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.

Expand selection down Contract selection up

Spoken on May 24, 1962, 5:27 p.m. UTC (62 years, 7 months ago). Link to this transcript range is: Tweet

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.

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?