Spacelog Mercury 6

This is Friendship Seven. Going to fly-by-wire. I'm down to about 15 percent on manual.

Roger. You're going to use fly-by-wire for reentry and we recommend that you do the best you can to keep a zero angle during reentry. Over.

Roger. Friendship Seven.

This is Friendship Seven. I'm on fly-by-wire, back it up with manual. Over.

Roger, understand.

Seven, this is Cape. The weather in the recovery area is excellent, 3-foot waves, only one-tenth cloud coverage, 10 miles visibility.

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.

Main chute in on green. Chute is out, in reef condition at 10,800 feet and beautiful chute. Chute looks good. On O₂ emergency and the chute looks very good. Rate of descent has gone to about 42 feet per second. The chute looks very good.

Hello, Mercury Recovery. This is Friendship Seven. Do you receive?

Mercury Friendship Seven, this Steelhead. Loud and clear. Over.

Roger, Steelhead. Friendship Seven. The chute looks very good. Over.

Roger, understand the chute very good, descent normal. Is that Charlie? Over.

Roger, that is affirmative. Descent is normal, indicating 40 feet per second.

My condition is good; it's a little hot in here, however. Over.

Roger, Friendship Seven. Be advised, I got your chaff on my radar and I'm heading out for you now. Over.

Roger. What is your estimate on recovery time? Over.

Friendship Seven. Steelhead. Wait. Out.

Roger. Friendship Seven. Indicating 7,000.

Friendship Seven, this is Steelhead. Be advised, I have you visually, estimate on station in approximately I hour. Over.

Roger, on station I hour.

This is Friendship Seven, standing by for impact.

This is Friendship Seven, going through checklist.

Friendship Seven, this is Steelhead. Correct my estimate on station. Estimate pickup now at 20 minutes. Over.

Roger, understand 20 minutes to pickup.

Friendship Seven, going through check list.

Seven, this is Cape. Do you have the Landing Bag on green? Over.

Friendship Seven. Say again, Cape.

… Landing Bag on green? Over.

This is Friendship Seven. Still did not receive you. Repeat again.

Do you have Landing Bag on green? Over.

I'm sorry. I cannot read you, Cape. Say again.

Do you have Landing Bag on green? Over.

That's affirmative. Landing Bag is on green.

Friendship Seven, this is Steelhead. Be advised accordingly to my surface gadget, your range 6 miles from me, on the way. Over.

Roger, understand 6 miles. Good show.

Okay.

Steelhead, this is Cape Cap Com. Over.

Go ahead, Cap Com.

Cape Cap Com. We recommend that he remain in the capsule unless he has some overriding reason for getting out. Over.

Say again. This is Friendship Seven.

Remain in capsule unless you have an overriding reason for getting out. Over.

Roger. Friendship Seven.

Friendship Seven. Ready for impact; almost down.

Roger.

Do you have me in sight?

Friendship Seven. Getting close. Standing by.

Roger.

Here we go.

Friendship Seven. Impact. Rescue Aids is manual.

Friendship Seven, this is Steelhead. Hold you in the water. What is your condition? Over.