Spacelog Mercury 6

This is Friendship Seven Can see El Centre and the Imperial Valley down there; Salton Sea very clear.

It should be pretty green; we've had a lot of rain down here

Yes, sir.

Do you notice any contrast over the coastline, John?

Say again.

How about contrast over the coastline?

Negative.

Roger.

There is quite a bit of cloud cover down in this area. I can, right on track, I can only see certain areas. I can see quite a bit on up to the north, however.

This is Friendship Seven, going to manual control.

Roger, Friendship Seven.

This is banging in and out here; I'll just control it manually.

Roger.

Friendship Seven, Guaymas Cap Com, reading you loud and clear.

Roger, Guaymas, read you loud and clear also.

Friendship Seven, Friendship Seven, this is Texas Com Tech. Do you read? Over

Roger, Texas, go ahead.

Roger. Reading you 5 square. Standby for Texas Cap Com.

Roger.

This is Texas Cap Com, Friendship Seven. We are recommending that you leave the retropackage on through the entire reentry. This means that you will have to override the 0.05g switch which is expected to occur at 04 43 53. This also means that you will have to manually retract the scope. Do you read?

This is Friendship Seven. What is the reason for this? Do you have any reason? Over.

Not at this time; this is the judgment of Cape Flight.

Roger. Say again your instructions please. Over.

We are recommending that the retropackage not, I say again, not be jettisoned. This means that you will have to override the 0.05g switch which is expected to occur at 04 43 53. This is approximately 4¼ minutes from now. This also means that you will have to retract the scope manually. Do you understand?

Roger, understand. I will have to make a manual 0.05g entry when it occurs, and bring the scope in manually. Is that affirm?

That is affirmative, Friendship Seven.

Roger.

This is Friendship Seven, going to reentry attitude, then, in that case.

Friendship Seven, Cape flight will give you the reasons for this action when you are in view.

Roger. Roger. Friendship Seven.

Everything down here on the ground looks okay.

Roger. This is Friendship Seven.

Confirm your attitudes.

Roger.

Friendship Seven, this is Cape. Over.

Go ahead, Cape. Friendship Seven.

Recommend you go to reentry attitude and retract the scope manually at this time.

Roger, retracting scope manually.

While you're doing that, we are not sure whether or not your landing bag has deployed. We feel it is possible to reenter with the retropackage on. We see no difficulty at this time in that type of reentry. Over.

Roger, understand.

Seven, this is Cape. Over.

Go ahead, Cape. Friendship Seven.

Estimating 0.05g at 04 44.

Roger.

You override 0.05g at that time.

Roger. Friendship Seven.

This is Friendship Seven. I'm on straight manual control at present time. This was, still kicking in and out of orientation mode, mainly in yaw following retorfire, so I am on straight manual now. I'll back it up. …

… on reentry.

Roger. Friendship Seven.

Seven, this is Cape. Over.

Go ahead, Cape, you're ground, you are going out.

We recommend that you. …

This is Friendship Seven. I think the pack just let go.

This is Friendship Seven. A real fireball outside.

Hello, Cape. Friendship Seven. Over.

Hello, Cape. Friendship Seven. Over.

Hello, Cape. Friendship Seven. Do you receive? Over.

Hello, Cape. Friendship Seven. Do you receive? Over.

… How do you read? Over.

Loud and clear; how me?

Roger, reading you loud and clear. How are you doing?

Oh, pretty good.

Roger. Your impact point is within 1 mile of the up-range destroyer.

Roger.

… Over.

Roger.

This is Cape, estimating 04 50. Over.

Roger, 04 50.

Okay, we're through the peak g now.

Seven, this is Cape. What's your general condition? Are you feeling pretty well?

My condition is good, but that was a real fireball, boy.

I had great chunks of that retropack breaking off all the way through.

Very good; it did break off, is that correct?

Roger. Altimeter off the peg indicating 80,000.

Roger, reading you loud and clear.

Roger.

Seven, this is Cape. You're … will be within 1 mile of the up-range destroyer. Recovery weather is very good. Over.

Roger, understand. 55,000, standby, MARK.

I'm getting all kinds of contrails and stuff outside out here.

Roger. Say again your altitude, please. You were broken up.

45,000.

Rocking quite a bit. I may still have some of that pack on. I can't damp it either.

… post reentry check list. Over.

Friendship Seven. Going to drogue early. Rocking fairly, drogue came out.

Drogue is out.

Roger, drogue came out at 30,000, at about a 90° yaw.

Roger, is the drogue holding all right?

Roger, the drogue looks good.

Roger.

Scope did not come out.

… check list.

Roger, pumping the scope out.