Scott Carpenter

Okay, I think they held well, Al. The—I think they were good. I can't tell you what was wrong about them because the gyros were not quite right. But retrojettison—3 fuse switches are on.

CAPCOM

Roger. We should have retrojettison in about 10 seconds.

Scott Carpenter

That was a nice gentle bump. All three have fired. Retroattitude was red.

CAPCOM

Roger. Should have retrojettison now.

Scott Carpenter

Ah, right then at 34 10, on time.

CAPCOM

Roger. How much fuel do you have left both tanks?

Scott Carpenter

I have 20 and 5 [percent].

CAPCOM

Roger. I guess we'd better use—

CAPCOM

—-on reentry, unless ASCS holds you in reentry attitude.

Scott Carpenter

Yes, it can. I'll have to do it with manual.

CAPCOM

Roger. Recommend you try Aux Damp first; if it's not working, then go to fly-by-wire.

Scott Carpenter

Okay, I'll have to do that.

Scott Carpenter

The balloon is gone [out of sight]. I am apparently out of manual fuel. I have to go to fly-by-wire to stop this tumbling.

Note

Tumbling here refers to low rates of all axes; however, the spacecraft was returned to proper attitude by the pilot before it had made 1/4 revolution.

CAPCOM

Roger. Using fly-by-wire to stop tumbling.

CAPCOM

Aurora Seven. Understand RSCS did not work.

Scott Carpenter

I am out of manual fuel, Al.

Scott Carpenter

.05 g should be when?

CAPCOM

Oh, you have plenty of time. It should be 04 44 elapsed time

CAPCOM

You have plenty of time. Take your time on fly-by-wire to get into reentry attitude.

CAPCOM

I was just looking over your reentry checklist. Looks like you're in pretty good shape. You'll have to manually retract the scope.

Scott Carpenter

No. I didn't. The scope did come in, Al.

CAPCOM

Roger. I didn't get that. Very good.

CAPCOM

How are you doing on reentry attitude? Over.

Scott Carpenter

Stowing a few things first. I don't know yet. Take a while.

Scott Carpenter

Going to be tight on fuel.

CAPCOM

Roger You have plenty of time; you have about 7 minutes before .05 g so take . . .

Scott Carpenter

Okay. I can make out very, very small—farm land, pasture land below. I see individual fields, rivers, lakes, roads, I think. I'll get back to reentry attitude.

CAPCOM

Roger Seven, recommend you get close to reentry attitude, using as little fuel as possible and stand by on fly-by-wire until rates develop. Over.

CAPCOM

Seven, this is California. We're losing you now. Stand by for Cape.

CAPCOM

Aurora Seven, Cape Cap Com. Over.

Scott Carpenter

Hello Cape Cap Com, Aurora Seven. Loud and clear.

CAPCOM

Aurora Seven, Cape Cap Com. Over.

Scott Carpenter

Hello, Cape Cap Com. Go ahead.

CAPCOM

Roger. Do you have your face, faceplate closed?

Scott Carpenter

Negative. It is now. Thank you.

CAPCOM

Roger. Give me your fuel, please.

Scott Carpenter

Fuel is 15 [percent] auto. I'm indicating 7 [percent] manual, but it is empty and ineffective.

CAPCOM

Roger. You have a few minutes to start of blackout.

Scott Carpenter

Two minutes, you say?

Scott Carpenter

Go ahead, Cap Com.

CAPCOM

Just wanted to hear from you.

Scott Carpenter

Roger. It's going to be real tight on fuel, Gus. I've got the horizon in view now. Trying to keep rates very low. I just lost part of the balloon. The string from the balloon.

CAPCOM

. . . checklist.

Scott Carpenter

Yes. We're in good shape for stowage.

CAPCOM

Aurora Seven, have you completed your reentry …

CAPCOM

The weather in the recovery area is good. You've got overcast cloud; 3-foot waves; 8 knots of wind; 10 miles visibility; and the cloud bases are at 1,000 feet.

CAPCOM

Will give you some more as soon as we get an IP.

CAPCOM

Aurora Seven, Cap Com. Will you check your glove compartment and make sure it's latched and your …

Scott Carpenter

Roger, it's tight.

CAPCOM

Starting into blackout anytime now.

CAPCOM

Roger. We show you still have some manual fuel left.

Scott Carpenter

Yes, but I can't get anything out of it.

CAPCOM

Aurora Seven, Cap Com. Do you still read?

Scott Carpenter

Roger. Loud and clear.

Scott Carpenter

I don't have a roll rate in yet. I'll put some in when I begin to get the g buildup.

Scott Carpenter

I only was reading 0.5 g's on the accelerometer. Okay, here come some rates.

Scott Carpenter

I've got the orange glow. I assume we're in blackout now. Gus, give me a try. There goes something tearing away.

Scott Carpenter

Okay. I'm setting in a roll rate at this time.

Scott Carpenter

Going to Aux Damp.

Scott Carpenter

I hope we have enough fuel. I get the orange glow at this time.

Scott Carpenter

Bright orange glow.

Scott Carpenter

Picking up just a little acceleration now.

Scott Carpenter

Not much glow: just a little. Reading 0.5 g. Aux Damp seems to be doing well My fuel, I hope, holds out. There is 1 g. Getting a few streamers of smoke out behind. There's some green flashes out there.

Scott Carpenter

Reentry is going pretty well. Aux Damp seems to be keeping oscillations pretty good. We're at 1 1/2 g's now. There was a large flaming piece coming off. Almost looked like it came off the tower.

Note

Tower here refers to cylindrical section of the spacecraft.

Scott Carpenter

Okay. We're reading 3 g's, think we'll have to let the reentry damping check go this time. Reading now 4 g's. The reentry seems to be going okay. The rates there that Aux Damp appears to be handling. I don't think I'm oscillating too much; seem to be rolling right around that glow—the sky behind. Auto fuel still reads 14 (percent) at 6.5 g's. Rates are holding to within 1 1/2 degrees per second indicating about 10 degrees per second roll rate. Still peaked at 6.8 g's. The orange glow has disappeared now. We're off peak g. Still indicating 14 [percent] auto fuel; back to 5 g's.

Scott Carpenter

And I'm standing by for altimeter off the peg. Cape, do you read yet? Altimeter is off the peg. 100 [1,000] ft., rate of descent is coming down, cabin pressure is—cabin pressure is holding okay. Still losing a few streaming. No, that's shock waves. Smoke pouring out behind. Getting ready for the drogue at 45 [1,000 ft].

Scott Carpenter

Oscillations are pretty good. I think ASCS has given up the ghost at this point. Emergency drogue fuse switch is on.

?

. . .

Scott Carpenter

Roger. Aurora Seven, reading okay. Getting some pretty good oscillations now and we're out of fuel. Looks from the sun like it might be about 45 degrees. Oww, it's coming like—it's really going over.

Scott Carpenter

Think I'd better take a try on the drogue. Drogue out manually at 25 [1,000 ft.]. It's holding and it was just in time. Main deploy fuse switch is on now, 21 [1,000 ft.] indicated [altitude].

Scott Carpenter

Snorkle override now. Emergency flow rate on. Emergency main fuse switch at 15 [1,000 ft.], standing by for the main chute at 10 [1,000 ft.].

Scott Carpenter

Cabin pressure, cabin altimeter agree on altitude. Should be 13,000 [feet] now. Mark 10; I see the main is out, and reefed, and it looks good to me. The main chute is out. Landing bag goes to auto now. The drogue has fallen away. I see a perfect chute, visor open. Cabin temperature is only 110 [degrees] at this point. Helmet hose is off.

Scott Carpenter

Does anybody read. Does anybody read Aurora Seven? Over.

Scott Carpenter

Hello, any Mercury recovery force. Does anyone read Aurora Seven? Over.

CAPCOM

Aurora Seven, Aurora Seven, Cape Cap Com. Over.

Scott Carpenter

Roger. Say again. You're very weak.

Expand selection down Contract selection up

Spoken on May 24, 1962, 5:27 p.m. UTC (62 years, 6 months ago). Link to this transcript range is: Tweet

CAPCOM

Aurora Seven, Aurora Seven, Cape Cap Com. Over.

Scott Carpenter

Roger. I'm reading you. I'm on the main chute at 5,000 [feet]. Status is good. I am not in contact with any recovery forces. Do you have any information on the recovery time? Over.

Scott Carpenter

Hello, any Mercury recovery forces. How do you read Aurora Seven? Over.

CAPCOM

Aurora Seven, Cape Cap Com. Over.

Scott Carpenter

Roger. Loud and clear. Aurora Seven reading the Cape. Loud and clear. How me, Gus?

Scott Carpenter

Gus, how do you read?