The main scientific objective of project Mercury was to determine
man's capabilities in a space environment and in those environments
to which he will be subject upon going into and returning from
space. A few of the basic flight problems included: The development
of an automatic escape system, vehicle control during insertion,
behavior of space systems, evaluation of pilots capabilities in
space, in flight monitoring, retrofire and reentry maneuvers and
landing and recovery.
Launch:
May 5, 1961 9:34am EST
The formal countdown for the preparation for launching MR-3
started on the day previous to launch day. The countdown was
actually split into two parts because previous experience had shown
that it was preferable to run the countdown in two shorter segments
and allow the launch crew of both the spacecraft and the launch
vehicle to obtain some rest before starting the final preparation.
The countdown started at 8:30am EST on May 4, 1961. All operations
proceeded normally and were completed ahead of schedule. A build-in
hold of approximately 15 hours was called at T-6 hours 30 minutes.
During this time the various pyrotechnics were installed in the
spacecraft and the hydrogen peroxide system was serviced.
The countdown was resumed at T-6 hours 30 minutes at 11:30pm EST
on May 4, 1961. A built-in hold of 1 hour had been previously agreed
upon at T-2 hours 20 minutes. This hold was to assure that
spacecraft preparations had been completed before the astronaut was
transported to the pad. The countdown proceeded with only minor
delays until T-2 hours 20 minutes. At this time, final preparation
of the spacecraft was conducted and the astronaut was apprised of
the continuance of the countdown and transported to the Pad. The
countdown was continued after the hold at T-2 hours 20 minutes and,
except for some minor holds, the countdown continued until T-15
minutes. At this time it was determined that photographic coverage
of the launch and flight could not be obtained because of low clouds
near the launch area. Weather forcasters predicted that visibility
would improve rapidly within 20 to 45 min. During this time, one of
the 400hz power inverters to the launch vehicle had regulation
problems. The count was recycled to the T-35 minute and holding mark
and the count picked up 86 minutes later after the replacement of
the inverter.
Again at T-15 minutes it was necessary to hold the count again to
make a final check of the real-time trajectory computer. The
countdown then picked up and proceeded until liftoff at 9:34am EST
on 5/5/1961.
Orbit:
Altitude: 116.5 statute miles
Orbits: 0
Duration: 0 Days, 0 hours, 15 min, 28 seconds
Distance: 303 statute miles
Velocity: 5,134 mph
Max Q: 580 psf
Max G: 11
Landing:
May 5, 1961. 75deg 53min longitude, 27deg 13.7min latitude in the
Atlantic Ocean.
Forgotten Founders Historic Documents and Coins of Freedom - By Stanley
L. Klos - Last Exhbit at the 2008 GOP Convention:
http://www.pinellasrepublican.org/
Forgotten Founders Historic Documents and Coins of Freedom - By Stanley
L. Klos
Uncommon Sense: President Obama and
US China Trade 1784-2009
The United Colonies 1st
government began in a Philadelphia Tavern
and the United States 1st federal government ended in a
NYC Tavern!
The Founders convened the government in 11 different capitol buildings and
experienced 15 years of challenges that
included war,
hyper-inflation, a failed
constitution, judicial corruption, armed citizen and U.S. Army rebellions.
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