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.

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?

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Spoken on Feb. 20, 1962, 7:45 p.m. UTC (62 years, 8 months ago). Link to this transcript range is: Tweet

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.