Spacelog Mercury 7

Okay, Rcal off. We suggest you go to manual at this point and preserve your auto fuel. Low at this point.

Roger. Going to manual now.

Roger.

At this time I'm reading 45-70 [percent] on fuel.

Rog. Understand 45-70 [percent].

Cabin.temperature is 107 [degrees].

Cabin 107 [degrees].

I don't believe you've ever received any sunrise, sunset times.

Roger. Give me the whole lot of them, Deke, or the ones that are coming. Give me rise, set, and rise.

Roger. Copy.

Well, it sounds like you're doing real well up there, Dad.

Roger. It's a little warm.

I suspect so.

Been riding your horse the last couple of days.

Good.

For your information, Cape informs that if we don't stay on manual for quite a spell here we'll probably have to end this orbit.

I'll be sure and stay on manual.

Roger.

You've got a lot of drift left here yet too.

Say again.

You've got drift capability left yet, too.

Roger.

Did you see any lights over the Australian . . .?

I did. That is, Roger. I did see some lights. I couldn't identify them, however.

Roger. Understand.

Would you give us another readout on your suit steam temp? Has this changed any?

It may have gone down just a tad. It's about zero now; I mean about 70 [degrees] now. It was a little bit higher. The visor is closed and I'm beginning to feel a little cooler.

Very good.

We indicated 2-degree drop at suit inlet, so it sounds like you're making out a bit.

Roger. My control mode now, Deke, is manual; gyros free; and the maneuver is off.

Roger. I understand. Manual; gyro free; and maneuver off.

Roger

Aurora Seven, this is Muchea Cap Com. Are you reading?

Still reading, Muchea.

Very good.

We are just kind of leaving you alone. How is your balloon doing, incidentally?

I haven't found it since it got dark. It's—it's—it rambles quite a bit, Deke. It's not inflated fully, and it doesn't stretch out on the line tight like I expected. It bounces in and out and oscillates up and down and sideways. Have no good tensiometer readings yet.

Aurora Seven, Aurora Seven, this is Woomera Cap Com. How do you read? Over.

Hello, Woomera. Aurora Seven. Loud and clear. How me?

Roger. You are loud and clear, also.

We copied your transmission over Muchea. Understand you still have the balloon on. Is that an affirmative?

That is affirmative. I have the balloon on. However, I haven't seen it for some time. It wanders quite a bit and I do not have it in sight at this moment. I believe that—it might be visible against the earth background at this time.

Roger. Do you see the moon at all?

I am faced the wrong way and limited in maneuverability I have left because of my fuel state. I can see the terminator between moonlit side, and unmoonlit side. Over.

Roger. Understand.