAPCOM

This is an oscillation in the balloon?