Everything you never knew you wanted to know about the Mercury Project
Spacecraft 16
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Contents |
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Mission
Spacecraft 16 flew on MA-8 which was also known as Sigma 7
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Disposition
Displayed at the Astronaut Hall of Fame at Kennedy Space Center, FL
[http://aesp.nasa.okstate.edu/fieldguide/pages/mercury/ma-8.html Entry in Jim Gerard's AFGAS]
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Details
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Capsule Interior
 Fig C16-CI-1 |
Fig C16-CI-1 shows Wally Schirra performing a pre-flight checkout on September 19, 1962.
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Capsule Exterior
 Fig C16-CE-1 |
Fig C16-CE-1 shows the spacecraft in Hangar S. Note the protective covers over the recovery compartment and window which were removed prior to flight. Note also that the external panel over the door has not been installed.
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Chronology
- 1 November 1961
- The November 1961 edition of SEDR-104 is published containing Capsule 16 as a test capsule
- 16 January 1962
- Capsule 16 delivered to Cape Canaveral
- 1 February 1962
- The February 1962 edition of SEDR-104 is published containing capsule 16 as a test capsule.
- 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.
- 3 October 1962
- MA-8 launched.
- 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.
- 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
