JOHN PFANNERSTILL’S
SPACE CHRONICLE
Mercury-Redstone 4 Mission Journal
Friday, July 21, 1961
This page was last modified on January 26, 1999
00:01 Stony: Liftoff.
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "As the blockhouse capsule communicator (astronaut Donald K. ‘Deke’ Slayton) called ignition, I felt the launch vehicle start to vibrate and could hear the engines start. Just seconds after this, the elapsed time clock started and the Mercury Control Center capcom (astronaut Alan B. Shepard) confirmed liftoff. At that time, I punched the Time Zero Override, started the stopwatch function on the spacecraft clock, and reported that the elapsed time clock had started."]
00:03 Grissom: Ah, roger. This is Liberty Bell 7. The clock is operating.
00:08 Capcom: Loud and clear, Jose, don’t cry too much.
[Pfannerstill: This is another Al Shepard reference to Bill Dana’s "Jose Jimenez" record. On the recording, the interviewer/straight man asks Astronaut Jose how he plans to pass the time during all of the long, lonely, solitary hours he will spend in space. Jose deadpans, "Well, I plan to cry a lot."]
00:11 Grissom: Oke-doke.
00:18 Grissom: Okay, it’s a nice ride up to now.
00:20 Capcom: Loud and clear.
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "Communications throughout the powered flight were satisfactory. The VOX (voice-operated relay) was used for pilot transmissions instead of the push-to-talk button. The noise level was never high enough at any time to key the transmitter. Each standard report was made on-time and there was never any requirement for myself or the capcom to repeat any transmissions."]
00:21 Grissom: Roger.
00:28 Grissom: Okay. The fuel is go; about 1 and a half g’s; cabin pressure is just coming off the peg; the O2 is go; we have 26 amps.
00:36 Capcom: Roger. Pitch 88 (degrees), the trajectory is good.
00:39 Grissom: Roger, looks good here.
00:54 Grissom: Okay there, we’re starting to pick up a little bit of noise and vibration; not bad, though, at all. Fifty seconds, more vibration.
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "The powered flight portion of the mission was in general very smooth. A low-order vibration started at approximately T-plus 50 seconds, but it did not develop above a low level and was undetectable after about T-plus 70 seconds. The vibration was in no way disturbing and it did not cause interference in either communication or vision. The magnitude of the accelerations corresponds well to the launch simulations in the centrifuge, but the onset was much smoother."]
[Grissom, from "We Seven," Simon and Schuster, Inc., 1962: "There was nothing violent about (the vibration). It was nice and easy, just as Al (Shepard) had predicted. I looked for a little buffeting as I climbed to 36,000 (feet) and moved through Mach 1, the speed of sound. Al (Shepard, during his MR-3 flight on May 5, 1961) had experienced some difficulty here; his vehicle shook quite a lot and his vision was slightly blurred by the vibrations. But we had made some good fixes. We had improved the aerodynamic fairings between the capsule and the Redstone, and had put some extra padding around my head. I had no trouble at all, and I could see the instruments very clearly."]
01:01 Grissom: Okay, the fuel is go; 1 and a half g’s; cabin is 8 (psi); the O2 is go; 27 amps.
01:08 Grissom: And... (rest of transmission not received).
01:09 Capcom: Pitch is... (rest of transmission not received).
01:10 Grissom: Four (g’s), five (g’s)... (rest of transmission not received).
01:11 Capcom: Pitch is 77 (degrees); trajectory is go.
01:13 Grissom: Roger. Cabin pressure is still about 6 (psi) and dropping slightly. Looks like she’s going to hold about 5.5 (psi).
01:23 Grissom: Eh... (rest of transmission not received).
01:24 Capcom: Cabin... (rest of transmission not received).
01:24 Grissom: Believe me, O2 is go.
01:26 Capcom: Cabin pressure holding 5.5 (psi).
01:29 Grissom: Roger, roger.
01:31 Grissom: This is Liberty Bell 7. Fuel is go; 2 and a half g’s; cabin pressure 5.5 (psi); O2 is go; main (bus) 25 (volts), isolated -- ah, isolated (bus) is 28 (volts). We are go.
01:46 Capcom: Roger. Pitch is 62 (degrees); trajectory is go.
01:49 Grissom: Roger. It looks good in here.
01:56 Grissom: Everything is good; cabin pressure is holding; suit pressure is okay; two minutes and we got 4 g’s; fuel is go; ah, feel the hand controller move just a hair there; cabin pressure is holding; O2 is go; 25 amps.
02:15 Capcom: Roger, we have go here.
02:16 Grissom: And I see a star!
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "Vision out the window was good at all times during launch. As viewed from the pad, the sky was its normal light blue; but as the altitude increased, the sky became a darker and darker blue until approximately 2 minutes after liftoff, which corresponds to an altitude of approximately 100,000 feet, the sky rapidly changed to an absolute black. At this time, I saw what appeared to be one rather faint star in the center of the window. It was about equal in brightness to Polaris. Later it was determined that this was the planet Venus whose brightness is equal to a star of magnitude of -3."]
02:17 Capcom: Stand by for cutoff.
[Pfannerstill: Cutoff of the Redstone booster engine and jettison of the escape tower occurred simultaneously at T-plus 2:23.]
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "Launch vehicle engine cutoff was sudden and I could not sense any tail-off of the launch vehicle. I did feel...a very brief tumbling sensation."]
02:23 Grissom: There went the tower.
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "The firing of the escape tower clamp ring and escape rocket is quite audible and I could see the escape rocket motor and tower thoughout its tail-off burning phase and for what seemed like quite some time after that climbing off to my right. Actually, I think I was still watching the tower at the time the posigrade rockets fired, which occurred 10 seconds after cutoff. The tower was still definable as a long, slender object against the black sky at this time."]
02:24 Chase-1: Roger, there went the tower, affirmative Chase.
02:26 Grissom: Roger, squibs are off.
02:31 Capcom: Roger.
02:33 Grissom: There went the posigrades, capsule has separated. We are at zero-g and turning around and the sun is really bright.
[Capsule separation from the Redstone occurred at T-plus 2:33.]
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "The posigrade firing is a very audible bang and a definite kick, producing (an acceleration) of approximately 1g. Prior to this time, the spacecraft was quite stable with no apparent motion. As the posigrade rockets separated the spacecraft from the launch vehicle, the spacecraft angular motions and angular accelerations were quite apparent. Spacecraft damping which was to begin immediately after separation was apparently satisfactory, although I cannot really report on the magnitude of any angular rates caused by posigrade firing."]
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "As the turnaround started, I could see a bright shaft of light, similar to the sun shining into a blackened room, start to move from my lower left up across my torso. Even though I knew the window reduces light transmissions equivalent to the earth’s atmosphere, I was concerned that it might shine directly into my eyes and blind me. The light moved across my torso and disappeared completely."]
02:42 Capcom: Roger cap. sep. (capsule separation light) is green; turnaround has started, manual handle out.
02:47 Grissom: Oh boy! Manual handle is out; the sky is very black; the capsule is coming around into orbit attitude; the roll is a little bit slow.
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "The spacecraft turnaround to retrofire attitude is quite a weird maneuver to ride through. At first, I thought the spacecraft might be tumbling out of control. A quick check of the instruments indicated that turnaround was proceeding much as those experienced on the procedures trainer, with the exception of roll attitude which appeared to be very slow and behind the schedule that I was expecting.]
03:01 Capcom: Roger.
03:02 Grissom: I haven’t seen the booster anyplace. Okay, rate command is coming on. I’m in orbit attitude, I’m pitching up. Okay, forty... (rest of transmission not received)... Wait, I’ve lost some roll here someplace.
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "The spacecraft Automatic Stabilization and Control System (ASCS) had made the turnaround maneuver from the position on the launch vehicle to retrofire attitude. The pitch and yaw axes stabilized with only a moderate amount of overshoot as predicted, but the roll attitude was still being programmed and was off by approximately 15 degrees when I switched from the autopilot to the manual proportional control system. The switchover occurred 10 seconds later than planned to give the ASCS more time to stabilize the spacecraft."]
03:10 Capcom: Roger, rate is command coming on. You’re trying manual pitch.
03:15 Grissom: Okay, I got roll back. Okay, I’m at 24 (degrees) in pitch.
03:20 Capcom: Roger, your IP (impact point) is right on, Gus, right on.
03:24 Grissom: Okay. I’m having a little trouble with rate, ah, with the manual control.
03:28 Capcom: Roger.
03:31 Grissom: If I can get her stabilized here, all axes are working all right.
03:36 Capcom: Roger. Understand manual control is good.
03:40 Grissom: Roger, it’s -- it’s sort of sluggish, more than I expected.
03:45 Grissom: Okay, I’m yawing.
03:47 Capcom: Roger, yaw.
03:50 Grissom: Left, ah.
03:51 Grissom: Okay, coming back in yaw. I’m a little bit late there.
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "I realized I would have to hurry my programmed pitch, yaw and roll maneuvers. I tried to hurry the pitch-up maneuver; I controlled the roll attitude back within limits, but the view out the window distracted me, resulting in an overshoot in pitch. This put me behind in my schedule even more. I hit the planned yaw rate but overshot in yaw attitude again."]
03:57 Capcom: Roger. Reading you loud and clear, Gus.
03:59 Grissom: Lot of stuff -- there’s a lot of stuff floating around up here.
04:02 Grissom: Okay, I’m going to skip the yaw (maneuver), ah, or (rather the) roll (maneuver) because I’m a little bit late and I’m going to try this rough yaw maneuver. About all I can really see is clouds. I haven’t seen any land yet.
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "I realized that my time for control maneuvers was up and I decided at this point to skip the planned roll maneuver, since the roll axis had been exercised during the two previous maneuvers, and go immediately to the next task."]
04:15 Capcom: Roger, you’re on the window. Are you trying a yaw maneuver?
04:18 Grissom: I’m trying the yaw maneuver and I’m on the window. It’s such a fascinating view out the window you just can’t help but look out that way.
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "This was the part of the flight to which I had been looking forward. There was a full minute that was programmed for observing the earth. The view through the window became quite spectacular as the horizon came into view. The sight was truly breathtaking. The earth was very bright, the sky was black, and the curvature of the earth was quite prominent. Between the earth and the sky, there was a border which started at the earth as a light blue and became increasingly darker with altitude. There was a transition region between the dark blue and the black sky that is best described as a fuzzy gray area. This is a very narrow band, but there is no sharp transition from blue to black. The whole border appeared to be uniform in height over the approximately 1,000 miles of horizon that was visible to me."]
04:25 Capcom: I understand.
04:29 Grissom: You sh, ah, really. There I see the coast, I see.
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "The earth itself was very bright. The only landmark I was able to identify during the first portion of the weightlessness period was the Gulf of Mexico coastline between Apalachicola, Florida and Mobile, Alabama. The cloud coverage was quite extensive and the curvature of this portion of the coast was very difficult to distinguish. The water and land masses were both a hazy blue, with the land being somewhat darker. There was a frontal system south of this area that was clearly defined."]
04:30 Capcom: Four plus thirty (elapsed time since launch), Gus.
04:37 Grissom: I can see the coast, but I can’t identify anything.
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "One other section of the Florida coast came into view during the left yaw maneuver, but it was a small section of beach with no identifiable landmarks."]
04:42 Capcom: Roger, four plus thirty (elapsed time since launch), Gus.
04:44 Grissom: Okay, let me get back here to retro attitude, retro sequence has started.
[Pfannerstill: The retro sequence was initiated by a timer at T-plus 4:46.]
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "The retro sequence started automatically and at the time it started, I was slightly behind schedule. At this point, I was working quite hard to get into a good retrofire attitude so that I could fire the retrorockets manually."]
04:48 Capcom: Roger, retro sequence has started. Go to retro attitude.
04:52 Grissom: Right, we’ll see if I’m in bad, not in very good shape here.
04:57 Capcom: Got 15 seconds, plenty of time, I’ll give you a mark at 5:10 (elapsed time since launch).
05:01 Grissom: Okay, retro attitude (light) is still green.
05:05 Capcom: Retros on my mark, 3, 2, 1, mark.
05:11 Grissom: Okay, there’s one firing, there’s one firing.
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "I received the countdown to fire from Mercury Control Center Cap Com and fired the retrorockets manually. The retrorockets, like the escape rocket and posigrades, could be heard quite clearly. The thrust buildup was rapid and smooth. As the first retrorocket fired, I was looking out the window and could see a definite yaw to the right was starting. I had planned to control the spacecraft attitude during retrofire by using the horizon as a reference; but as soon as the right yaw started, I switched my reference to the flight instruments. I had been using instruments during my retrofire practice for the two weeks prior to the launch in the Cape Canaveral procedures trainer since the activity at the Cape prevented the use of the ALFA trainer located at Langley. This probably explains the instinctive switch to the flight instruments. The retrofire difficulty was about equal to the more severe cases that have been presented on the procedures trainer."]
05:13 Capcom: Roger, retro 1.
[Pfannerstill: The spacecraft reached it’s apogee, or it's maximum altitude of 102.8 nautical miles above the earth, at T-plus 5:16.]
05:19 Grissom: There’s two firing, nice little boost. There went three.
05:21 Capcom: Roger, three, all retros are fired.
05:23 Grissom: Roger, roger.
05:25 Grissom: Okay, yeah, they’re fired out right there.
05:29 Capcom: Roger, retro jettison armed.
05:33 Grissom: Retro jettison is armed, retro jettison is armed, going to rate command.
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "The control mode was switched from manual proportional to rate command immediately after retrofire. The procedures trainer simulation in this system seems to be slightly more difficult than the actual case. I found attitudes were easy to maintain and rates were no problem. The rate command system was much easier to fly than the manual proportional system. The reverse is normally true on the trainer. The sluggish roll system was probably complicating the control task during the manual proportional control phase of the flight, while roll accelerations appeared to be normal on the rate command system."]
05:36 Grissom: Okay, I’m going to switch.
05:38 Capcom: Roger. Understand manual fuel handle is in.
05:41 Grissom: Manual fuel handle is in, mark, going to HF.
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "This one attempt to communicate on HF (high frequency) was unsuccessful. At approximately peak altitude, the HF transmitter was turned on and the UHF (ultra-high frequency) transmitter was turned off. All three receivers -- UHF, HF and emergency voice -- were on continuously. Immediately after I reported switching to HF, the Mercury Control Center started transmitting to me on HF only. I did not receive any transmission during this period."]
05:44 Capcom: Roger, HF.
05:52 Capcom: Liberty Bell 7, this is capcom on HF, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. How do you read, Seven?
06:00 Grissom: I got you.
06:05 Capcom: This is capcom on HF, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. How do you read, Seven?
[Pfannerstill: The retro rocket package was jettisoned at T-plus 6:07.]
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "After allowing the HF transmitter approximately 10 seconds to warm up, I transmitted but received no acknowledgement that I was being received. Actually the Atlantic Ship telemetry vessel located in the landing area and the Grand Bahama Island did receive my HF transmissions. Prior to the flight, both stations had been instructed not to transmit on the assigned frequencies unless they were called by the pilot."]
06:08 Grissom: ...here, do you read me, do you read me on HF? ... Going back to U (UHF)... Boy, is that... Retro, I’m back on UHF and, ah, the jett -- the retros have jettisoned. Now I can see the Cape and, oh boy, that’s some sight. I can’t see too much.
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "Immediately after retrofire, Cape Canaveral came into view. It was quite easy to identify. The Banana and Indian Rivers were easy to distinguish and the white beach all along the coast was quite prominent. The colors that were the most prominent were the blue of the ocean, the brownish-green of the interior, and the white in between, which was obviously the beach and surf. I could see the building area on Cape Canaveral. I do not recall being able to distinguish individual buildings, but it was obvious that it was an area where buildings and structures had been erected."]
06:34 Grissom: Roger, I am on UHF high, do you read me?
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "After switching back to the UHF transmitter, I received a call on the emergency voice that was loud and clear. UHF communications were satisfactory throughout the flight. I was in continuous contact with some facility at all times, with the exception of a brief period on HF."]
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "Even though all communications equipment operated properly, I felt that I was hurrying all transmissions too much. All of the sights, sounds and events were of such importance that I felt compelled to talk of everything at once. It was a difficult choice to decide what was the most important to report at any one time. I wanted as much as possible recorded so that I would not have to rely on my memory so much for later reporting."]
06:38 Capcom: Roger, reading you loud and clear UHF high, can you confirm retro jettison?
06:41 Grissom: Okay, periscope is retracting, going to reentry attitude.
06:47 Capcom: Roger, retros have jettisoned, scope has retracted, you’re going to reentry attitude.
06:51 Grissom: Affirmative.
06:56 Capcom: Bell 7 from capcom, your IP (impact point) is right on.
07:00 Grissom: Roger, I’m in reentry attitude.
07:05 Grissom: Ah.
07:07 Capcom: Roger, how does it look out the window now?
07:09 Grissom: Ah, the sun is coming in and so all I can see really is just, ah, just darkness, the sky is very black.
07:14 Capcom: Roger, you have some more time to look if you like.
07:27 Capcom: Seven from capcom, how do you feel up there?
07:30 Grissom: I feel very good, auto fuel is 90 (per cent), manual is 50 (per cent).
07:33 Capcom: Roger, 0.05g in ten (seconds).
07:37 Grissom: Okay.
07:50 Grissom: Okay, everything is very good, ah.
07:54 Grissom: I got 0.05g (light) and roll rate has started.
[Pfannerstill: The "0.05g light" is an indicator light on the left side of the spacecraft instrument panel which lights up when the accelerometer detects 5/100 of a "g". The illumination of the 0.05g light signifies that weightlessness is ending and entry of the spacecraft into the atmosphere has begun."]
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "The 0.05g telelight illuminated on schedule and shortly thereafter I reported g’s starting to build. I checked the accelerometer and the g-level was something less than 1g at this time. The next time I reported (at T-plus 08:11), I was at 6g and I continued to report and function throughout the high-g portion of the flight."]
07:57 Capcom: Roger.
08:03 Grissom: Got a pitch rate in here, okay, g’s are starting to build.
08:09 Capcom: Reading you loud and clear.
08:11 Grissom: Roger, g’s are building, we’re up to six (g’s).
08:17 Grissom: There’s nine (g’s).
08:19 Grissom: There’s about ten (g’s); the handle is out from under it; here I got a little pitch rate coming back down through seven (g’s).
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "The spacecraft rates increased during the reentry, indicating that the spacecraft was oscillating in both yaw and pitch. I made a few control inputs at this time, but I could not see any effects on the rates, so I decided just to ride out the oscillations. The pitch rate needle was oscillating full scale at a rapid rate of about 6 degrees per second during this time and the yaw rate began oscillating full scale slightly later than pitch. At no time were these oscillations noticeable inside the spacecraft."]
08:32 Capcom: Roger, still sound good.
08:34 Grissom: Okay, the altimeter is active at 65 (thousand feet). There’s 60 (thousand feet).
08:38 Capcom: Roger, 65,000 (feet).
08:42 Grissom: Okay, I’m getting some contrails, evidentally shock wave, 50,000 feet; I’m feeling good. I’m very good, everything is fine.
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "During this phase of reentry and until main parachute deployment, there is a noticeable roar and a mild buffeting of the spacecraft. This is probably the noise of a blunt object moving rapidly through the atmosphere and the buffeting is not distracting nor does it interfere with pilot function."]
08:49 Capcom: Roger, 50,000 (feet).
08:52 Grissom: Forty-five thousand (feet), do you still read?
08:54 Capcom: Affirmative. Still reading you. You sound good.
09:00 Grissom: Okay, 45,000 feet, do you read?
09:07 Grissom: Thirty-five thousand feet, if you read me.
09:19 Grissom: Thirty thousand feet, everything is good, everything is good.
09:24 Capcom: Bell 7, this is capcom. How.... (rest of communcation not received).
09:28 Grissom: Twenty-five thousand feet.
09:36 Grissom: Approaching drogue chute altitude.
[Pfannerstill: Drogue chute deployment occurred at T-plus 9:41.]
09:41 Grissom: There’s the drogue chute. The periscope has extended.
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "The drogue parachute deployment is quite visible from inside the spacecraft and the firing of (the) drogue parachute mortar is clearly audible. The opening shock of the drogue parachute is mild; there is a mild pulsation or breathing of the drogue parachute which can be felt inside the spacecraft."]
09:45 Capcom: This is... we have a green drogue (light) here, Seven, how do you read?
09:49 Grissom: Okay, we’re down to 15,000 feet, if anyone reads. We’re on emergency flow rate, can see out the periscope okay. The drogue chute is good.
10:03 Capcom: Roger, understand drogue is good, the periscope is out.
10:05 Grissom: There’s 13,000 feet.
10:09 Capcom: Roger.
10:14 Grissom: There goes the main chute; it’s reefed; main chute is good; main chute is good; rate of descent coming down, coming down to -- there’s 40 feet per second, 30 feet per, 32 feet per second on the main chute, and the landing bag is out green.
[Pfannerstill: Main chute deployment occurred at T-plus 10:14.]
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "As the drogue parachute is released, the spacecraft starts to drop at a greater rate. The change in g-field is quite noticeable. Main parachute deployment is visible out the window also. A mild shock is felt as the main parachute deploys in its reefed condition. The complete parachute is visible at this time. As the reefing cutters fire, the parachute deploys to its fully opened condition. Again, a mild shock is felt. About 80 per cent of the parachute is visible at this time and it is quite a comforting sight. The spacecraft rotates and swings slowly under the parachute at first; the rates are mild and barely noticieable."]
10:40 Grissom: Hello, does anybody read Liberty Bell? Main chute is good, landing bag (light) is on green.
Capcom: And the landing bag (light) is on green.
Atlantic Ship: Liberty Bell 7, Liberty Bell 7, this is Atlantic Ship capcom. Read you loud and clear. Our telemetry confirms your events. Over.
Grissom: Ah, roger, is anyone reading Liberty Bell 7? Over.
Card File 23: Roger, Liberty Bell 7, reading you loud and clear. This is Card File 23. Over.
10:52 Grissom: Atlantic Ship capcom, this is Liberty Bell 7, how do you read me? Over.
Atlantic Ship: Read you loud and clear, loud and clear. Over. Liberty Bell 7, Liberty Bell 7, this is Atlantic Ship capcom. How do you read me? Over.
11:12 Grissom: Atlantic Ship capcom, this is Liberty Bell 7, I read you loud and clear, how me? Over.
Atlantic Ship: Roger, Bell 7, read you loud and clear, your status looks good, your systems look good, we confirm your events. Over.
11:28 Grissom: Ah, roger, and confirm the fuel has dumped. Over.
11:34 Atlantic Ship: Roger, confirm again, confirm again, has your auto fuel dumped?
11:42 Grissom: Auto fuel and manual fuel has dumped.
Atlantic Ship: Roger, roger.
11:47 Grissom: And I’m in the process of putting the pins back in the door at this time.
12:04 Grissom: Okay, I’m passing down through 6,000 feet, everything is good, ah.
12:15 Grissom: I’m going to open my face plate.
12:35 Grissom: Hello, I can’t get one; I can’t get one door pin back in. I’ve tried and tried and I can’t get it back in. And I’m coming, ATS (Atlantic Ship), I’m passing through 5,000 feet and I don't think I have one of the door pins in.
Atlantic Ship: Roger, Bell 7, roger.
13:04 Grissom: Do you have any word from the recovery troops?
Card File 23: Liberty Bell 7, this is Card File 23; we are heading directly toward you.
13:18 Grissom: ATS, this is Cap -- this is Liberty Bell 7. Do you have any word from the recovery troops?
Atlantic Ship: Negative, Bell 7, negative. Do you have any transmission to MCC (Mercury Control Center)? Over.
13:33 Grissom: Ah, roger, you might make a note that there is one small hole in my chute. It looks like it’s about 6 inches by 6 inches -- it’s sort of a -- actually it’s a triangular rip, I guess.
Atlantic Ship: Ah, roger, roger.
13:49 Grissom: I’m passing through 3,000 feet, and all the fuses are in flight conditions; ASCS is normal, auto; we’re on rate command; gyros are normal; auto retro jettison is armed; squibs are armed also. Four fuel handles are in; decompress and recompress are in; retro delay is normal; retro heat is off; cabin lights are both. TM (telemeter) is on. Rescue aids is auto; landing bag is auto; retract scope is auto; retro attitude is auto. All the three, five pull rings are in. Going down through some clouds to 2,000 feet. ATS, I’m at 2,000 feet; everything is normal.
Atlantic Ship: Roger, Bell 7, what is your rate of descent again? Over.
14:39 Grissom: The rate of descent is varying between 28 and 30 feet per second.
Atlantic Ship: Ah, roger, roger, and once again verify your fuel has dumped. Over.
14:54 Grissom: Okay. My max G was about 10.2; altimeter is 1,000 (feet); cabin pressure is coming toward 15 (psi). Temperature is 90 (deg. F). Coolant quantity is 30 (per cent); temperature is 68 (deg. F); pressure is 14 (psi); main O2 is 60 (per cent); normal is, main is 60 (per cent); emergency is 100 (per cent); suit fan is normal; cabin fan is normal. We have 21 amps, and I’m getting ready for impact here. Can see the water coming right on up.
[Pfannerstill: Spacecraft landing in the water occurred at T-plus 15:37. The impact point was in the Atlantic Ocean, 262.5 nautical miles downrange from Pad 5.]
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "The spacecraft landing in the water was a mild jolt; not hard enough to cause discomfort or disorientation. The spacecraft recovery section went under the water and I had the feeling that I was on my left side and slightly head down. The window was covered completely with water and there was a disconcerting gurgling noise. A quick check showed no water entering the spacecraft."]
Atlantic Ship: Liberty Bell 7, Liberty Bell 7, this is Atlantic Cap Com, do you read me? Over.
Grissom: Okay, does anyone read Liberty Bell 7? Over.
Hunt Club 1: Liberty Bell 7, Hunt Club 1 is now 2 miles southwest of you.
Card File 9: Liberty Bell 7 this is 9 Card File. We have your entry into the water. Will be over you in just about 30 seconds.
16:35 Grissom: Roger, my condition is good. Okay the capsule is floating, slowly coming vertical, have actuated the rescue aids. The reserve chute has jettisoned, in fact I can see it in the water, and the whip antenna should be up.
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "The spacecraft started to slowly right itself. As soon as I was sure the recovery section was out of the water, I ejected the reserve parachute by actuating the recovery aids switch. The spacecraft then righted itself rapidly."]
Grissom: Hunt Club, did you copy?
Grissom: Okay, Hunt Club, this is... Don’t forget the antenna.
Hunt Club 1: This is Hunt Club, say again.
18:07 Grissom: Hunt Club, this is Liberty Bell 7. My antenna should be up.
Hunt Club 1: This is Hunt Club 1... your antenna is erected.
18:16 Grissom: Ah, roger.
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "I felt I was in good condition at this point and started to prepare myself for egress. I had previously opened the face plate and had disconnected the visor seal hose while descending on the main parachute. The next moves in order were to disconnect the oxygen outlet hose at the helmet, unfasten the helmet from the suit, release the chest strap, release the lap belt and shoulder harness, release the knee straps, disconnect the biomedical sensors, and roll up the neck dam. The neck dam is a rubber diaphragm that is fastened on the exterior of the suit, below the helmet attaching ring. After the helmet is disconnected, the neck dam is rolled around the ring and up around the neck, similar to a turtleneck sweater. This left me connected to the spacecraft at two points, the oxygen inlet hose which I needed for cooling and the helmet communications lead."]
18:23 Grissom: Okay, give me how much longer it’ll be before you get here.
Hunt Club 1: This is Hunt Club 1, we are in orbit now at this time, around the capsule.
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "At this time, I turned my attention to the door. First, I released the restraining wires at both ends and tossed them towards my feet. Then I removed the knife from the door and placed it on the survival pack. The next task was to remove the cover and safety pin from the hatch detonator. I felt at this time that everything had gone pretty nearly perfectly and that I would go ahead and mark the switch position chart as had been requested."]
18:32 Grissom: Roger, give me about another 5 minutes here, to mark these switch positions here, before I give you a call to come in and hook on. Are you ready to come in and hook on anytime?
Hunt Club 1: Hunt Club 1, roger we are ready anytime you are.
18:44 Grissom: Okay, give me about another 3 or 4 minutes here to take these switch positions, then I’ll be ready for you.
Hunt Club 1: One, wilco.
Card File 9: Hey Hunt Clubs, Card File, Card File 9, I’ll stand by to escort you back as soon as you lift out. I’ll keep other aircraft at at least 2,000 feet.
Hunt Club 1: Ah, Bell 7 this is Hunt Club 1.
20:15 Grissom: Go ahead Hunt Club 1.
Hunt Club 1: Roger, this is 1, observe something, possibly the cannister in the water alongside the capsule. Will we be interfering with any TM (telemetry) if we come down and take a look at it?
20:26 Grissom: Negative, not at all, I’m just going to put the rest of this stuff on tape and then I’ll be ready for you, in just about 2 more minutes, I would say.
Hunt Club 1: One, roger.
Capcom: Liberty Bell 7, Capcom at the Cape on a test count. Over.
Capcom: Liberty Bell 7, Cape Capcom on a test count. Over.
Card File 9: Any Hunt Club, this is 9 Card File.
Hunt Club 1: Station calling Hunt Club, say again.
24:03 Card File 9: This is Niner Card File, there’s an object on a line in the water, ah, just about 160 degrees. The NASA people suspect it’s the dye marker that didn’t activate; ah, say it’s about, ah, 3/4 of a mile out from the capsule. Ah, after the lift out, will you take a check on it? Over.
Hunt Club 1: Ah, this is Hunt Club 1, roger, will have Hunt Club 3 check at this time, you copy 3?
Hunt Club 3: Hunt Club 1, believe he said 3/4 of a mile?
Card File 9: This is 9 Card, that is affirmative.
25:20 Grissom: Okay, Hunt Club. This is Liberty Bell 7. Are you ready for the pickup?
25:26 Hunt Club 1: This is Hunt Club 1; this is affirmative.
25:30 Grissom: Okay, latch on, then give me a call and I’ll power down and blow the hatch, okay?
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "After about 3 or 4 minutes, I instructed the helicopter to come on in and hook onto the spacecraft and confirmed the egress procedures with him. I unhooked my oxygen inlet hose and was lying on the couch, waiting for the helicopter’s call to blow the hatch."]
25:36 Hunt Club 1: This is Hunt Club 1, roger, will give you a call when we’re ready for you to blow.
25:42 Grissom: Roger, I’ve unplugged my suit so I’m kinda warm now so.
25:46 Hunt Club 1: One, roger.
25:52 Grissom: Now if you tell me to, ah, you’re ready for me to blow, I’ll have to take my helmet off, power down, and then blow the hatch.
25:59 Hunt Club 1: One, roger, and when you blow the hatch, the collar will already be down there waiting for you, and we’re turning base at this time.
26:09 Grissom: Ah, roger.
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "I was lying flat on my back at this time and I turned my attention to the knife in the survival pack, wondering if there might be some way I could carry it out with me as a souvenir. I heard the hatch blow -- the noise was a dull thud -- and looked up to see blue sky out the hatch and water start to spill over the doorsill. Just a few minutes before, I had gone over the egress procedures in my mind and I reacted instinctively. I lifted the helmet from my head and dropped it, reached for the right side of the instrument panel, and pulled myself through the hatch."]
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "After I was in the water and away from the spacecraft, I noticed a line from the dye marker can over my shoulder. The spacecraft was obviously sinking and I was concerned that I might be pulled down with it. I freed myself from the line and noticed that I was floating with my shoulders above the water."]
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "The helicopter was on top of the spacecraft at this time with all three of its landing gear in the water. I thought the copilot was having difficulty hooking onto the spacecraft and I swam the 4 or 5 feet to give him some help. Actually, he had cut the antennae and hooked the spacecraft in record time."]
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "The helicopter pulled up and away from me with the spacecraft and I saw the personnel sling start down; then the sling was pulled back into the helicopter and it started to move away from me. At this time, I knew that a second helicopter had been assigned to pick me up, so I started to swim away from the primary helicopter. I apparently got caught in the rotorwash between the two helicopters because I could not get close to the second helicopter, even though I could see the horsecollar swinging in the water. I finally reached the horsecollar and by this time, I was getting quite exhausted."]
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "When I first got into the water, I was floating quite high up. I would say my armpits were just about at the water level. But the neck dam was not up tight and I had forgotten to lock the oxygen inlet port, so the air was gradually seeping out of my suit. Probably the most air was going out around the neck dam, but I could see that I was gradually sinking lower and lower in the water and was having a difficult time staying afloat."]
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "Before the copilot finally got the horsecollar to me, I was going underwater quite often. The mild swells we were having were breaking over my head and I was swallowing some salt water."]
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "As I reached the horsecollar, I slipped into it and I knew that I had it on backwards; but I gave the ‘up’ signal and held on because I knew that I wasn’t likely to slip out of the sling."]
[Grissom, from 1961 MR-4 Pilot’s Flight Report: "As soon as I got into the helicopter, my first thought was to get on a life preserver so that if anything happened to the helicopter, I wouldn’t have another ordeal in the water. Shortly after this time, the copilot informed me that the spacecraft had been dropped as a result of an engine malfunction in the primary helicopter."]