Comm Tech

Aurora Seven, Aurora Seven, this is California Com Tech, California Com Tech. Do you hear? Over.

Scott Carpenter

Hello. California Com Tech, Aurora Seven. Loud and clear. How me?

Comm Tech

We're reading you loud and clear, also. Stand by for Cap Com.

CAPCOM

Aurora Seven, California. How do you read?

Scott Carpenter

Hello, Al, loud and clear. How me?

CAPCOM

You're loud and clear, Scotty. Short report.

Scott Carpenter

Roger. Control mode is manual, gyros normal, maneuver off. Fuel is 45-50 [percent]. Balloon is out. Oxygen 81-100 [percent]. And my status is good. The capsule status is good, except I'm unable to get a reasonable suit steam exhaust temperature. Still reading 70 [degrees]. Over.

CAPCOM

Roger, seems to me as long as suit inlet is going down that you could continue to increase flow until you feel comfortable.

CAPCOM

Understand you're GO for orbit three.

Scott Carpenter

I am—-Roger. I am GO for orbit three.

CAPCOM

Seven, this is California.

CAPCOM

General Kraft is still somewhat concerned about auto fuel. Use as little auto; use no auto fuel unless you have to prior to retrosequence time. And I think maybe you might increase flow to your inverter heat exchanger to try to bring the temperature down. They are not critical yet, however.

Scott Carpenter

Roger, I have gone from 4 to 5 on the inverter at this time. And I think I'll increase just a tad on the suit.

CAPCOM

Roger. You're sounding good here. Give you a period of quiet while I send Z and R cal.

CAPCOM

Seven, this is California sending Z cal on my mark.

CAPCOM

Stand by for R cal 3, 2, 1.

Scott Carpenter

All right now, I'm beginning to get all of those various particles, they—they're way out. I can see some that are a 100 feet out.

C

Roger. R cal off.

Scott Carpenter

They all look like snowflakes to me. No don't—they do not glow of their own accord.

CAPCOM

Roger, Seven. Do you—have you . . . perspire or have you stopped perspiring at the moment?

Scott Carpenter

No, I'm still perspiring, Al. I think I'll open up the visor and take a drink of water.

CAPCOM

Roger. Sounds like a good idea.

CAPCOM

Seven, would you give us a blood pressure, please, in between swallows.

Scott Carpenter

Okay, there's your blood pressure. I took about 20 swallows of water. Tasted pretty good.

CAPCOM

Roger, Seven. We're sure of that, we're getting Alpha times and—Hotel. You have Hotel, I know. How about 3 Alpha?

Scott Carpenter

Roger, and Mark now a tensiometer reading. It's as tight as I've seen the string. Mark another tensiometer reading.

CAPCOM

Roger. We have those.

Scott Carpenter

Now say again your last question?

CAPCOM

Do you have 3 Alpha of 03 11 00?

CAPCOM

That is correct.

CAPCOM

Seven, this is California. Do you still read?

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Scott Carpenter

Roger. Loud and clear.

CAPCOM

Roger, we have no further inquiries. See you next time.

CAPCOM

Aurora Seven, Guaymas Cap Com.

Scott Carpenter

Hello, Guaymas. Go ahead.

CAPCOM

Roger, we're reading you loud and clear. We'd like to conduct a wobulator test here. We use White Sands whenever you give us the word.

Scott Carpenter

Roger, I have one; it's the yaw gyro on the stop at this time.

CAPCOM

Is your wobulator on now?

Scott Carpenter

Yes, the wobulator is on.

CAPCOM

What was that on your yaw?

Scott Carpenter

I have the yaw needle on the 250 stop.

Scott Carpenter

I will not cage until after I get rid of the balloon, and then I can start a slow yaw to the left to pick it off the stop.

CAPCOM

Roger. Can you turn your wobulator on now and leave it on?

Scott Carpenter

Roger. It has been on, and I haven't touched it.

CAPCOM

Roger. Understand.

Scott Carpenter

Do you want it off?

CAPCOM

Roger. On and off in approximately 20-second intervals.

Scott Carpenter

Okay, wobulator going off—Now.

CAPCOM

Roger. We're relaying this.

Scott Carpenter

Am I in a position to do a 360 [degree] roll for them at this time?

CAPCOM

Your 00 yaw; you do have a yaw input in.

Scott Carpenter

Could we do this 360 [degree] roll on this pass at White Sands?

CAPCOM

Aurora Seven, Cape Cap Com.

Scott Carpenter

Roger Cape. Loud and clear and break, break. Guaymas, the wobulator is back on now.

Scott Carpenter

Roger Cape. Go ahead.

CAPCOM

Roger Aurora Seven, Cape Cap Com back on HF. Give me your report.

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Spoken on May 24, 1962, 3:50 p.m. UTC (61 years, 10 months ago). Link to this transcript range is: Tweet

Scott Carpenter

Roger. Control mode, manual; gyros normal; the maneuver switch is off. Fuel is 45-45 [percent]; oxygen is 70 [percent], or, correction, oxygen is 80 and 100 [percent]. Suit temperature is 68 [degrees], now and coming down pretty well. Suit steam vent temperature is 69 [degrees], and beginning to be a little more comfortable. Over.

CAPCOM

Roger: and how do you feel, now?

Scott Carpenter

I feel pretty good. Still warm.

CAPCOM

Okay, sounds like you'll be all right.

CAPCOM

Did you—your normal balloon release time will be 3 plus 34, Scott?

CAPCOM

Roger, can you describe the balloon and its actions a little to us?

Scott Carpenter

Yes, it has a random drift. There is no oscillation that I can predict whatsoever. The—the line leading to the balloon sometimes is tight; sometimes is loose—loose enough, so that there are loops in it. Its—its behaviour is strictly random as far as I can tell. The balloon is not inflated well either. It's an oblong shape out there, rather than a round figure; and I believe when the sun is on it, the day-glow orange is the most brilliant, and the silver. That's about all I can tell you, Gus.

CAPCOM

Roger. Surgeon suggests that you drink as much water as you can. Drink it as often as you can.

CAPCOM

Retrosequence times for area 3 B and 3 C are nominal.

Scott Carpenter

3 B and 3 C nominal. Roger.

CAPCOM

And we recommend you go to normal on your gyros with the maneuver switch off.

Scott Carpenter

Roger. The gyros are normal and the maneuver switch is off.

CAPCOM

Would you give us your—your temperature control valve settings, please?

Scott Carpenter

Roger, suit is 7.5, cabin is about 10. That's 10 on the cabin and 5 on the inverters. Over.

CAPCOM

Stand by for Z cal.

Scott Carpenter

Roger, standing by.

Scott Carpenter

Mark a tensiometer reading. It's as tight as I've—as it gets.

CAPCOM

Aurora Seven, Cap Com.

Scott Carpenter

Go ahead, Cap Com.

CAPCOM

. . . drifting flight yet?

CAPCOM

Have you done any drifting flight?

Scott Carpenter

That is Roger. And if I am to save fuel for retrosequence, I think I better start again. Over.

CAPCOM

Roger, I agree with you.