This film, NASA Project Mercury Recovery Procedures, was put out by the National Aeronautics & Space Administration or NASA. The Project Mercury, initiated in 1958, was the United States first manned space project. This is an instruction film for the recovery of the astronaut after the flight and the capsule.
A picture of the space capsule shown (0:120:21). Close up of Astronaut in silver Mercury spacesuit (0:220:32). You can see rockets on the launch pad (0:380:45). MercuryAtlas 6 liftoff with John Glenn aboard a MercuryRedstone rocket (0:591:25). Map of the flight of the rocket (1:241:52). Depiction of Project Mercury space capsule (1:532:06). Project Mercury MA9 Spacecraft PostRetrieval Procedures manual (2:072:12). Showing the capsule safety procedures: First, area in front of the hatch is dangerous (2:132:31), percussion device protects entrance (2:302:39), retention springs (2:402:45), picture of danger zone in front of capsule (2:543:06). Dangerous explosive device on top is reserve parachute pilot gun (3:073:21), hot gas area and whip antenna (3:223:36), flight control system thrust nozzle (3:363:45), hydrogen peroxide from thrust nozzles (3:453:54). Landing of space capsule (4:174:22), aircraft carrier (4:234:25), helicopter and swimmers (4:264:51), auxiliary floatation collar and harness to support craft (4:525:40). Once supported a safety strap over hatch (5:435:49), emergency flotation bag (5:526:04). Astronauts have 3 egress options: 1. leave while in water, divers pull hatch release cable to explode hatch (6:077:19), or astronaut detonates hatch (7:207:28); then remove strap and retaining spring, astronaut removed (7:288:01). Astronaut helped into a horse collar and lifted to helicopter (8:018:16). 2. Egress through the top. Remove parachute container after inside connections are released (8:228:49). Or stay in capsule until it is recovered and on the aircraft carrier, shepherds hook attached to top, towed to ship and raised safety strap on, external release handle cover removed and lanyard attached, hatch retention pins installed, strap removed (8:5010:25). Squib switch off (10:3110:39). Locking pin inserted in flight control handle (10:4010:47). Emergency O2 handle in off position (10:4810:53). Recovery light switch off (10:5410:59). Or can be taken out the top (11:0011:33). 3. If neither above work, remove hatch mechanically by removing screws and then hatch bolts (11:3413:19), pull away hatch, cut nylon cords, remove pins, hatch door removed (13:2013:38). For prolonged stay in water follow prolonged floatation procedures: attach safety strap to life boat by a Cclamp to heat shield, metal straps cut, floatation collar pressure monitored (13:4015:34). Backup cable weaved through bridal rings and secured with shackle (15:3515:43). Record data obtained and check equipment, safety procedures put in place (15:4518:10). 3 steps must be performed 1. Gyro switch placed in cage position. 2. Ammeter switch off. 3. Three battery switches secured in off position (18:1118:45). Hatch and top are covered and exterior washed with water, main umbilical connection washed, and five electrical receptacles washed (19:3020:45). Manual shown (20:4620:52). Drawing of manned capsule (20:5321:03). Recovery is part of successful mission (21:0421:23).


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