NASA PROJECT MERCURY POST FLIGHT SPACE CAPSULE RECOVERY PROCEDURES 61934

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 (0:12-0:21). Close up of Astronaut in silver Mercury spacesuit (0:22-0:32). You can see rockets on the launch pad (0:38-0:45). Mercury-Atlas 6 liftoff with John Glenn aboard a Mercury-Redstone rocket (0:59-1:25). Map of the flight of the rocket (1:24-1:52). Depiction of Project Mercury space capsule (1:53-2:06). Project Mercury MA-9 Spacecraft Post-Retrieval Procedures manual (2:07-2:12). Showing the capsule - safety procedures: First, area in front of the hatch is dangerous (2:13-2:31), percussion device protects entrance (2:30-2:39), retention springs (2:40-2:45), picture of danger zone in front of capsule (2:54-3:06). Dangerous explosive device on top is reserve parachute pilot gun (3:07-3:21), hot gas area and whip antenna (3:22-3:36), flight control system thrust nozzle (3:36-3:45), hydrogen peroxide from thrust nozzles (3:45-3:54). Landing of space capsule (4:17-4:22), aircraft carrier (4:23-4:25), helicopter and swimmers (4:26-4:51), auxiliary floatation collar and harness to support craft (4:52-5:40). Once supported a safety strap over hatch (5:43-5:49), emergency flotation bag (5:52-6:04). Astronauts have 3 egress options: 1. leave while in water, divers pull hatch release cable to explode hatch (6:07-7:19), or astronaut detonates hatch (7:20-7:28); then remove strap and retaining spring, astronaut removed (7:28-8:01). Astronaut helped into a horse collar and lifted to helicopter (8:01-8:16). 2. Egress through the top. Remove parachute container after inside connections are released (8:22-8:49). 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 (8:50-10:25). Squib switch off (10:31-10:39). Locking pin inserted in flight control handle (10:40-10:47). Emergency O2 handle in off position (10:48-10:53). Recovery light switch off (10:54-10:59). Or can be taken out the top (11:00-11:33). 3. If neither above work, remove hatch mechanically by removing screws and then hatch bolts (11:34-13:19), pull away hatch, cut nylon cords, remove pins, hatch door removed (13:20-13:38). For prolonged stay in water follow prolonged floatation procedures: attach safety strap to life boat by a C-clamp to heat shield, metal straps cut, floatation collar pressure monitored (13:40-15:34). Backup cable weaved through bridal rings and secured with shackle (15:35-15:43). Record data obtained and check equipment, safety procedures put in place (15:45-18:10). 3 steps must be performed 1. Gyro switch placed in cage position. 2. Ammeter switch off. 3. Three battery switches secured in off position (18:11-18:45). Hatch and top are covered and exterior washed with water, main umbilical connection washed, and five electrical receptacles washed (19:30-20:45). Manual shown (20:46-20:52). Drawing of manned capsule (20:53-21:03). Recovery is part of successful mission (21:04-21:23).
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[@SueBobChicVid]

Interesting details. Thanks for keeping these videos alive.

[@allgood6760]

Thanks for this 👍🚀

[@dickyfisher9249]

I got to sit in the Mercury Capsule as a Kid back at the New York Worlds Fair. Very cramped and a tiny half moon shaped window to look thru. Talk about Cloustaphobia.

[@timpatrick2109]

Very cool. Wish i had one.

[@arricammarques1955]

Navy frogman were brave, highly risky job!

[@robertmcintire9776]

The first six American astronauts to explore space were Alan Shepard, Jr., Virgil Grissom, John Glenn, Jr., Malcolm Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra, Jr.and Leroy Gordon Cooper,, Jr.

[@robertmcintire9776]

The first American astronaut to exit a space capsule through its top was Malcolm Scott Carpenter.

[@robertmcintire9776]

At least Malcolm Scott Carpenter, the fourth American astronaut, exited his space capsule through the top.

[@thomasparisi5333]

If the explosive squib does not fire, the third option to get it to work, is to hit it (11:53) with a sledge hammer? I guess this was prior to the "failure is not a option" thing, so I guess it's OK ;)

[@robertmcintire9776]

The fourth American astronaut, Carpenter was carried two hundred and fifty miles beyond his intended landing zone controversially.

[@kamilsp7fll]

Same switches are still used in GA aircrafts...

[@l.merbecks8144]

I got to admit, when that intro sounded the words in my head said: “the smith the mighty man is blessed with big hands and the muscles of his arms are strong like iron bands” Watch “Introduction to the Hossfeld bender” if your interested

[@randycoppola2069]

You can see the hatch was being overlooked even then, as it was in Apollo. ....ok, now you unscrew manually these 64 bolts...

[@Easilyentertainedhere]

I have the recovery procedures manual. If anyone can connect me to a museum that would be interested in displaying it it also includes sheets of computations.

[@thelovertunisia]

Why are modern space missions not documented like that with real professional teams and not just dash cams and go pros ?

[@cokeforever]

they are, those will also be published 50 yrs later, when spacecraft in question is nearing end of its museum afterlife

[@davidlaser9793]

Like this comment if you’re here because of the W.O.E. Dispatch.

[@davechristensen2482]

Thank you Periscope for ALL your work on getting these films on. The lies and propaganda NASA has put out forever is in FULL view .