Mercury-Atlas 8: Sigma 7

Occurred 62 years ago

Mercury Atlas 8 (MA-8 Sigma 7) was the third manned orbital flight of the Mercury program. The objectives of MA-8 were to evaluate the performance of the man-spacecraft system in a six-pass orbital mission; evaluate the effects of an extended orbital space flight on the astronaut; obtain additional astronaut evaluation of the operational suitability of the spacecraft and support systems for manned orbital flights; evaluate the performance of spacecraft systems replaced or modified as a result of previous three-pass orbital missions; and, evaluate the performance of and exercise further the Mercury Worldwide Network and mission support forces and establish their suitability for extended manned flight.

Mission Type

Human Spaceflight

crew

Walter M. Schirra

Launch

Oct. 3, 1962

Landing

Oct. 3, 1962

Astronaut in silver Mercury spacesuit without helmet as spacesuit is checked by technician — Astronaut Walter M. “Wally” Schirra Jr., pilot of the Mercury-Atlas 8 Earth-orbital spaceflight, goes through a suiting-up exercise at Cape Canaveral several weeks prior to his scheduled Oct. 3, 1962 flight.
NASA

Astronaut Walter Schirra leaves Hangar S for his Mercury Atlas-8 flight. — Astronaut Walter M. “Wally” Schirra Jr., pilot of the Mercury-Atlas 8 (MA-8) Earth-orbital spaceflight, leaves Hanger “S” at Cape Canaveral on his way to his scheduled Oct. 3, 1962, flight.
NASA

Behind the Flight Control area in Mercury Mission Control was a glass-enclosed viewing section that consisted of two levels, with rows of chairs and standing room at the back. Prelaunch simulation Sigma 7, Mercury-Atlas 8 Astronaut Walter M. “Wally” Schirra Sept 10, 1962.
NASA

Mercury-Atlas 8 astronaut Wally Schirra being removed from his Sigma 7 capsule by Navy Personnel — Close-up view of Mercury-Atlas 8 (MA-8) astronaut Walter M. “Wally” Schirra Jr. being removed from his Sigma 7 capsule by Navy personnel. (3 Oct. 1962)
NASA

Aerial view of Mercury-Atlas 8 Sigma 7 capsule beling lowered to the deck of the USS Kearsarge after retrieval from the ocean after splashdown.. — Aerial view of the Mercury-Atlas 8 (MA-8) Sigma 7 capsule being lowered to the deck of the carrier USS Kearsarge. (3 Oct. 1962)
NASA

Mission Facts

Mission: SIGMA 7
Launch Date: October 3, 1962
Launch Pad: LC-14
Vehicle: Atlas (8)
Crew: Walter M. Schirra
Payload: Spacecraft No. 16, Launch Vehicle Number 113-D

Mission Objective

Mercury Atlas 8 (MA-8 Sigma 7) was the third manned orbital flight of the Mercury program. The objectives of MA-8 were to: (1) evaluate the performance of the man-spacecraft system in a six-pass orbital mission; (2) evaluate the effects of an extended orbital space flight on the astronaut and to compare this analysis with those of previous missions and astronaut-simulator programs; (3) obtain additional astronaut evaluation of the operational suitability of the spacecraft and support systems for manned orbital flights; (4) evaluate the performance of spacecraft systems replaced or modified as a result of previous three-pass orbital missions; and, (5) evaluate the performance of and exercise further the Mercury Worldwide Network and mission support forces and establish their suitability for extended manned flight.

Orbit

Altitude: 175.8 by 100 statute miles
Orbits: 6
Period: 88 minutes, 55 seconds
Duration: 0 Days, 9 hours, 13 minutes, 11 seconds
Distance: 143,983 statute miles
Velocity: 17,558 miles per hour
Max Q: 964 psf
Max G: 8.1