PART II (A)

Research and Development Phase of Project Mercury

October 3, 1958 through December 1959

1958

October 3-7

Memo, Warren J. North to NASA Administrator, subject: Background of Project Mercury Schedules, Aug. 14, 1960.

Figure 2. Mercury spacecraft in orbit: Artist's conception.

October 6

Memo, Space Task Group to NASA Hq., subject: Transmittal of Comments on AOMC Memorandum for Record - Meeting of NASA and AOMC, Oct. 6, 1958, Nov. 13, 1958, with inclosures.

October 7-8

Letter, Wright Air Development Center to Air Research and Development Command, subject: Ablation/Heat Sink Investigation - Manned Reentry, Oct. 21, 1958.

October 9

NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 1 for Period ending January 31, 1959, March 1959.

October 14

Notes, Assistant to Deputy Administrator to NASA Administrator, subject: Briefing Memorandum for the Administrator, March 12, 1959.

October 17-18

Memo, Warren J. North to NASA Administrator, subject: Background of Project Mercury Schedules, Aug. 14, 1960.

October 21

Letter, Space Task Group to AVCO-Everett Research Laboratory, (no subject), May 5, 1960.

Figure 3. Little Joe on launcher at Wallops during checkout.

October 23

Memo, George Low, NASA, for the House Committee on Space and Astronautics, subject: NASA Procedure Used in the Selection of McDonnell Corporation for the Construction of the Project Mercury Capsule, April 24, 1959.

October 27

Letter, Charles J. Donlan, Associate Director, STG, to Willson H. Hunter, NASA Headquarters, subject: Transmittal of Materials Requested by Willson H. Hunter, Dec. 16, 1960. This letter outlines the overall sequence of events in the astronaut selection program.

October (during the month)

Memo, George M. Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status of Manned Satellite Project, November 25, 1958.

Design work was started on the Little Joe vehicles and test model spacecraft.



Memo, George M. Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status of Manned Satellite Project, November 25, 1958.

Dr. W. Randolph Lovelace II was appointed by NASA Headquarters as Chairman of a Special Committee on Life Sciences by T. Keith Glennan, the NASA Administrator. After prospective astronaut candidates were interviewed in Washington, D. C., those chosen for further consideration received medical examinations at the Lovelace Clinic in Albuquerque, New Mexico (see Feb. 1-14, 1959, entry).



House Document No. 454, 86th Cong., 2nd Sess., subject: Third Semiannual Report of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Message from the President of the United States, Aug. 30, 1960.

November 3

NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 1, for Period Ending January 31, 1959.

November 5

Memo, Floyd L. Thompson, Acting Director, NASA Langley to all concerned, subject: Space Task Group, Nov. 5, 1958; information supplied by Lynn Manley, Lewis Research Center, May 28, 1963.

November 7

Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 1, Manned Satellite Project, Dec. 9, 1958; Agenda for Prospective Bidders for Manned Satellite Capsule, prepared by Space Task Group for Nov. 7, 1958.

November 14

Memo, Abe Silverstein to NASA Administrator, subject: Schedule for Evaluation and Contractual Negotiations for Manned Satellite Capsule, Dec. 24, 1958; NASA-Langley, subject: Specifications for Manned Space Capsule, Nov. 14, 1958.

The highest national procurement priority rating (DX) was requested for the manned spacecraft project.



Letter, Hugh L. Dryden to Robert R. Gilruth, (no subject), March 23, 1959.

Twenty firms notified the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of their intention to prepare proposals for the development of the manned spacecraft. NASA set the deadline for proposal submission as December 11, 1958.



Memo, George M. Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 1, Manned Satellite Project, Dec. 9, 1958; Memo, Robert R. Gilruth to all Space Task Group Personnel, subject: Prime Bidders for Manned Satellite Capsule, Nov. 19, 1958.

November 20

Memo, George M. Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 2, Manned Satellite Project, Dec. 17, 1958.

November 24

Message, NASA NDA, Ralph Cushman, Contracting Officer, NASA, to Commanding General, Air Force Ballistic Missile Division, Nov. 24, 1958.

November 26

Emme, Aeronautics and Astronautics: 1915-1960, p. 104.

Space Task Group personnel presented a proposed program for Langley Research Center support in the Little Joe phase of Project Mercury. Langley was favorably inclined, and after a survey of manpower and facility availability, notified Space Task Group on December 5, 1958, of its willingness to support the program. Langley tasks involved contracting for engineering, construction, services, data processing, analysis, and reporting research results.



Memo, Carl A. Sandahl for Associate Director, NASA Langley, subject: NASA Participation in Little Joe Project, Dec. 9, 1958.

November 28

House Rpt. 67, 87th Cong. 1st Sess., March 8, 1961.

November (during the month)

Notes supplied by Marvin E. Hintz, Historical Office, Arnold Engineering Development Center, Tullahoma, Tenn.

November-December

Memo, Warren J. North to NASA Administrator, subject: Background of Project Mercury Schedules, Aug. 14, 1960.

December 1

Memo, Warren J. North to NASA Administrator, subject: Background of Project Mercury Schedules, August 14, 1960; information supplied by Aleck Bond, Manned Spacecraft Center, June 11, 1963.

December 2

Memo, Warren J. North to Assistant Director for Advanced Technology, subject: Visit to ABMA Regarding Boosters for Manned Satellite and Juno II Programs, Dec. 4, 1958.

December 8

Memo, Warren J. North to NASA Administrator, subject: Background of Project Mercury Schedules, Aug. 14, 1960.

December 9

Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 1, Manned Satellite Project, Dec. 9, 1958; Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 3, Project Mercury, Dec. 27, 1958.

December 10

Memo, Robert R. Gilruth, subject: Procedures for Technical Assessment of Manufacturer's Proposals for a Manned Space Capsule Submitted in Response to Requests for Proposals on Specification S-6, Nov. 14, 1958, Dec. 10, 1958.

December 11

Memo, Space Task Group to NASA Headquarters, subject: Request for Transfer of Space Research and Development Funds to Lewis for Manned Space Capsule Instrumentation, Dec. 24, 1958.

Eleven firms submitted proposals for the development of a manned spacecraft. These were AVCO, Chance-Vought, Convair, Douglas, Grumman, Lockheed, Martin, McDonnell, North American, Northrop, and Republic. In addition, Winzen Research Laboratories submitted an incomplete proposal.



Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 2, Manned Satellite Project, Dec. 17, 1958.

December 12

Memo, G. Merritt Preston, Chief, Flight Problems Branch Lewis Research Center, to Dr. Abe Silverstein, NASA Hq., subject: Distribution of Lewis Flying Research Personnel Space Activities, Dec. 12, 1958.

Space Task Group personnel began technical assessment of manned spacecraft development proposals submitted by industry. Charles Zimmermann headed the technical assessment team.



Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 1, Manned Satellite Project, Dec. 9, 1958.

Space Task Group received a "Development and Funding Plan" from the Army Ordnance Missile Command in support of Project Mercury.



Source as cited.

December 13

Akens, Origins of MSFC, Dec. 1960; House Rpt. 67, 87th Cong., 1st Sess., Mar. 8, 1961.

December 17

Memo, George Low to Dr. Silverstein, NASA Hq., subject: Change of Manned Satellite Name from "Project Mercury" to "Project Astronaut," Dec. 12, 1958.

December 29

Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 4, Project Mercury, Jan. 12, 1959.

December 30

Memo, Warren J. North to NASA Administrator, subject: Background of Project Mercury Schedules, August 14, 1960.

December 31

NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 1 for Period Ending January 31, 1959, March 1959.

December (during the month)

Source as cited.

1959

January 5

Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 6, Project Mercury, Feb. 3, 1959.

January 6

Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 4, Project Mercury, Jan. 12, 1959.

January 9

Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 4, Project Mercury, Jan. 12, 1959.

Representatives of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Department of Defense met to coordinate requirements of the two agencies and arrived at an agreement for a "National Program to Meet Satellite and Space Vehicle Tracking Requirements for FY59 and FY60." This meeting led to the formation of a continuing NASA-DOD Space Flight Tracking Resources Committee.



Emme, Aeronautics and Astronautics: 1915-1960, p. 106.

January 14

Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 5, Project Mercury, Jan. 20, 1959.

January 16

Message, NASA Hq. to Commanding General, Army Ordnance Missile Command, Jan. 16, 1959.

During a meeting of the Space Task Group, it was decided to negotiate with McDonnell for design of spacecraft that could be fitted with either a beryllium heat sink or an ablation heat shield. Robert R. Gilruth, the project director, considered that for safety purposes, both should be used. He also felt that the recovery landing bag should be replaced by a honeycombed crushable structure. At this same meeting, a tentative decision was also made that design, development, and contract responsibilities for the Mercury tracking network would be assigned to the Langley Research Center.



Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 5, Project Mercury, Jan. 20, 1959.

January 21

Memo, Warren J. North to NASA Administrator, subject: Background of Project Mercury Schedules, Aug. 14, 1960.

January 23

Memo, George Low to Dr. Silverstein, subject: Fund Transfer to Langley Research Center for Little Joe Program, Jan. 23, 1959.

January 25

NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 1 for Period Ending January 31, 1959.

Figure 4. Pilot egress trainer.

January 26

Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 6, Project Mercury, Feb. 3, 1959.

Figure 5. Manufacture of Mercury spacecraft at McDonnell plant, St. Louis, Mo.

January 29

NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 1 for Period Ending January 31, 1959, March 1959.

January 30

Letter, Admiral Arleigh Burke, Chief of Naval Operations to Dr. T. Keith Glennan, NASA Administrator (no subject), Jan. 30, 1959.

January (during the month)

NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 1 for Period Ending January 31, 1959, March 1959.

Balloon flights were planned for high-altitude qualification tests of the complete spacecraft, including all instrumentation, retrorockets, drogue parachute system, and recovery. Later balloon flights would be manned to provide as much as 24 hours of training followed by recovery at sea. The Space Task Group made surveys of organizations experienced in the balloon field and recommended that the Air Force Cambridge Research Center be given responsibilities for designing, contracting, and conducting the balloon program.



NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 1 for Period Ending January 31, 1959; Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 5, Project Mercury, Jan. 20, 1959.

Development of the Mercury pressure suit was started.



NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 1 for Period Ending January 31, 1959, March 1959.

Animal payloads, including pigs and small primates, were planned for some of the Little Joe test flights.



Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 5, Project Mercury, Jan. 20, 1959.

January-February

Memo, Warren J. North to NASA Administrator, subject: Background of Project Mercury Schedules, Aug. 14, 1960.

January-July

"A Chronology of the Arnold Engineering Development Center," AFSC Historical Publications, Series 62-101. Hereinafter cited as "Chronology of Arnold Development Center."

February 1-14

Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 5, Project Mercury, February 3, 1959.

February 5

Letter, NASA Hq. to Chief of Navy Materiel, Department of the Navy (no subject), Apr. 10, 1959.

NASA personnel visited the Wright Air Development Center to investigate its methods and facilities for measuring airborne noise and vibrations.



Memo, Michael A. Wedding to Lewis Space Task Group, subject: Lewis Space Task Group's visit to Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, on February 5, 1959, Feb. 26, 1959.

February 6

Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 7, Project Mercury, Feb. 17, 1959.

February 7

Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 8, Project Mercury, Mar. 4, 1959.

February 10

NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 5 for Period Ending January 31 1960.

Figure 6. Shadowgraph of spacecraft model in Ames Supersonic Free-Flight Pressurized Range.

February 11

Memo, Paul E. Purser, Space Task Group, to Project Mercury Director, subject: Project Mercury Meeting on February 11, 1959, at ABMA, February 17, 1959. Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 8, Project Mercury, Mar. 4, 1959.

February 12

Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 7, Project Mercury, Feb. 17, 1959.

February 12-13

Memo, A. C. Bond to Director of Project Mercury, subject: Visit of Ballistic Missile Division, Space Technology Laboratories, and Convair Representatives to Space Task Group on February 12 and 13, 1959, regarding Atlas Booster for Project Mercury, Feb. 18, 1959.

February 15

Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 8, Project Mercury, Mar. 4, 1959.

February 17

Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 8, Project Mercury, Mar. 4, 1959.

Members of the Space Task Group, Langley, Ames, McDonnell and NASA Headquarters drafted a coordinated program for wind tunnel and free-flight tests in support of Project Mercury.



Memo, Abe Silverstein, Director of Space Flight Development, NASA Hq., to Director of Aeronautical and Space Research, NASA Hq., subject: Langley and Ames Research Center Support for Project Mercury, March 6, 1959, and two inclosures.

February 19

Draft Memorandum, John H. Disher to David Williamson, NASA Hq., no subject, March 31, 1960.

February 20

Memo, NASA Hq., to Langley, subject: Request the Langley Research Center Assume Responsibilities for Project Mercury Instrumentation Facilities, Feb. 20, 1959.

February 24

Report No. 1, Mercury-Redstone-Jupiter Study Panel No. IV, March 20, 1959.

February 26

Memo, William M. Bland, Jr., to Director of Project Mercury, subject: First Meeting of Panel Number 1 Held February 26, 1959, at ABMA, Huntsville, Alabama, March 4, 1959.

Space Task Group and Langley Research Center personnel visited the Arnold Engineering Development Center, Tullahoma, Tennessee, to ascertain if the AEDC facilities were equipped to perform tests on scale models of the Mercury spacecraft and to arrange a testing schedule.



Memo, Albin O. Pearson to Associate Director, NASA Langley, subject: Visit of NASA Personnel to AEDC, Tullahoma, Tenn., for the Purpose of Discussing the Testing of Models of the McDonnell (Project Mercury) Capsule in the AEDC Facilities, March 5, 1959.

February 27

Memo, Christopher C. Kraft to Director, Project Mercury, subject: Meeting with Space Technology Laboratories and Convair Representatives on Feb. 27, 1959, to Discuss Design Trajectories for First Atlas-Capsule Ablation Test, March 2, 1959.

February (during the month)

Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 8, Project Mercury, Mar. 4, 1959.

Six working panels concerned with various aspects of the Mercury-Redstone program were formed to resolve problem areas that might arise. Later the number of panels was reduced to four, and then to three. Typical areas of study included design coordination, pilot safety, and aerodynamics, to name a few.



NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 5 for Period Ending January 31, 1960.

March 6

Memo, George Low, Chief, Manned Space Flight Development, NASA Hq., subject: Proposed Contract Amendments, Project Mercury Capsule, March 12, 1959.

March 8

Memo, Howard S. Carter and Carl A. Sandahl to Associate Director, NASA-Langley, subject: Weekly Progress Report for Week of March 8, 1959, on Langley Support of Project Mercury, March 16, 1959.

March 9

Memo, Howard S. Carter and Carl A. Sandahl to Associate Director, NASA-Langley, subject: Weekly Progress Report for Week of March 8, 1959, on Langley Support of Project Mercury, March 16, 1959.

Tests were in progress at Langley and Wallops Island on several types of ablating materials under environmental conditions that would be experienced by a spacecraft reentering from orbit.



Memo, Howard S. Carter and Carl A. Sandahl to Associate Director, NASA-Langley, subject: Weekly Progress Report for Week of March 8, 1959, on Langley Support of Project Mercury, March 16, 1959.

March 10

Letter, McDonnell Aircraft Corporation to NASA-Langley, subject: NAS 5-59, Effect of DO Priority Rating on Delivery Schedule, March 10, 1959.

March 11

Memo, Howard S. Carter to Associate Director, NASA-Langley, subject: Progress Report for Week of March 15, 1959, on Langley Support of Project Mercury, March 25, 1959; Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 10, Project Mercury, March 24, 1959.

March 16

Message, NASA 169, NASA-Langley to NASA Hq., March 16, 1959.

March 17

Memo, Andre J. Meyer, Jr., Space Task Group Chief, Engineering and Contract Administration Division, subject: Contracting of Parachute Canisters for Little Joe and Big Joe Development Launchings for Project Mercury, March 20, 1959.

Figure 7. Equipment installation in the parachute canister.

March 17-18

Project Mercury Model 133 Mock-Up Review, Rpt. No. 6727, McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, March 17-18, 1959.

Figure 8. McDonnell mock-up of Mercury spacecraft including Atlas adapter and escape system.

March 20

Memo, Robert R. Gilruth to Langley Space Task Group, subject: Coordination of Meetings of Study Panels for Mercury Capsule Booster Systems, March 20, 1959.

Mercury-Redstone and Mercury-Jupiter test objectives were discussed in a meeting at Langley between Space Task Group and Army Ballistic Missile Agency personnel. At that time it was decided that the first flights of both the Redstone and Jupiter would be unmanned. The second flights would be "manned" with primates, and the Jupiter phase would end at that point. The six remaining Redstones would be used in manned flights for astronaut training.



Memo, Walter J. Kapryan, subject: Project Mercury Meeting on March 20, 1959 at Langley Field, Virginia, March 26, 1959.

Space Task Group personnel prepared a study on the "Recovery Operations for Project Mercury" covering plans for suborbital and orbital flights. This document was forwarded to the Department of Defense for comment and for briefing of appropriate units.



NASA-Space Task Group Study, Recovery Operations for Project Mercury, March 20, 1959.

March 23

Letter, McDonnell Aircraft Corporation to George Low, NASA Hq., subject: NAS 5-59, Items Which Require DX Priority Rating, March 23, 1959.

March 26

Memo, NASA Director of Aeronautical and Space Research to Director, Space Flight Development, subject: Transfer of Funds to Langley Research Center for PARD Flight Testing of Project Mercury Capsule, March 20, 1959, and March 26, 1959, approval.

Space Task Group, Langley Research Center, and Air Force School of Aviation Medicine personnel met to plan bio-pack experiments that would be placed in several of the Little Joe research and development test flights.



Minutes of Meeting, Project Mercury, subject: Bio-Paks for Little Joe Flights 2, 3, and 4, June 18, 1959.

March 27

Memo, Floyd L. Thompson, Acting Director, Langley Research Center, subject: Identification of Vehicles Launched for NASA, April15, 1959.

March 28

Memo, Howard S. Carter to Associate Director, NASA-Langley, subject: Progress Report for Week of March 29, 1959, on Langley Support of Project Mercury, April 7, 1959.

Figure 9. Escape rocket motor.

March 29

Memo, Howard S. Carter to Associate Director, NASA-Langley, subject: Progress Report for Week of March 29, 1959, on Langley Support of Project Mercury, April 7, 1959.

March 30

Memo, Christopher C. Kraft, Jr., to Director of Project Mercury, subject: Visit to AFMTC on March 13, and March 30, 1959, to Witness a Jupiter Dry-Run Procedure and Talk with AFMTC Range Safety Personnel, April 13, 1959.

March 31

Memo, William M. Bland, Jr., and Christopher C. Kraft, Jr., to Director of Project Mercury, subject: Meeting with Range Safety People at AFMTC, March 31, 1959, April 3, 1959.

April 2

Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 11, Project Mercury, April 6, 1959; Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 2 for Period Ending April 30, 1959.

Crew selection for Project Mercury was completed, resulting in the selection of seven astronauts to participate in the Mercury program.



Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report Project Mercury, April 6, 1959.

April 2-16

Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 12, Project Mercury, April 16, 1959.

An initial orientation was given to the seven Project Mercury astronauts, when they reported to the Space Task Group for duty.



Memo, Warren J. North to NASA Administrator, subject: Background of Project Mercury Schedules, Aug. 14, 1960.

After responsibility for the worldwide tracking range construction of Project Mercury had been assumed by the Langley Research Center, the following study contracts were placed: (1) Aeronutronics to study radar coverage and trajectory computation requirements, (2) RCA Service Corporation for specification writing, (3) Lincoln Laboratories for consultant services and proposal evaluations, and (4) Space Electronics for the design of the control center at Cape Canaveral.



Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 11, Project Mercury, April 6, 1959.

The Chief of Naval Operations directed the Atlantic Fleet to support Project Mercury as follows: (1) landing and recovery systems in the area of Norfolk, Virginia, to develop spacecraft pickup and handling techniques for ships and helicopters, (2) recovery of capsules on solid rocket launch vehicle tests in the area of Wallops Island, and (3) Atlas launch vehicle development or ballistic flights from the Atlantic Missile Range. Details for orbital flight support had not been accomplished at that time.



Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 11, Project Mercury, April 6, 1959.

April 9

Hearing before the Committee on Science and Astronautics, U.S. House of Representatives, 86th Congress, 1st Session, Meeting with the Astronauts, Project Mercury, Man-in-Space Program, May 28, 1959.

Figure 10. The seven Mercury astronauts: L to R: Carpenter, Cooper, Glenn, Grissom, Schirra, Shepard and Slayton.

April 9-10

"A Chronology of the Arnold Engineering Development Center"; History of Arnold Engineering Development Center, January-June 1959, Vol. I, pp. 38-41.

Figure 11. Scale model of escape tower configuration tested at Arnold Engineering Development Center.

April 10

Memo, Howard S. Carter to Associate Director, NASA Langley, subject: Progress for Week of April 12, 1959, on Langley Support of Project Mercury, April 21, 1959.

April 12

Memo, Howard S. Carter to Associate Director, NASA Langley, subject: Progress for Week of April 12, 1959, on Langley Support of Project Mercury, April 21, 1959.

Space Task Group conducted the second full-scale beach abort test on Wallops Island. A deliberate thrust misalignment of 1 inch was programed into the escape combination. Lift-off was effected cleanly, and a slow pitch started during the burning of the escape rocket motor. The tower separated as scheduled and the drogue and main parachutes deployed as planned. The test was fully successful.



Memo, Howard S. Carter to Associate Director, NASA Langley, subject: Progress for Week of April 12, 1959, on Langley Support of Project Mercury, April 21, 1959.

Figure 12. Honeycomb structure partially to absorb impact force.

April 13

Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 12, Project Mercury, April 16, 1959.

NASA placed a request with the Navy for the use of its Aviation Medical Acceleration Laboratory at Johnsville, Pennsylvania. NASA desired to use the laboratory's AMAL human centrifuge in support of the Mercury astronaut training program.



Letter, Warren J. North, NASA, to Captain F. K. Smith, Director, AMAL, subject: Request for use of Centrifuge at AMAL, Johnsville, April 13, 1959.

Rear Admiral J. W. Gannon was appointed by Donald A. Quarles, Deputy Secretary of Defense, to head a Department of Defense group to study with NASA the recovery aspects of Project Mercury.



Letter, Deputy Secretary of Defense to Dr. Glennan, no subject, April 13, 1959.

April 15

Memo, Charles H. McFall to Associate Director, NASA Langley, subject: Project Little Joe: Ground Instrumentation Required During Firing of Little Joe models at Wallops Island, April 15, 1959.

April 16

Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 12, Project Mercury, April 16, 1959.

Space Task Group, Langley Research Center, and Lewis Research Center personnel met to discuss development plans regarding construction and instrumentation of Big Joe Number I reentry spacecraft test vehicle. During the course of this meeting, milestone objectives of the work to be accomplished were drafted.



Memo, Howard S. Carter to Associate Director, NASA Langley, subject: Progress for Week of April 19, 1959, on Langley Support of Project Mercury, April 27, 1959.

NASA requested that the Air Force furnish two TF-102B and two T-33 aircraft to be used by the Project Mercury astronauts. One of the requirements in the astronaut training program was to maintain proficiency in high performance aircraft.



Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 12, Project Mercury, April 16, 1959.

April 22

Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 13, Project Mercury, May 6, 1959.

Figure 13. Spacecraft and escape system configuration.

April 23-24

Memo, M. J. Krasnican to Space Task Group records, subject: Coordination Meeting on Data Handling, Reduction, and Analysis for Big Joe Capsule held at Langley Space Task Group, April 23, 24, 1959, Apr. 28, 1959.

April 27

Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 13, Project Mercury, May 6, 1959.

The seven Project Mercury astronauts reported for duty and their training program was undertaken immediately.



NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 2 for Period Ending April 30, 1959; Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 13, Project Mercury, May 6, 1959.

A tentative schedule of astronaut activities for the first months of training was issued. Actual training began the next day. Within 3 months the astronauts were acquainted with the various facets of the Mercury program. The first training week was as follows: Monday, April 27, check in; April 28, general briefing; April 29, spacecraft configuration and escape methods; April 30, support and restraint; May 1, operational concepts and procedures. These lectures were presented by specialists in the particular field of study. Besides the above, unscheduled activities involved 3 hours flying time and 4 hours of athletics.



Tentative Schedule of Activities for First Months of Training Program (beginning Monday, April 27, 1959).

April 27-28

Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 13, Project Mercury, May 6, 1959.

April (during the month)

NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 2 for Period Ending April 30, 1959; Memorandum, Robert R. Gilruth, Director of Project Mercury, to NASA Hq., subject: Required Basic Research on Parachutes to Support Manned Space Flight, July 6, 1959.

May 1

Memo, Ronald Kolenkiewicz and John B. Lee to Director, Project Mercury, subject: Coordination Meeting for Little Joe Project, May 6, 1959.

May 5

Memo, Robert R. Gilruth, Director of Project Mercury, to Hartley A. Soule, Langley Research Center, subject: Request for Assistance of Langley Research Center in Project Mercury Capsule Drop Test Program, June 2, 1959, with inclosures.

May 6

Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 13, Project Mercury, May 6, 1959.

May 11

Memo, Warren J. North to NASA Administrator, subject: Background of Project Mercury Schedules, Aug. 14, 1960.

A NASA policy concerning Mercury astronauts was issued. The astronauts were subject to the regulations and directives of NASA, and information of unclassified nature reported by the astronauts would be disseminated to the public. These were but two examples in the policy statement.



Senate Report, No. 1014, 86th Congress, 1st Session, subject: Project Mercury Man-in-Space Program of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 86th Congress (Dec. 1, 1959).

May 12-14

Minutes of Mock-Up Review held at McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, May 12-14, 1959.

May 17

Memo, Howard S. Carter to Associate Director, NASA Langley, subject: Progress for May 17-31, 1959, on Langley Support of Project Mercury, June 3, 1959.

May 21

Memo, Howard S. Carter to Associate Director, NASA Langley, subject: Progress for May 17-31, 1959, on Langley Support of Project Mercury, June 3, 1959; Memo, H. J. E. Reid, Director NASA Langley, to NASA Hq., subject: Further Plans for the Procurement and Ground Instrumentation Systems for Project Mercury, June 26, 1959.

May 22

Memo, Paul E. Purser to Director, Project Mercury, subject: Analysis of AOMC Revised Funding Estimates for Redstone and Jupiter, HS-44 and HS-54, June 5, 1959.

The Project Mercury balloon flight test program was canceled. The Space Task Group oficials determined that the spacecraft could be tested environmentally in the Lewis Research Center's altitude wind tunnel. This included correct temperature and altitude simulations to 80,000 feet. The pilot could exercise the attitude control system and retrorockets could be fired in the tunnel. Because an active contract did exist with the Air Force, it was decided the two balloon drop tests with unmanned boiler-plate spacecraft would be accomplished.



Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Status Report No. 14, Project Mercury, May 22, 1959.

May 25

Memo, Euclid C. Holleman to Chief, Research Division, NASA High-Speed Flight Station, subject: Meeting to Consider Plans for the Aviation Medical Acceleration Laboratory for the Next Fiscal Year, May 25, 1959.

Figure 14. Human centrifuge at the Navy's Aviation Medical Acceleration Laboratory, Johnsville, Pennsylvania, used in Mercury astronaut training program.

May 28

Memo, Warren J. North to NASA Administrator, subject: Background of Project Mercury Schedules, August 14, 1960.

Primates Able and Baker, aboard an Army Jupiter missile nose cone, were launched 300 miles into space and landed 1,700 miles down range from the launch site at Cape Canaveral. Telemetry data disclosed that the responses of the animals were normal for the conditions they were experiencing. During the boost phase, when the higher g-loads were being sustained, body temperature, respiration, pulse rate, and heartbeat rose but were well within tolerable limits. During the weightless period along the trajectory arc, the physiological responses of Able and Baker approached normal - so near, in fact, that according to telemetry data, Baker appeared either to doze or to become drowsy. Upon reentry, the responses rose again, but at landing the animals were nearing a settled physiological state. This flight was another milestone proving that life could be sustained in a space environment.



Grimwood, History of the Jupiter Missile Program, July 1962; House Committee Print No. 35, Hearing Before the Committee on Science and Astronautics, U.S. House of Representatives, Jupiter Missile Shot - Biomedical Experiments, June 3, 1959.

A quick-release, side exit hatch was designed for the spacecraft. The design consisted of a continuous double explosive train to assure that all bolts were actually broken upon activation of the device.



NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 4 for Period Ending October 31, 1959.

During this period, the astronauts and other NASA personnel devoted a great deal of study to the Mercury spacecraft cockpit. The following factors were under particular scrutiny: (1) routine and emergency flight procedures; (2) anthropometric dimensions of the seven astronauts, which had demonstrated flight safety inadequacies in the early layout of the cockpit; and (3) layout requirements which were reviewed according to the dimensions of the astronauts while wearing a full-pressure garment, in both routine unpressurized and pressurized states, and according to the astronaut's ability to reach any control under both routine and emergency conditions. (See fig. 15.)



NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 4 for Period Ending October 31, 1959.

Figure 15. Spacecraft interior arrangement.

June 1

Chart, Space Task Group Complement Analysis, June 1, 1959.

June 5

NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 3 for Period Ending July 31, 1959.

The Army Ballistic Missile Agency submitted a proposal (Report No. DG-TR-7-59) for a Mercury-Redstone inflight abort sensing system. This system would monitor performance of the control system (attitude and angular velocity), electrical power supply, and launch vehicle propulsion. If operational limits were exceeded, the spacecraft would be ejected from the launch vehicle and recovered by parachute.



Study, Proposal for Mercury-Redstone Automatic Inflight Abort Sensing System by F. W. Brandner, prepared by the Army Ballistic Missile Agency, June 5, 1959.

Space Technology Laboratories and Convair completed an analysis of flight instrumentation necessary to support the Mercury-Atlas program. The primary objective of the study was to select a light-weight telemetry system. A system weighing 270 pounds was recommended, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration concurred with the proposal.



Letter, Space Technology Laboratories, Inc., to NASA Space Task Group, subject: Atlas Telemetry Configuration, Project Mercury Orbital Flights, June 5, 1959; Letter, NASA Hq. to E. B. Doll, Space Technology Laboratories, subject: Details of Atlas Telemetry System for Project Mercury Flights, July 7, 1959.

June 8

Memo, Warren J. North to NASA Administrator, subject: Background of Project Mercury Schedules, Aug. 14, 1960.

The Space Task Group advised the Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics of Government-furnished survival items that McDonnell would package in containers. (See fig. 16.) These included desalter kits, dye marker, distress signal, signal mirrors, signal whistle, first aid kits, shark chaser, PK-2 raft, survival rations, matches, and a radio transceiver. Navy assistance was requested in the procurement of these items.



Letter, NASA Space Task Group, Bureau of Aeronautics, Department of the Navy, subject: Project Mercury Survival Equipment, June 8, 1959.

Space Task Group officials met with representatives of the School of Aviation Medicine to discuss detailed aspects of the bio-packs to be used in the NASA Little Joe Flight program. The packs were to be furnished by the school. The purpose was to gather life support data that would be applicable to the manned flights of Project Mercury.



Space Task Group Minutes of Meeting, subject: Bio-Packs for Little Joe Flights 2, 3, and 4, June 8, 1959, at Space Task Group, June 18, 1959.

Figure 16. Astronaut survival equipment stowed in Mercury spacecraft.

June 12

Memo, H. J. E. Reid, Director of Langley Research Center to All Concerned, subject: Designation of Organization, Membership and Operating Procedures for the Source Selection Panel and the Technical Evaluation Board - Tracking and Ground Instrumentation, Project Mercury, June 12, 1959.

June 14-27

Memo, Howard S. Carter to Associate Director, NASA Langley, subject: Progress for June 14-27, 1959, on Langley's Support of Project Mercury, June 30, 1959.

June 18

Memo to Chief, High-Speed Flight Station, subject: Summary of Boost Centrifuge Program.

June 19

Memo, Robert R. Gilruth to Space Task Group Division, Branch, and Section Chiefs and Heads, subject: Capsule Coordination Office, June 19, 1959; Summary of the Method of Monitoring the McDonnell Capsule Contract, prepared by Space Task Group, July 10, 1959.

A Capsule Review Board was established to review, at regular intervals, action taken by the Capsule Coordination Office. Paul E. Purser was appointed chairman, with division heads, Coordination Office head, and Project and Assistant Project Directors serving as members.



Memo, Robert R. Gilruth to Space Task Group Division, Branch, and Section Chiefs and Heads, subject: Organization of Capsule Coordination Office, June 19, 1959.

June 24

Chart, Revised Funding HS-44, Project Mercury (Redstone) prepared by Control Office, Army Ballistic Missile Agency, June 24, 1959.

June 25

NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 3 for Period Ending July 31, 1959.

June 28

Memo, Howard S. Carter to Associate Director, NASA Langley, subject: Progress for June 28-July 11, 1959, on Langley Support of Project Mercury, July 15, 1959.

June 29

History of Arnold Engineering Development Center, January-June 1959, Vol. I, pp. 38-41.

June (during the month)

Memo, Howard S. Carter to Associate Director, NASA Langley, subject: Progress for June 14-27, 1959, on Langley Support of Project Mercury, June 30, 1959.

McDonnell selected Northrop as the subcontractor to design and fabricate the landing system for Project Mercury. Northrop technology for landing and recovery systems dated back to 1943 when that company developed the first parachute recovery system for pilotless aircraft. For Project Mercury, Northrop developed the 63-foot ring-sail main parachute. (See fig. 18.)



Material supplied by Jerome Ringer, Public Relations Department, Northrop Ventura, Jan. 1963.

Figure 17. Recovery test spacecraft showing recovery aids. Figure 18. Main 63-foot ringsail parachute.

July 1

Memo, Abe Silverstein, Director of Space Flight Development, NASA Hq., to Langley Space Task Group, subject: Cancellation of Mercury-Jupiter Program, July 1, 1959.

July 1-2

McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, subject: Project Mercury Engineering Status Report, June 1 to August 1, 1959.

July 6

Memo, John W. Townsend, Jr., Assistant Director, Space Science and Satellite Applications, NASA Hq., to Robert R. Gilruth, Director of Project Mercury, subject: Energetic Particle Research - Project Mercury, July 6, 1959.

Results of the technical and management evaluations of Mercury tracking network propsals were presented to the Langley Research Center Source Selection Board.



NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 3 for Period Ending July 31, 1959.

July 12

Letter, Charles J. Donlan, Associate Director of Project Mercury, to R. W. Costin, Bostrom Research Laboratories (no subject) July 29, 1960, with inclosures.

July 13

McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, subject: Project Mercury Engineering Status Report, June 1 to August 1, 1959.

The Western Electric Company and associates were announced as winner of the competition for construction of the Mercury tracking network.



NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 3 for Period Ending July 31, 1959.

July 20

NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 3 for Period Ending July 31, 1959.

The Space Task Group forwarded Big Joe postflight requirements to Pan American personnel at the Atlantic Missile Range for use in preparing their documents concerning postflight handling of the Mercury special test spacecraft.



Letter, Robert R. Gilruth, Director of Project Mercury, to B. Porter Brown, NASA Atlas-Mercury Test Coordinator (no subject), July 20, 1959, with inclosures.

July 21

NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 3 for Period Ending July 31, 1959.

Figure 19. White room in Hanger S at Cape Canaveral.

July 22

NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 3 for Period Ending July 31, 1959.

A successful pad abort flight of a boilerplate spacecraft with a production version of the escape tower and rocket was made. (See fig. 20.) The escape rocket motor was manufactured by Grand Central Rocket, and the flight was the first operational test of this component.



NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 3 for Period Ending July 31, 1959.

The Space Task Group, McDonnell, and the Air Force Chart and Information Center held a meeting with regard to a map depicting Mercury spacecraft flight. At that time, it was decided that the chart would cover an area of 40 degrees latitude above and below the equator. The chart would show oceans and continents by colors to match probable visual characteristics. Orbit numbers and time since launch would be depicted and traced.



NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 3 for Period Ending July 31, 1959.

The Navy provided NASA with a list of reserve ships that might be used in direct support of Project Mercury, and on July 28, 1959, specific information was forwarded on ships that NASA might be interested in using.



Letter, M. J. Luosey, Department of Navy, to NASA Langley Research Center (no subject), received July 28, 1959.

Figure 20. Spacecraft with McDonnell designed escape system ready for firing at Wallops Island.

July 28

Memo, Charles A. Hardesty to NASA Langley IRD files, subject: Sound Measurements on the Second Beach Abort Test on the Little Joe Capsule, Oct. 9, 1959.

July 30

Memo, Sherwood L. Butler, Langley to NASA Headquarters, Code: BR, subject: Monthly Status Report - Project Mercury, Nov. 3, 1959.

July 31

NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 3 for Period Ending July 31, 1959.

July (during the month)

McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, Project Mercury Bi-Monthly Capsule Manufacturing and Tooling Report, August 1, 1959 to October 1, 1959, p. 22.

Minneapolis-Honeywell delivered the first automatic stabilization and control system for the Mercury spacecraft to McDonnell. (See fig. 21.)



NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 3 for Period Ending July 31, 1959.

The Pilotless Aircraft Research Division of the Langley Research Center launched a 1/14th-scale model of the Mercury spacecraft at Wallops Island to a speed of Mach 3.5 and at an altitude of 40,000 feet. The model spacecraft went into a continuous tumble from separation to landing.



Memo, Howard S. Carter to Associate Director, NASA Langley, subject: Progress for June 28-July 11, 1959, on Langley Support of Project Mercury, July 15, 1959.

Specialty assignments were made to each of the Mercury astronauts. Thus they became participating members in the NASA-McDonnell coordination meetings and the Mercury-Redstone or Mercury-Atlas meetings in their specialty area. Assignments were as follows: Scott Carpenter, navigation and navigational aids; Gordon Cooper, Redstone launch vehicle; John Glenn, crew space layout; Virgil Grissom, automatic and manual attitude control system; Walter Schirra, life-support system; Alan Shepard, tracking and recovery operations; and Donald Slayton, Atlas launch vehicle.



NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 3 for Period Ending July 31, 1959.

A three-axis hand controller and a pilot restraint system were delivered to NASA at the Johnsville centrifuge for use in the Mercury astronaut training program.



McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, Project Mercury Bi-Monthly Engineering Status Report, August 1, 1959 to October 1, 1959, p. 22.

Figure 21. Spacecraft reaction control system.

August 3

Information supplied by Major General Leighton Davis' Office, April 1963.

August 4

NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 4 for Period Ending October 31, 1959.

Figure 22. Vehicle for drogue parachute test at NASA Flight Research Center.

Figure 23. Flight plan for drogue parachute tests at NASA Flight Research Center.

August 6

Memo, Warren J. North to NASA Director of Space Flight Development, subject: Interim Status Report for Project Mercury, Aug. 7, 1959.

August 14

Memo, NASA Hq. to Langley Space Task Group, subject: Additional Capsules for Project Mercury, Sept. 9, 1959.

August 15

Memo, Dr. W. S. Augerson, Life Systems Branch, to Chief, Flight Systems Division, Space Task Group, subject: Trip Report, Sept. 15, 1959.

August 21

NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 4 for Period Ending October 31, 1959.

August 25

NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 4 for Period Ending October 31, 1959.

August 28

Memo, Warren J. North, Chief, Manned Satellite to Director, Space Flight Development, subject: Purchase Approval for Four Mercury Atlas Boosters, October 13, 1959.

August (during the month)

NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 4 for Period Ending October 31, 1959.

McDonnell submitted its first monthly reliability report. The purpose of this report was to summarize the reliability efforts of McDonnell and its subcontractors in the design and development of the Mercury spacecraft.



NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 3 for Period Ending July 31, 1959.

September 1-7

McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, Project Mercury Bi-Monthly Engineering Status Report, August 1, 1959 to October 1, 1959, p. 1.

September 3

Letter, Space Task Group to Logan T. MacMillan, Project Director, McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, subject: Ground Support Equipment, Sept. 3, 1959.

September 9

Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Big Joe Shot, September 9, 1959; Preliminary Data, subject: Noise Environments for Big Joe I Test Vehicle, undated.

The Space Task Group provided McDonnell with guidance in the development of the "Astronauts' Handbook." Topics included such items as a descriptive resume of normal and emergency procedures to be followed on the check lists. The book was divided into three sections: "The Normal Operational Procedures," "The Emergency Operational Procedures," and "The Failure Analysis Procedures."



Letter, Paul E. Purser, Space Task Group, to Logan T. MacMillan, Project Director, McDonnell Aircraft Corporation (no subject), Sept. 9, 1959.

Figure 24. Big Joe on launch pad at Cape Canaveral for ballistic reentry flight test.

September 10-11

McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, Project Mercury Bi-Monthly Engineering Status Report, August 1, 1959 to October 1, 1959, p. 23.

Figure 25. Spacecraft instrument control panel.

September 11

Memo, Dr. W. S. Augerson, Life Systems Branch, to Chief Flight Systems Division, Space Task Group, subject: Trip Report, Sept. 11, 1959.

September 15

Information supplied from Personnel Records by Kathryn Walker, Personnel Division, Manned Spacecraft Center, March 1963.

September 16

Memo, Robert L. O'Neal to Chief, Flight Systems Division, Space Task Group, subject: Progress to Date on Ablation Tests in Support of Project Mercury, Sept. 16, 1959.

September 19

Memo, Flight Research Center to NASA Hq., subject: Final Project Mercury Status Report, Sept. 19, 1959, Oct. 5, 1959, with inclosures.

September 21

Memo, Brent Y. Creer and Rodney C. Wingrove to Director, NASA Ames, subject: Preliminary Results of Pilot's Side-Arm Controller Tests Conducted on the AMAL-NAOC Centrifuge, Johnsville, Pennsylvania, February 26, 1960.

Figure 26. Three-axis hand controller.

September 22

NASA Project Mercury Working Paper 102, Sept. 22, 1959.

September (during the month)

NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 4 for Period Ending October 31, 1959.

October 1

Memo, George Low to NASA Director of Space Flight Development, subject: Budgetary Approval of Proposed Project Mercury Procurement, Oct. 1, 1959.

October 2

Memo, Space Task Group to Langley Research Center, Attn: Procurement Officer, subject: Project Mercury Astronaut Pressure Suit Procurement, Oct. 2, 1959, with inclosures.

October 4

NASA Release No. 59-235, subject: NASA Conducts Little Joe Test Launch, Oct. 4, 1959; Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: First Little Joe Launching, Oct. 5, 1959.

October 13

Goddard Space Flight Center Chart, Satellites and Space Probe Projects as of July 1962.

October 15

Memo, Maxime A. Faget, Chief, Flight Systems Division to Project Director, subject: Status of Test Work Being Conducted at the Lewis Research Center in Conjuction with Project Mercury, Oct. 22, 1959.

October 20

Memo, George Low, Chief, Manned Space Flight to NASA Director of Space Flight Development, subject: Tests of Project Mercury Shingle Structure, Oct. 20, 1959.

October 30

Project Mercury, Minutes of Meeting, subject: Escape System Qualification Test, Oct. 30, 1959.

October (during the month)

NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 4 for Period Ending October 31, 1959.

McDonnell received the first ablative heat shield (fig. 27), designated for installation on Spacecraft No. 1. This particular heat shield was based on the Big Joe design, and was manufactured by General Electric.



NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 4 for Period Ending October 31, 1959.

Figure 27. Mercury spacecraft heat shield after recovery.

November 1

McDonnell Report SEDR-120, Handbook of Operation and Service Instructions, Horizon Scanner Test Set MDE 4590011, Contract NAS 5-59, June 6, 1960.

November 4

NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 5 for Period Ending January 31, 1960.

November 5

Memo, L. N. McMillian to Chief, Flight Systems Division, Space Task Group, subject: Trip Report, Nov. 17, 1959.

November 8

Memo Howard S. Carter to Associate Director, Langley Research Center, subject: Progress of Nov. 8-Dec. 5, 1959, on Langley Support of Project Mercury, Dec. 8, 1959.

Figure 28. Mercury control center at Cape Canaveral.

November 10

Memo, Gerald J. Pesman to Chief, Flight Systems Division, Space Task Group, subject: Visit to MAC to Monitor Molding of First Production-Type Couch, Nov. 10, 1959.

November 12

NASA General Management Instruction 2-3-5, Attachment A, subject: Agreement Between the Department of Defense and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Concerning Principles Governing Reimbursements of Costs, Nov. 12, 1959.

November 16-20

Memo, L. N. McMillian to Chief, Flight Systems Division, Space Task Group, subject: Trip Report, Nov. 20, 1959.

November 20

Letter, Army Ballistic Missile Agency to NASA Administrator (no subject), March 2, 1960, with TV Proposal Inclosure.

November 27

Chronology of the Arnold Engineering Development Center; History of Arnold Engineering Development Center, July-December 1959, Vol. I, pp. 47-52.

The Air Force School of Aviation Medicine agreed to provide a biopack experiment for the Little Joe 2 flight. Included in the pack were track plates of barley, nerve cells from a rat, tissue culture, and other specimens of that type.



Memo, G. D. Smith, NASA Manned Space Flight, to files, subject: Biopack Little Joe No. 2, Nov. 30, 1959.

November (during the month)

NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 5 for Period Ending January 31, 1960.

Between November 1959 and January 1960, 10 developmental full-pressure suits were delivered to the astronauts and other subjects. These suits were used in various Mercury training and development programs. (See Oct. 2, 1959 entry). Several problem areas were denoted. One involved stretching which complicated the suit mobility problem. This matter was being investigated, and one of the solutions was felt to be undersizing to allow for a suit growth factor. In addition, modifications would have to be made in suit insulation to provide for better pilot mobility. These problems were to be expected in a developmental program.



NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 5 for Period Ending January 31, 1960.

Between November 1959 and January 1960, the general design of the Mercury couch was completed, and couches were molded for the astronauts and medical personnel associated with the program. (See fig. 29.)



NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 5 for Period Ending January 31, 1960.

Figure 29. Plaster forms used in construction of research and development versions of contour couches.

December 4

Memo, George Low to NASA Administrator, subject: Little Joe Test No. 3, (LJ-2), December 5, 1959; NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 5 for Period Ending January 31, 1960.

December 7

Memo, Warren J. North, Chief, Manned Satellite, to Director, Space Flight Development, subject: Request for Approval of Project Mercury Altitude Test Facility, Dec. 8, 1959.

December 8

NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 5 for Period Ending January 31, 1960; History of Arnold Engineering Development Center, July-December 1959, Vol. I, pp. 47-52.

December 22

NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 5 for Period Ending January 31, 1960.

December 31

NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 5 for Period Ending January 31, 1960.

At the end of the year, NASA funds in support of Project Mercury had been obligated to the listed organizations as follows: Air Force Ballistic Missile Division, NASA Order HS-36, Atlas launch vehicles, $22,830,000; Army Ordnance Missile Command, NASA Order HS-44, Redstone launch vehicles, $16,060,000; and McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, NASA Order 5-59, Mercury spacecraft, $49,407,540.



Memo, Glenn F. Bailey to Director of Project Mercury, subject: Obligation of Funds, December 31, 1959.

Since being awarded the Mercury contract, McDonnell had expended 942,818 man-hours in engineering; 190,731 man-hours in tooling; and 373,232 man-hours in production.



Letter, McDonnell Aircraft Corporation to Space Task Group, subject: Contract NAS 5-59, Monthly Financial Report, Jan. 22, 1960.

The Mercury astronauts completed basic and theoretical studies of Project Mercury in their training program and began practical engineering studies. This phase of the program was designed to provide a background in basic astronautical sciences, and included such subjects as "Space Climate" and "Astronomy of the Universe." Shortly thereafter the astronauts began a practical training program involving egress training, methods of arresting rapid spacecraft motions, and familiarization with the weightless conditions of space flight.



NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 5 for Period Ending January 31, 1960.

December (during the month)

NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 5 for Period Ending January 31, 1960.

The Space Task Group approved monitoring facilities proposed by the Stromberg-Carlson Division for the Mercury Control Center at Cape Canaveral and Bermuda.



NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 5 for Period Ending January 31, 1960.

In the development of the Mercury spacecraft reaction control system, Bell Aircraft Corporation started the preliminary flight rating test of the automatic subsystem. (See fig. 30.)



NASA Space Task Group, Project Mercury [Quarterly] Status Report No. 5 for Period Ending January 31, 1960.