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Scott Carpenter
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The cabin temperature has dropped considerable now, and the setting I have on the suit is 7.
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Scott Carpenter
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I've noticed that every time I turn over to the right everything seems vertical, but I am upside down.
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Scott Carpenter
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I could very easily come in from another planet, and feel that I am on my—on my back, and that earth is up above me, but that's sorta the way you feel when you come out of split S, or out of an Immelmann.
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CAPCOM
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Keno on HF. If you read me, the surgeon requests that you take a blood-pressure check now, a blood-pressure check for the onboard record. Over.
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CAPCOM
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Aurora Seven, Aurora Seven, this is Kano Cap Com. If you read me, would you do a blood-pressure check for the onboard records. Over.
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Scott Carpenter
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Okay. I'm taking the—I've taken the big back off; going to record only, at this time. Have taken the big back off of the camera and trying to get some more MIT film at this time. The filter is in. The cassette—is in the camera.
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Scott Carpenter
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The zero g senta sensations are wonderful. This is the first time I've ever worn this suit and had it comfortable.
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Scott Carpenter
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I don't know which way I'm pointed, and don't particularly care.
- Note
In paper 7, Astronaut Carpenter is quoted as follows: "Times when the gyros were caged and nothing was visible out the window, I had no idea where the earth was in relation to the spacecraft. However, it did not seem important to me. I knew at all times that I had only to wait and the earth would again appear in the window."
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Scott Carpenter
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Roger. At this time I am hearing Kano calling for a blood-pressure check. I will give it to him now. Let's see, I have fuel 45-43, still would like to get just a little rate—just a little one.
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Scott Carpenter
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I'm taking many MIT pictures, at capsule elapsed [time] 03 38 38. It will be the only chance we have. I might as well use up all the film.
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CAPCOM
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Aurora Seven, this is Indian Cap Com. I did not read all of your transmission, but the part I monitored was loud and clear. Go ahead.
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Scott Carpenter
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Roger. My status is good, the capsule status is good. I am in drifting flight on manual control. Gyros are caged. The fuel reads 45-42 [percent], oxygen 79-100 [percent]. Steam vent temperatures both read 65 [degrees] now; suit temperature has gone down nicely. It is now 62 [degrees], and all the power is good. The blood pressure is starting at this time. I've just finished taking some MIT pictures, and that is all I have to report at this time.
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CAPCOM
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Roger, Aurora Seven. I copy your control mode manual; gyro caged; fuel 45-42 [percent]; oxygen 79-100 [percent]; and I did not hear the last part of your transmission. How do—
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Scott Carpenter
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Roger. My status is good; the suit temperature has reduced considerably; steam vent temperatures now read 69 [degrees] on cabin and suit, suit temperature is 62 [degrees], and cabin temperature is 101 [degrees]. Over.
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CAPCOM
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Roger. Suit temperature 62 [degrees], and cabin temperature 101 [degrees]. Your blood pressure is starting—and understand you are on the manual. Understand also you are drifting for awhile.
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Scott Carpenter
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Also another departure from the plan is the fact that I have been unable to jettison the balloon. The balloon is still attached—should be no problem.
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CAPCOM
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Aurora Seven, this is Indian Cap Com. All our retrosequence times are nominal. Do you want me to call them out to you? Over.
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CAPCOM
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Aurora Seven, your last transcription was unreadable. You are fading badly, although intermittently. I will read retrosequence times in the blind. Area 3 Delta, 04 12 32, 04 12 32; Echo 04 22 27; 3 Echo 04 22 27; and the last . . . we have is 04 32 26… now and your capsule clock is still within 1 second.
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Scott Carpenter
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The sunsets are most spectacular. The earth is black after the sun has set. The earth is black; the first band close to the earth is red, the next is yellow; the next is blue; the next is green; and the next is sort of a—sort of a purple. It's almost like a very brilliant rainbow. It extends at some
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CAPCOM
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Indian Cap Com. Check you see about all colors between the horizon and the night sky. You seem to see more layers than Friendship Seven.
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Scott Carpenter
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Roger. These layers extend from at least 90 degrees either side of the sun at sunset.
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Scott Carpenter
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Roger. This bright horizon band extends at least 90° north and south of the position of the sunset.
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Scott Carpenter
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Yes. I tried to release it over their station and was unable to do so. You might remind them that the balloon is still on.
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CAPCOM
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Aurora Seven, Indian Cap Com. Your inverter temperatures are 183 [degrees] for the 150, and 195 [degrees] for the 250. All your other primaries check out okay on telemetry.
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CAPCOM
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Our medical monitor says that we are reading your respiration. I believe this is almost the first time it's come across.
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Scott Carpenter
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At 3 hours and 48 minutes and 51 seconds elapsed, I'm taking a good swig of water. It's pretty cool this time. Stretching my legs a tad. It's quite dark. I'm in drifting flight. Oh, boy! It feels good to get that leg stretched out. That one and the right one too.
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Scott Carpenter
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I drank an awful lot of water and I'm still thirsty. As a matter of fact, I think there— there is a leak in the urinal, I'm sure.
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Scott Carpenter
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Okay. I'm shaking my head violently from all sides, with eyes closed, up and down, pitch, roll, yaw. Nothing in my stomach; nothing anywhere. There is now—I will try to poke zero, time zero button. Well, I missed it. I was a little disoriented as to exactly where things are, not sure exactly what you want to accomplish by this but there is no problem of orienting. Your—your—inner ears and your mental appraisal of horizontal, you just adapt to this environment, like—like you were born in it. It's a great, great freedom.
- Note
The result of this test is the same under 1g and he describes no difficulty in re-establishing relationships.
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Scott Carpenter
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Don't let me forget about the shiny finish on the star chart. It makes it very hard to read.
Expand selection down Contract selection up -
Scott Carpenter
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I'm using the photometer now—to try and get—a reading. I saw a com—no, it's the balloon that I see, still drifting aimlessly, lighted by moonlight at this time.
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Scott Carpenter
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Excess cabin water light is on at this time, 03 56 24. Am going to turn it down just a tad— so it will be just about where the suit is. I would say, let's see, from that, that it jumped down to freezing.
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Scott Carpenter
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Roger. Deke, my control mode is manual; gyros are caged; the maneuver switch is off. My fuel reads 45 and 42 [percent]; the oxygen is reading 76 and 100 [percent]; steam vent temperatures are 68 [degrees] on the suit and I just got excess cabin water light; the needle dropped down to 20. Reset cabin water at about 6 and in this capsule it seems optimum settings are right between 6 and 7. Outside of that, all things, all systems are good. And blood pressure is starting now.
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Scott Carpenter
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The visor has been open for some time, I've been taking some readings on stars through the haze layer with the photometer. The visor is coming closed now.
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CAPCOM
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I'll give you retro time for end of mission and would like to have you set the clock to this at this time.
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CAPCOM
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Understand you still have the balloon with you. It's possible if you go to deploy position and back to release, you can—
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CAPCOM
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Okay. Well, she'll probably come into your face on retrofire; but I'm sure you'll lose it shortly after that.
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CAPCOM
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Okay, for your information, cloud—is five-tenths and it's only one-eighth to the north over Port Moresby; so if you see some lights up in that area, we'd like to know about it.
Spoken on May 24, 1962, 4:28 p.m. UTC (62 years, 6 months ago). Link to this transcript range is: Tweet