CAPCOM

… check list. Over.

John Glenn

Roger, reentry checklist complete. Standing by for main at ten [thousand feet].

John Glenn

Coming down on ten [thousand feet], snorkels are open.

CAPCOM

Roger, understand snorkels open.

John Glenn

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.

John Glenn

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

Recovery helicopter

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

John Glenn

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

Recovery helicopter

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

John Glenn

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

John Glenn

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

Recovery helicopter

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

John Glenn

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

Recovery helicopter

Friendship Seven. Steelhead. Wait. Out.

John Glenn

Roger. Friendship Seven. Indicating 7,000.

Recovery helicopter

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

John Glenn

Roger, on station I hour.

John Glenn

This is Friendship Seven, standing by for impact.

John Glenn

This is Friendship Seven, going through checklist.

Recovery helicopter

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

John Glenn

Roger, understand 20 minutes to pickup.

John Glenn

Friendship Seven, going through check list.

CAPCOM

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

John Glenn

Friendship Seven. Say again, Cape.

CAPCOM

… Landing Bag on green? Over.

John Glenn

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

CAPCOM

Do you have Landing Bag on green? Over.

John Glenn

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

Recovery helicopter

Do you have Landing Bag on green? Over.

John Glenn

That's affirmative. Landing Bag is on green.

Recovery helicopter

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

John Glenn

Roger, understand 6 miles. Good show.

CAPCOM

Steelhead, this is Cape Cap Com. Over.

John Glenn

Go ahead, Cap Com.

CAPCOM

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

John Glenn

Say again. This is Friendship Seven.

Recovery helicopter

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

John Glenn

Roger. Friendship Seven.

John Glenn

Friendship Seven. Ready for impact; almost down.

John Glenn

Do you have me in sight?

John Glenn

Friendship Seven. Getting close. Standing by.

Recovery helicopter

Roger.

John Glenn

Friendship Seven. Impact. Rescue Aids is manual.

Recovery helicopter

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

John Glenn

Roger, my condition okay. Does the capsule look like it's okay? Over.

Recovery helicopter

Friendship Seven, reference your last; affirmative, capsule looks good from here. Over.

John Glenn

Roger, understand they want me to stay in the capsule until rescue.

Recovery helicopter

Friendship Seven, Steelhead. That's Charlie. Over.

Recovery helicopter

Friendship Seven, Steelhead is calling you.

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Spoken on Feb. 20, 1962, 7:42 p.m. UTC (62 years, 9 months ago). Link to this transcript range is: Tweet

John Glenn

Go ahead, Steelhead. Friendship Seven. I don't receive you.

Recovery helicopter

Go ahead, Steelhead. Friendship Seven reads you.

John Glenn

Negative. This is Friendship Seven. I do not read him.

Recovery helicopter

Friendship Seven, Friendship Seven, this is Steelhead, Steelhead. Over.

John Glenn

Go ahead, Steelhead. Friendship Seven.

Recovery helicopter

Friendship Seven, this is Steelhead. I understand you have me visually through your window. Is that affirmative? Over.

John Glenn

Negative. This is Friendship Seven.

Recovery helicopter

Friendship Seven, this is Steelhead. Estimate recovery time in approximately 7 minutes. Over.

John Glenn

Roger, 7 minutes. Understand you're going to put men in the water with the collar. Is that affirm?

Recovery helicopter

Friendship Seven, Steelhead. Affirmative. Over.

Recovery helicopter

Friendship Seven, this is Steelhead. Understand your condition excellent at this time. Is that Charlie?

John Glenn

That's affirmative. My condition is good. I'm a little warm at the moment, but that's okay, the suit fans are still running.

Recovery helicopter

Steelhead. Roger. Out.

CAPCOM

Steelhead, this is Cape. Over.

Recovery helicopter

Station calling. … Read you. Say again. Over.

CAPCOM

This is Cape Canaveral. Recommend. … Over.

Recovery helicopter

Understand station calling Steelhead is the Cape, unable to read your message. Request you say again text. Over.

CAPCOM

Roger. Recommend … astronaut. Over.

Recovery helicopter

Cape, this is Steelhead; request you say again all after recommend. Over.

CAPCOM

Keep the Astronaut advised of the recovery progress; keep the Astronaut advised of the recovery progress. Over.

Recovery helicopter

Steelhead. Wilco. Out.

Recovery helicopter

Friendship Seven, this is Steelhead. We have you visually. I am closing now. Should be, should be ready to effect recovery in approximately 4 minutes. Over.

John Glenn

Roger, 4 minutes to recovery and my condition is good.

Recovery helicopter

Steelhead. Roger. Break, have ground tackle, etc., standing by on deck. All equipment fully rigged. Believe we will be able to have you aboard in approximately 2 minutes after arrival. Over.

John Glenn

This is Friendship Seven. I'm very warm. I'm not, I'm just remaining, remaining motionless here trying to keep as cool as possible. I'm extremely warm at the moment.

Recovery helicopter

Steelhead. Roger, break, disregard that.

Recovery helicopter

Friendship Seven, Steelhead. Helicopter is on its way. At present, they expect to be here in approximately 8 minutes. Over.

Recovery helicopter

Friendship Seven, Steelhead. Medico are standing by in case assistance necessary immediately after recovery. Over.

John Glenn

Roger. Friendship Seven.

Recovery helicopter

Friendship Seven, Steelhead. My speed now 10 [knots], commencing my approach. Over.

John Glenn

Roger. Friendship Seven.

Recovery helicopter

Friendship Seven, this is Steelhead. All equipment operating normally. Expect to be along side approximately 3 minutes. Over.

Recovery helicopter

Friendship Seven, this is Steelhead. All stop, I say again, my engines are stop. I'm coming along side at this time. Over.

Recovery helicopter

Friendship Seven, Friendship Seven, this is Steelhead. Do you copy? Over.

John Glenn

Roger, Steelhead, I copy. Friendship Seven. Understand you're coming along side.

Recovery helicopter

Friendship Seven, this is Steelhead. You are now 1,000 yards. Over.

John Glenn

Roger. Friendship Seven. Sounds good.