Spacelog Mercury 7

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.

Roger. We should have retrojettison in about 10 seconds.

Roger.

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

Roger. Should have retrojettison now.

Ah, right then at 34 10, on time.

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

I have 20 and 5 [percent].

Roger. I guess we'd better use—

I'll use manual.

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

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

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

Okay, I'll have to do that.

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.

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

Aurora Seven. Understand RSCS did not work.

I am out of manual fuel, Al.

Roger.

.05 g should be when?

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

Roger.

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

Roger.

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

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

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

How are you doing on reentry attitude? Over.

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

Okay.

Going to be tight on fuel.

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

Roger.

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.

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.

Roger. Will do.

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

Aurora Seven, Cape Cap Com. Over.

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

Aurora Seven, Cape Cap Com. Over.

Hello, Cape Cap Com. Go ahead.

Roger. Do you have your face, faceplate closed?

Negative. It is now. Thank you.

Roger. Give me your fuel, please.

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

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

Two minutes, you say?

Aurora Seven, Cap Com.

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.

. . . checklist.

Yes. We're in good shape for stowage.

Aurora Seven, have you completed your reentry …

Roger.

Check.

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.

Roger.

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

Roger.

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

Roger, it's tight.

Rog.

Starting into blackout anytime now.

Roger.

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

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

Roger.

Aurora Seven, Cap Com. Do you still read?

Roger. Loud and clear.

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

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

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

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

Going to Aux Damp.

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

Bright orange glow.

Picking up just a little acceleration now.

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.

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.

Oh, I hope not.

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.

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].

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

. . .

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.

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].

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.].

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.

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

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

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

Roger. Say again. You're very weak.

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

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.

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

Aurora Seven, Cape Cap Com. Over.

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

Gus, how do you read?