Everything you never knew you wanted to know about the Mercury Project
Mercury development chronology
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1959
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January 1959
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February 1959
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March 1959
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April 1959
Drop tests showed that the original extended-skirt main parachute was unreliable for operation at altitudes of 10,000 feet and was replaced by a 'ring-sail' parachute of similar size. In at least one drop test the main parachute failed to open and assumed a 'squidding' condition.
- 9-10 April 1959
- Static stability and drag characteristics of two different escape configurations for the Mercury spacecraft were assessed at the Arnold Engineering Development Center, Tullahoma, Tennessee.
- 10 April 1959
- Tests of canting angles for the escape motor were conducted at Wallops Island. Angles between 10 and 30 degrees in increments of 5 degrees were tested. Stability appeared to increase with larger angles.
- 12 April 1959
- The second of the beach abort tests with full scale model completed at Wallops Island
- 12 April 1959
- Langley was conducting tests of an aluminum honeycomb structure to absorb the loads of landing impact.
- 13 April 1959
- Tests of small scale models of the spacecraft and escape tower combination were tested at Wallops Island. The next day a full scale model was launched. Escape motor firing, tower jettison, parachute deployment and recovery via helicopter were successfully demonstrated.
- 22 April 1959
- The escape tower was chosen as the best configuration for the Mercury escape system at a meeting at Langley
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May 1959
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June 1959
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July 1959
- 22 July 1959
- First beach abort test using Mercury boilerplate spacecraft
- 22 July 1959
- Second beach abort test using Mercury boilerplate spacecraft
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August 1959
- August 21, 1959
- LJ-1 launched from Wallops Island
- September 9, 1959
- BJ-1 launched from Cape Canaveral
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September 1959
- September 9, 1959
- Big Joe Launch from Cape Canaveral
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October 1959
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November 1959
- November 4, 1959
- Little Joe 1A launched from Wallops Island
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December 1959
- December 4 1959
- LJ-2 launched from Wallops Island carrying Sam
- December 15 1959
- The December 1959 edition of SEDR-104 is published containing spacecraft 18, Capsule 19, and Capsule 20 as specification capsules and Capsule 2, Capsule 3, Capsule 4, and Capsule 5 as test capsules
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1960
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January 1960
- January 21, 1960
- LJ-1B launched from Wallops Island carrying Miss Sam
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February 1960
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March 1960
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April 1960
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May 1960
- May 9 1960
- First production model of Project Mercury spacecraft was successfully launched from NASA Wallops Station to test escape, landing, and recovery systems. Known as the "beach abort" test, the Mercury capsule reached 775 m before parachute landing and pickup by Marine helicopter returned it to Wallops' hangar 17 minutes after launch.
- May 14 1960
- The first production Mercury spacecraft, used in the beach-abort test, was returned to the McDonnell plant for an integrity test.
- May 23 1960
- Capsule 4 after being instrumented and prepared by the Space Task Group and the Langley Research Center for flight tests, was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the first Mercury-Atlas mission (MA-1).
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June 1960
- June 30 1960
- Capsule 2 delivered to the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama, for compatibility tests with the Redstone launch vehicle.
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July 1960
- 29 July 1960
- Mercury-Atlas 1 (MA-1) launched. The booster exploded and the spacecraft was destroyed upon impact off-shore.
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August 1960
- August 15, 1960
- SEDR-109-7 The Flight Operations Manual for Capsule 7 was issued.
- August 16 1960
- At the design engineering inspection of Capsule 7, a number of requests for changes in the control panel area were made by the astronauts to facilitate pilot operation. Later, meeting procedures for design engineering inspections were standardized and conducted by a permanent team at appropriate intervals.
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September 1960
- 3 September 1960
- Aircraft telemetry requirements were deleted from the MA-3 and MA-4 missions, as the spacecraft had been modified to provide telemetry transmissions from the point of main parachute deployment to landing.
- 30 September 1960
- Capsule 5 delivered to the Marshall Space Flight Center for booster compatibility checks
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October 1960
- October 11 1960
- Capsule 5 shipped to Cape Canaveral
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November 1960
- November 8, 1960
- LJ-5 launched from Wallops Island.
- November 13, 1960
- System checkout tests were completed on Capsule 7. In the opinion of McDonnell, the results demonstrated that this spacecraft was adequate for a manned mission.
- November 18, 1960
- Capsule 8 Delivered to Cape Canaveral
- November 21, 1960
- MR-1 launched from Cape Canaveral
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December 1960
- December 9 1960
- Capsule 7 delivered to Cape Canaveral.
- December 19 1960
- MR-1A launched from Cape Canaveral.
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1961
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January 1961
- January 20, 1961
- Capsule 14 delivered to Wallops Island
- January 31, 1961
- MR-2 launched from Cape Canaveral carrying Ham
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February 1961
- February 1 1961
- The February 1961 edition of SEDR-104 is published presumably containing Capsule 2, Capsule 3,Capsule 4,Capsule 5, Capsule 6, Capsule 7, Capsule 11. and Capsule 14
- February 1 1961
- Instruction was provided to the astronauts to develop techniques and procedures for using the personal parachute as an additional safety feature in the Mercury program. This parachute was only used during the MR-3 mission
- w:February 6 1961
- Mercury Capsule 2 configuration specification report 6603-2 revised.
- February 17 1961
- The Space Task Group requested that McDonnell design and install a manual bilge pump in Capsule 7 to allow the removal of any seawater resulting from leakage after spacecraft impact.
- February 21 1961
- MA-2 launched from Cape Canaveral.
- February 24 1961
- Capsule 9 delivered to Cape Canaveral
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March 1961
- March 8, 1961
- Capsule 10 delivered to the McDonnell altitude test facility
- March 6, 1961
- The third in the series of development engineering inspections on Mercury spacecraft was held. At this time, Capsule 12 and Capsule 15 were inspected, and some 50 requests for alterations were made.
- March 7, 1961
- Capsule 11 delivered to Cape Canaveral
- March 16, 1961
- Capsule 10 withdrawn from the flight program and allocated to a ground test simulating orbital flight environmental conditions at the McDonnell plant site.
- March 18, 1961
- LJ-5A launched from Wallops Island.
The capsule failed to separate from the Little Joe launch vehicle.
After the failure of this launch Capsule 14 was re-fitted and redesignated as Capsule 14A
- March 24, 1961
- MR-BD launched from Cape Canaveral to man-rate the Redstone.
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April 1961
- April 4, 1961
- Capsule 14, now re-designated as Capsule 14A, re-delivered to Wallops Island
The booster was destroyed by the range safety officer. The capsule was returned to McDonnell for refitting and redesignated as Capsule 8A.
- April 28 1961
- LJ-5B launched from Wallops Island
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May 1961
- Early May 1961
- Initial discussion of need for dynamic testing of the Mercury network leading to Mercury Scout
- 11 May 1961
- Capsule 8 now redesigated as Capsule 8A delivered to Cape Canaveral.
- Wikipedia:11 May 1961
- US Air Force reports availability of a Scout missile for the Mercury Scout test.
- Wikipedia:15 May 1961
- Discussion held of the plans for the Mercury Scout test in preparation for selling it to Abe Silverstein.
- Wikipedia:16 May 1961
- Abe Silverstein gives tentative NASA HQ approval for Mercury Scout.
- 23 May 1961
- The fourth development engineering inspection on Mercury spacecraft was held at McDonnell. Inspection activities were primarily centered on Capsule 18, and some 45 requests for alterations were initiated.
- 26 May 1961
- NASA General Manager Robert Seamans gives final NASA HQ approval for Mercury Scout, NASA will fund the payload, while the Air Force would absorb the cost of the Scout.
- 26 May 1961
- Freedom 7 displayed at Paris Air Show.
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June 1961
- 24 June 1961
- Modifications were made to Capsule 11, the spacecraft designated for the second manned suborbital Mercury flight. An observation window replaced two view ports and an improved manual control system was installed.
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July 1961
- 21 July 1961
- MR-4 launched
Capsule 11 sank when the side hatch unexpectedly opened during helicopter recovery operations.
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August 1961
- 1 August 1961
- The August 1961 edition of SEDR-104 is published presumably covering Capsule 2, Capsule 3, Capsule 4, Capsule 5, Capsule 6, Capsule 7, Capsule 11, and Capsule 14.
- 13 August 1961
- Capsule 15 delivered to Cape Canaveral.
It was returned to McDonnell to be reconfigured to the orbital-manned 1-day mission and tentatively assigned for Mercury-Atlas 10 (MA-10). Redesign was completed, and the spacecraft, then designated Capsule 15A (later redesignated Capsule 15B), was delivered to Cape Canaveral on November 16, 1962.
- 15 August 1961
- Originally planned launch of Mercury Scout test of the Mercury Tracking Network.
- 27 August 1961
- Capsule 13 Shipped to Cape Canaveral
- 30 August 1961
- An investigation was conducted as a result of the premature activation of the Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) explosive egress hatch. Tests were initiated in an environment more severe than had been conducted in prelaunch activities and tests, but no premature firings occurred. As a backup, McDonnell was asked to design a mechanical-type hatch. The model weighed some 60 pounds more than the explosive type, so other methods had to be sought to prevent any recurrence of the incident. A procedure was initiated which stipulated that the firing plunger safety pin would be left in place until the helicopter hook was attached to the spacecraft and tension was applied to the recovery cable.
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September 1961
- September 13, 1961
- MA-4 launched from Cape Canaveral.
- September 22 1961
- The Space Task Group announced that a 30-inch diameter balloon would be installed in the Mercury spacecraft to allow for ship recovery should the helicopter be forced to drop the spacecraft, as happened during the Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) recovery operations.
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October 1961
- 1 October 1961
- Capsule 12 delivered to Cape Canaveral
It was a backup for the MA-8 mission (six-orbit flight), but immediate consideration was given for its modification to the Mercury extended range or 1-day mission. The capsule was returned to McDonnell, reconfigured and stored.
- 23 October 1961
- Freedom 7 presented to the Smithsonian
- 25 October 1961
- NASA Headquarters officially approved the Mercury extended range or 1-day mission program
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November 1961
- November 1 1961
- The November 1961 edition of SEDR-104 is issued covering Capsule 18, and Capsule 19 as specification capsules, Capsule 8, Capsule 9, Capsule 10, Capsule 13, Capsule 16 as test capsules and stating that Capsule 12, Capsule 15, Capsule 17, and Capsule 20 had been assigned to be configured for an 18 orbit mission.
- November 15 1961
- Capsule 18 delivered to Cape Canaveral.
- November 29 1961
- MA-5 Launched from Cape Canaveral carrying Enos
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December 1961
- December 11 and December 13, 1961
- John Glenn and Scott Carpenter, along with Donald Slayton and Walter Schirra, already picked for MA-7, participated in a two-day recovery exercise on the Back River near Langley Air Force
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1962
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January 1962
- 10 January 1963
- Capsule 9 was cycled through Project Orbit Mission Runs 108, 108A, and 108B in the test facilities of the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation.
- 16 January 1962
- Capsule 16 delivered to Cape Canaveral
- 18 January 1962
- The Mercury Capsule No. 16 Configuration Specification is published by McDonnell
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February 1962
- 1 February 1962
- The February 1962 edition of SEDR-104 is published covering Capsule 19 as a specification capsule, Capsule 8, Capsule 9, Capsule 13, Capsule 16, Capsule 18 as test capsules
- 20 February 1962
- MA-6 Launched
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March 1962
4 March 1962 Scott Carpenter and Walter Schirra, designated (but not publicly) as pilot and backup pilot, respectively, for the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) manned orbital mission, underwent water-egress exercises. Several side-hatch egresses were made in conjunction with helicopter pickups.
- 20 March 1962
- Capsule 19 delivered to Cape Canaveral
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April 1962
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May 1962
- May 1 1962
- The May 1962 edition of SEDR-104 is published which covers Capsule 12, Capsule 15, Capsule 17, and Capsule 20.
- May 1 1962
- The decision was made between April 29 and May 5, 1962, that leg supports would be removed from the astronaut's couch. It had been determined that the heel and toe supports could be used as the sole supports for the lower leg.
- May 28 1962
- For possible application purposes, and upon request, the Manned Spacecraft Center shipped Mercury-type survival kits to the Air Force for its X-20 Dyna Soar development program and to the Navy.
- May 28 1962
- Flight and ground tests disclosed that retrorocket heater blankets were unnecessary to the spacecraft, and this item was removed.
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June 1962
- 26 June 1962
- Project Reef, an airdrop program to evaluate the Mercury 63-foot ringsail main parachute's capability to support the higher spacecraft weight for the extended range or 1-day mission was completed. Tests indicated that the parachute qualified to support the mission.
- 28 June 1962
- The Manned Spacecraft Center requested that the Langley Research Center participate in acoustic tests of ablation materials on Mercury flight tests. Langley was to prepare several material specimens which would be tested for possible application in providing lightweight afterbody heat protection for Apollo class vehicles. Langley reported the results of its test preparation activities on September 21, 1962.
- 29 June 1962
- Engineering was completed for the spacecraft reaction control system reserve fuel tank and related hardware in support of the Mercury extended range or 1-day mission.
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July 1962
- 13 July 1962
- Tests were conducted with a subject wearing a Mercury pressure suit in a modified Mercury spacecraft couch equipped with a B-70 (Valkyrie) harness. When this harness appeared to offer advantages over the existing Mercury harness, plans were made for further evaluation in spacecraft tests.
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August 1962
- August 6 1962
- Friendship 7 spacecraft placed on display at the Century 21 Exposition in Seattle, Washington
- August 8 1962
- Capsule 9 (redesignated Capsule 9A) was phased into the Project Orbit program in preparation for the Mercury extended range or 1-day mission.
- August 11 1962
- Mercury spacecraft reaction control system test was completed. Data compiled from this test was used to evaluate the thermal and thruster configuration of the Mercury extended range or 1-day mission spacecraft.
- August 19 1962
- Negotiations were completed with McDonnell for spacecraft configuration changes to support the Mercury 1-day manned orbital mission. The design engineering inspection, when the necessary modifications were listed, was held on June 7, 1962.
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September 1962
- 18 September 1962
- The NASA spacecraft test conductor and the Convair test conductor notified the interface committee chairman of the readiness-for-mate of the adapter-interface area of the Mercury-Atlas 8 MA-8.
- 22 September 1962
- As an experiment, Wally Schirra planned to carry a special 2.5-pound hand camera aboard the Mercury-Atlas 8 MA-8 Capsule 16. During the flight, the astronaut would attempt to arrive at techniques that could be applied to an advanced Nimbus weather satellite.
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October 1962
- 5 October 1962
- Capsule 16 was returned to Hanger S at Cape Canaveral for postflight work and inspection. It was planned to retain the Sigma 7 capsule at Cape Canaveral for permanent display.
- 5 October 1962
- Capsule 20 delivered to Cape Canaveral.
- 19 October 1962
- All spacecraft system tests reported complete for Capsule 20
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November 1962
- 16 November 1962
- Capsule 15A delivered to Cape Canaveral
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December 1962
- 1 December 1962
- The December 1962 edition of SEDR-104 is published which covers Capsule 20.
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1963
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January 1963
- 10 January 1963
- Capsule 9 was cycled through Project Orbit Mission Runs 108, 108A, and 108B in the test facilities of the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation.
- 11 January 1963
- The Project Engineering Field Office (located at Cape Canaveral) of the Mercury Project Office reported on the number of changes made to Capsule 20 for MA-9 as of that date after its receipt at Cape Canaveral from McDonnell in St. Louis. There were 17 specific changes, which follow: one to the reaction control system, one to the environmental control system, seven to the electrical and sequential systems, and eight to the console panels.
- 14 January 1963
- In the event MA-10 were flown, Capsule 15 now once again re-designated as Capsule 15B would be the prime spacecraft. Modifications were started immediately with respect to the hand controller rigging procedures, pitch and yaw control valves, and other technical changes.
- 22 January 1963
- McDonnell Aircraft Corporation reported to the Manned Spacecraft Center on a study conducted to ascertain temperature effects on the spacecraft as a result of white paint patch experiments on Capsule 16 during MA-8
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February 1963
- February 5 1963
- Personnel of the Manned Spacecraft Center visited the McDonnell plant in St. Louis to conduct a spacecraft status review. Units being inspected were Capsule 15B and Capsule 20. In addition, the status of the Gemini Simulator Instructor Console was assessed. With regard to the spacecraft inspection portion, a number of modifications had been made that would affect the simulator trainers. On spacecraft 15B, 15 modifications were made to the control panel and interior, including the relocation of the water separator lights, the addition of water spray and radiation experiment switches and a retropack battery switch. The exterior of the spacecraft underwent changes as well, involving such modifications as electrical connections and redesign of the fuel system for the longer mission. The reviewers found that spacecraft 20 conformed closely to the existing simulator configuration, so that modifications to the simulator were unnecessary.
- February 7 1963
- At a Development Engineering Inspection for the Capsule 15B mockup, designated for the MA-10 mission, some 42 requests for alterations were listed.
- February 20 1963
- Friendship 7 spacecraft presented to the Smithsonian Institution.
- February 23 1963
- Manned Spacecraft Center checkout and special hardware installation at Cape Canaveral on Capsule 20 were scheduled for completion as of this date. However, work tasks were extended for a 2-week period because of the deletion of certain experimental hardware - zero g experiment and new astronaut couch. In addition, some difficulties were experienced while testing the space reaction control system and environmental control system.
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March 1963
- 11 March 1963
- Based on a request from the Manned Spacecraft Center, McDonnell submitted a review of clearances between the Mercury Capsule 15B retropack and the launch vehicle adapter during separation maneuvers. This review was prompted by the fact that additional batteries and a water tank had been installed on the sides of the retropack. According to the McDonnell study the clearance safety margin was quite adequate.
- 19 March 1963
- The Manned Spacecraft Center received a slow-scan television camera system, fabricated by Lear Siegler, Incorporated, for integration with Capsule 20 for the MA-9 mission.
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April 1963
- April 20 1963
- The final water condensate tank was installed in Capsule 20 for the MA-9 mission. In all, the system consisted of a 4-pound, built-in tank, a 3.6 pound auxiliary tank located under the couch head, and six 1-pound auxiliary plastic containers. The total capacity for condensate water storage was 13.6 pounds. In operation, the astronaut hand-pumped the fluid to the 3.6 pound tank to avoid spilling moisture inside the cabin from the built-in tank. Then the 1-pound containers were available.
- April 22 1963
- Capsule 20 was moved from Hanger S at Cape Canaveral to Complex 14 and mated to Atlas launch vehicle 130-D in preparation for the Mercury-Atlas 9 MA-9 mission. The first simulated flight test was begun immediately.
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May 1963
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June 1963
- 6 June 1963
- Officials of the Manned Spacecraft Center made a presentation to NASA Administrator James E. Webb, outlining the benefits of continuing Project Mercury at least through the Mercury-Atlas 10 MA-10 mission. They thought that the spacecraft was capable of much longer missions and that much could be learned about the effects of space environment from a mission lasting several days. This information could be applied to the forthcoming Projects Gemini and Apollo and could be gained rather cheaply since the MA-10 launch vehicle and spacecraft were available and nearing a flight readiness status.
- 8 June 1963
- In preparation for the Mercury-Atlas 10 MA-10 mission, should the flight be approved by NASA Headquarters, several environmental control system changes were made in Capsule 15B. Particularly involved were improvements in the hardware and flexibility of the urine and condensate systems. With regard to the condensate portion, Gordon Cooper, in his press conference, indicated that the system was not easy to operate during the flight of Faith 7 MA-9.
- 12 June 1963
- Testifying before the Senate Space Committee, James E. Webb, the NASA Administrator, said: 'There will be no further Mercury shots . . .' He felt that the manned space flight energies and personnel should focus on the Gemini and Apollo programs. Thus, after a period of 4 years, 8 months, and 1 week, Project Mercury, America's first manned space flight program, came to a close.
- 13 June 1963
- McDonnell's Project Mercury contract was terminated. McDonnell had already essentially concluded its Mercury activities and Capsule 15B had been delivered to Cape Canaveral. A termination meeting held at the Manned Spacecraft Center on June 14 settled the disposition of Mercury property and personnel. McDonnell was to screen all Mercury property for possible use in the Gemini program; any property McDonnell claimed would be transferred to Gemini by authority of the contracting officer at St Louis or the Cape. McDonnell was directed to furnish Gemini Project Office with a list of key Mercury personnel who might be reassigned to Gemini.
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October 1963
These images were found on the JSC web site and are here because that site gives an October 1963 date for them. This may indicate that a report with this date included these images. The date is suspiciouse because the Mercury program had already ended.
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1999
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July 1999
