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Aviation History
1959
1959 - 0978.PDF
485 FLIGHT,10 April 1959 Missiles and Spaceflight . . . PROJECT MERCURY T'O place a manned space capsule into orbital flight around theEarth, to recover successfully the capsule and its occupant, and to investigate the capabilities of man in this new environmentare the stated objectives of the manned satellite programme known as Project Mercury. The U.S. National Aeronautics andSpace Administration is responsible for the management and technical direction of the project, with the advice and assistance ofthe Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency, and it was announced in January that McDonnell Aiicraft Corp.had been chosen for the design, development and construction of the capsule. As indicated by the two photographs at the top ofthis page, the testing of early models has begun. NASA work on the concept of a manned satellite began duringthe first week of October last, when a space task group was set up under Robert R. Gilruth as project manager. This group, whichreports directly to Dr. Abe Silverstein, the NASA Director of Space Flight Development, is located at the Langley ResearchCenter, Langley Field, Virginia. The proposed flight-plan for the satellite is described by NASAas follows: (1) An ICBM rocket booster will launch the manned capsule into orbit; (2) a nearly circular orbit will be established atan altitude of roughly 100 to 150 statute miles to permit a 24-hour satellite lifetime; (3) descent from orbit will be initiated by theapplication of retro-thrust rockets incorporated in the capsule system; (4) parachutes, incorporated in the capsule system, will beused after the vehicle has been slowed down by aerodynamic drag; (5) recovery on either land or water will be possible. According to the specification, the satellite will have high aero-dynamic drag and will be statically stable over the Mach number range corresponding to flight within the atmosphere. It will be ofthe non-lifting type, and designed to withstand any known com- bination of acceleration, heat loads, and aerodynamic forces whichmight occur during boost or re-entry. The capsule will have an extremely blunt leading face covered with a heat shield. The"life support system" utilizes a fitted couch to support the pilot dunng acceleration; pressure, temperature and composition of theatmosphere in the capsule will be controlled; and food and water will be provided. Attitude control will be based on a closed-loop system consistingof an attitude sensor with reaction controls. These controls will maintain the vehicle in a specified orbital attitude and will estab-lish the proper angle for retro-firing, re-entry or an abort manoeuvre. The pilot will be able to select manual or automaticcontrol during orbital flight. A "retrograde system" will be provided which will supplysufficient impulse to permit atmospheric entry in less than half an orbital revolution after application of the retro-rockets. Theserockets will be fired on a signal either from ground control or by the pilot himself, and thus the impact area can be pre-determined. As the capsule re-enters the Earth's atmosphere and slows downto approximately Mach 1, a drogue parachute will open to stabilize the vehicle. At this time radar foil will be released to indicate theposition of the capsule. When the velocity has decreased suffi- ciently a landing parachute will open, at an altitude high enoughto permit a safe landing on land or water. (The capsule will be buoyant and stable in water.) After landing, recovery will beassisted by tracking beacons, a high-intensity flashing light system, two-way voice radio and dye markers. In case of an emergency before orbital altitude is reached,escape rockets will be used to separate the capsule from its booster, Early stages of Project Mercury development are depicted in the two heading photographs: (left) a capsule mock-up which was air- dropped last month, and (right) an aero- dynamic model being positioned in the full-scale tunnel at the NASA research centre at Langley, Virginia, prior to deter- mination of lift, drag and static-stability characteristics. Above, NASA administrator Dr. T. Keith Glennan (left) and J. S. McDonnell with a model of the capsule. Right, artist's impression of the use of escape rockets to separate capsule from booster as illustrated in the sketch (right). When in orbit, the pilot canre-enter the atmosphere at any time by firing the retro-rockets, and other safety control features will be incorporated.Guidance and tracking equipment to guide the capsule into the desired orbit will include both ground-based and booster-carriedunits. Ground and capsule equipment will then determine the orbital path of the vehicle throughout its flight, and will be usedto initiate descent at the proper time and to predict the impact area. Provision will be made for two-way radio communicationbetween the pilot and ground stations during flight, and equip- ment will include a two-way voice radio, a receiver for commandsfrom the ground, telemetry equipment for the transmission of data from the capsule to the ground, and a radio tracking beacon.All electronic equipment is by Collins Radio Co. The instrumentation carried will comprise (1) medical instru-mentation to evaluate the pilot's reaction to spaceflight conditions such as weightlessness and high acceleration and deceleration, and(2) equipment to measure and monitor the internal and external capsule environment and to make scientific observations. Thefirst orbital flight of a manned capsule will take place only after a prolonged programme of development, which includes groundtesting, qualification flight testing and pilot training. Twelve candidates for occupancy of the first manned capsule to belaunched were to have been selected, from 110 volunteers, by the end of last month. The total cost of the satellite capsule and its sub-systems isexpected to exceed $15 million. McDonnell Aircraft was selected after proposals from 12 companies had been evaluated by NASA.
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