Mercury Redstone 4 (MR-4) Liberty Bell 7
All times in Mission Elapsed Time (MET)
00:00:01 CAPCOM [Al Shepard]: Liftoff.
00:00:03 Grissom: Ah, roger. This is Liberty Bell 7. The clock is operating.
00:00:08 CAPCOM: Loud and clear, Jose, don't cry too much.
00:00:11 Grissom: Oke-doke.
00:00:18 Grissom: Okay, it's a nice ride up to now.
00:00:20 CAPCOM: Loud and clear.
00:00:21 Grissom: Roger.
00:00:28 Grissom: Okay; the fuel is go; about one and a half gs; cabin pressure is just coming off the peg; the O2 is go; we have 26 amps.
00:00:36 CAPCOM: Roger. Pitch 88 [degrees], the trajectory is good.
00:00:39 Grissom: Roger, looks good here.
00:00:54 Grissom: OK there, we're starting to pick up a little noise and vibration; not bad, though, at all.
00:01:01 Grissom: OK, the fuel is go; one and a half gs; cabin is eight [psi] ; the O2 is go; 27 amps.
00:01:08 Grissom: And... [transmission lost]
00:01:09 CAPCOM: Pitch is...[transmission lost]
00:01:10 Grissom: Four gs, five gs...[transmission lost]
00:01:11 CAPCOM: Pitch is 77 [degrees]; trajectory is go.
00:01:13 Grissom: Roger. Cabin pressure is about six [psi] and dropping slightly. Looks like she's going to hold about 5.5 [psi].
00:01:23 Grissom: Eh... [transmission lost].
00:01:24 Grissom: Cabin... [transmission lost].
00:01:24 Grissom: Believe me, O2 is go.
00:01:26 CAPCOM: Cabin pressure holding 5.5 [psi].
00:01:29 Grissom: Roger, roger.
00:01:31 Grissom: This is Liberty Bell 7. Fuel is go; two and a half g's; cabin pressure is 5.5 [psi]; O2 is go; main [bus] 25 [volts], isolated - ah, isolated [bus] is 28 [volts]. We are go.
00:01:46 CAPCOM: Roger. Pitch is 62 [degrees]; trajectory is go.
00:01:49 Grissom: Roger. It looks good in here.
00:01:56 Grissom: Everything is good; cabin pressure is holding; suit pressure is okay; two minutes and we got four g's; fuel is go; ah, feel the hand controller move just a hair there; cabin pressure is holding; O2 is go; 25 amps.
00:02:15 CAPCOM Roger, we have a go here.
00:02:16 Grissom: And I see a star!
00:02:17 CAPCOM: Stand by for cutoff.
00:02:23 Grissom: There went the tower.
00:02:24 Chase 1: Roger, there went the tower, affirmative Chase.
00:02:26 Grissom: Roger, squibs are off.
00:02:31 CAPCOM: Roger.
00:02:33 Grissom: There went the posigrades, capsule has separated. We are at zero-g and turning around and the sun is really bright.
00:02:42 CAPCOM: Roger cap. sep. [capsule separation light] is green; turnaround has started, manual handle out.
00:02:47 Grissom: Oh, boy! Manual handle is out; the sky is very black; the capsule is coming around into orbit attitude; the roll is a little bit slow.
00:03:01 CAPCOM: Roger.
00:03:02 Grissom: I haven't seen the booster anyplace. Okay, rate command is coming on. I'm in orbit attitude, I'm pitching up. Okay, 40... [transmission lost] ... Wait, I've lost some roll here someplace.
00:03:10 CAPCOM: Roger, rate is command coming on. You're trying manual pitch.
00:03:15 Grissom: OK, I got roll back. OK, I'm at 24 [degrees] in pitch.
00:03:20 CAPCOM: Roger, your IP [impact point] is right on, Gus, right on.
00:03:24 Grissom: Okay. I'm having a little trouble with rate, ah, with the manual control.
00:03:28 CAPCOM: Roger.
00:03:31 Grissom: If I can get her stabilized here, all axes are working all right.
00:03:36 CAPCOM: Roger. Understand manual control is good.
00:03:40 Grissom: Roger, it's -- it's sort of sluggish, more than I expected.
00:03:45 Grissom: Okay, I'm yawing.
00:03:47 CAPCOM: Roger, yaw.
00:03:50 Grissom: Left, ah.
00:03:51 Grissom: Okay, coming back in yaw. I'm a little bit late there.
00:03:57 CAPCOM: Roger. Reading you loud and clear, Gus.
00:03:59 Grissom: Lot of stuff -- there's a lot of stuff floating around up here.
00:04:02 Grissom: I'm going to skip the yaw [maneuver], ah, or [rather the] roll [maneuver] because I'm a bit late and I'm going to try this rough yaw maneuver. About all I can really see is clouds. I haven't seen any land yet.
00:04:15 CAPCOM: Roger, you're on the window. Are you trying a yaw maneuver?
00:04:18 Grissom: I'm trying the yaw maneuver and I'm on the window. It's such a fascinating view out the window and you can't help but look out that way.
00:04:25 CAPCOM: I understand.
00:04:29 Grissom: You, sh, ah, really. There I see the coast, I see.
00:04:30 CAPCOM: Four plus thirty [elapsed time since launch], Gus.
00:04:37 Grissom: I can see the coast, but I can't identify anything.
00:04:42 CAPCOM: Roger, four plus thirty [elapsed time since launch], Gus.
00:04:44 Grissom: Okay, let me get back here to retro attitude, retro sequence has started.
00:04:48 CAPCOM: Roger, retro sequence has started. Go to retro attitude.
00:04:52 Grissom: Right, we'll see if I'm in bad, not in very good shape here.
00:04:57 CAPCOM: Got 15 seconds, plenty of time, I'll give you a mark at 5:10 [elapsed time since launch].
00:05:01 Grissom: OK, retro attitude [light] is still green.
00:05:05 CAPCOM: Retros on my mark, three, two, one, mark.
00:05:11 Grissom: OK, there's one firing, there's one firing.
00:05:13 CAPCOM: Roger, retro one.
00:05:19 Grissom: There's two firing, nice little boost. There went three.
00:05:21 CAPCOM: Roger, three, all retros are fired.
00:05:23 Grissom: Roger, roger.
00:05:25 Grissom: OK, yeah, they're fired out right there.
00:05:29 CAPCOM: Roger, retro jettison armed.
00:05:33 Grissom: Retro jettison is armed, retro jettison is armed, going to rate command.
00:05:36 Grissom: OK, I'm going to switch.
00:05:39 CAPCOM: Roger. Understand manual fuel handle is in.
00:05:41 Grissom: Manual fuel handle is in, mark, going to HF.
00:05:44 CAPCOM: Roger, HF.
00:05:52 CAPCOM: Liberty Bell 7, this is CAPCOM on HF, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. How do you read, Seven?
00:06:00 Grissom: I got you.
00:06:05 CAPCOM: This is CAPCOM on HF, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. How do you read, Seven?
00:06:08 Grissom: ...here, do you read me, do you read me on HF? ...going back to U[HF]... Boy, is that... retro, I'm back on UHF and, ah, the jett-- the retros have jettisoned. Now I can see the Cape and, oh boy, that's some sight. I can't see too much.
00:06:34 Grissom: Roger, I am on UHF high, do you read me?
00:06:38 CAPCOM: Roger, reading you loud and clear UHF high, can you confirm retro jettison?
00:06:41 Grissom: OK, periscope is retracting, going to reentry attitude.
00:06:47 CAPCOM: Roger, retros have jettisoned, scope has retracted, you're going to reentry attitude.
00:06:51 Grissom: Affirmative.
00:06:56 CAPCOM: Bell 7 from CAPCOM, your IP [impact point] is right on.
00:07:00 Grissom: Roger, I'm in reentry attitude.
00:07:05 Grissom: Ah.
00:07:07 CAPCOM: Roger, how does it look out the window now?
00:07:09 Grissom: Ah, the sun is coming in and so all I can really see is just, ah, just darkness, the sky is very black.
00:07:14 CAPCOM: Roger, you have some more time to look if you like.
00:07:27 CAPCOM: Seven from CAPCOM, how do you feel up there?
00:07:30 Grissom: I feel very good, auto fuel is 90 [percent], manual fuel is 50 [percent].
00:07:33 CAPCOM: Roger, 0.05 g in ten [seconds].
00:07:37 Grissom: OK.
00:07:50 Grissom: OK, everything is very good, ah.
00:07:54 Grissom: I have 0.05 g [light] and roll rate has started.
00:07:57 CAPCOM: Roger.
00:08:03 Grissom: Got a pitch rate in here, OK, g's are starting to build.
00:08:09 CAPCOM: Reading you loud and clear.
00:08:11 Grissom: Roger, g's are building, we're up to six [g's]
00:08:17 Grissom: There's nine [g's]
00:08:19 Grissom: There's about ten [g's]; the handle is out from under it; here I got a little pitch rate coming back down through seven [g's].
00:08:32 CAPCOM: Roger, still sound good.
00:08:34 Grissom: Okay, the altimeter is active at 65 [thousand feet]. There's 60 [thousand feet].
00:08:38 CAPCOM: Roger, 65,000 [feet].
00:08:42 Grissom: OK, I'm getting some contrails, evidently shock wave, 50,000 feet; I'm feeling good. I'm very good, everything is fine.
00:08:49 CAPCOM: Roger, 50,000 [feet].
00:08:52 Grissom: 45,000 [feet], do you still read?
00:08:54 CAPCOM: Affirmative, still reading you. You sound good.
00:09:00 Grissom: Okay, 45,000 feet, do you read?
00:09:07 Grissom: 35,000 feet, if you read me.
00:09:19 Grissom: 30,000 feet, everything is good, everything is good.
00:09:24 CAPCOM: Bell 7, this is CAPCOM. How... [transmission lost]
00:09:28 Grissom: 25,000 feet.
00:09:36 Grissom: Approaching drogue chute altitude.
00:09:41 Grissom: There's the drogue chute. The periscope has extended.
00:09:45 CAPCOM: This is...we have a green drogue [light] here, Seven, how do you read?
00:09:49 Grissom: OK, we're down to 15,000 feet, if anyone reads. We're on emergency flow rate, can see out the periscope okay. The drogue chute is good.
00:10:03 CAPCOM: Roger, understand drogue is good, the periscope is out.
00:10:05 Grissom: There's 13,000 feet.
00:10:09 CAPCOM: Roger.
00:10:14 Grissom: There goes the main chute; it's reefed; main chute is good; main chute is good; rate of descent is coming down, coming down to -- there's 40 feet per second, 30 feet per, 32 feet per second on the main chute, and the landing bag is out green.
00:10:40 Grissom: Hello, does anyone read Liberty Bell? Main chute is good, landing bag [light] is on green.
XX:XX:XX CAPCOM: ...and the landing bag [light] is on green.
XX:XX:XX Atlantic Ship: Liberty Bell 7, Liberty Bell 7, this is Atlantic Ship CAPCOM. Read you loud and clear, our telemetry confirms your events, over.
XX:XX:XX Grissom: Ah, roger, is anyone reading Liberty Bell 7? Over.
XX:XX:XX Cardfile 23: Roger, Liberty Bell 7, reading you loud and clear. This is Cardfile 23. Over.
00:10:52 Grissom: Atlantic Ship CAPCOM, this is Liberty Bell 7, how do you read me? Over.
XX:XX:XX Atlantic Ship: Read you loud and clear, loud and clear. Over. Liberty Bell 7, Liberty Bell 7, this is Atlantic Ship CAPCOM. How do you read me? Over.
00:11:12 Grissom: Atlantic Ship CAPCOM, this is Liberty Bell 7, I read you loud and clear, how me? Over.
XX:XX:XX Atlantic Ship: Roger, Bell 7, read you loud and clear, your status looks good, your systems look good, we confirm your events. Over.
00:11:28 Grissom: Ah, roger, and confirm the fuel has dumped. Over
00:11:34 Atlantic Ship: Roger, confirm again, confirm again, has your auto fuel dumped?
00:11:42 Grissom: Auto fuel and manual fuel has dumped.
XX:XX:XX Atlantic Ship: Roger, roger.
00:11:47 Grissom: And I'm in the process of putting the pins back in the door at this time.
00:12:04 Grissom: OK, I'm passing through 6,000 feet, everything is good, ah.
00:12:15 Grissom: I'm going to open my faceplate.
00:12:35 Grissom: Hello, I can't get one back in; I can't get one door pin back in. I've tried and tried and can't get it back in. And I'm coming ATS [Atlantic Ship], I'm passing through 5,000 feet and I don't think I have one of t he door pins in.
XX:XX:XX Atlantic Ship: Roger, Bell 7, roger.
00:13:04 Grissom: Do you have any word from the recovery troops?
XX:XX:XX Cardfile 23: Liberty Bell 7, this is Cardfile 23; we are heading directly toward you.
00:13:18 Grissom: ATS, this is CAP -- this is Libery Bell 7. Do you have any word from the recovery troops?
XX:XX:XX Atlantic Ship: Negative, Bell 7, negative. Do you have any transmission to MCC [Mercury Control Center]? Over.
00:13:33 Grissom: Ah, roger, you might make a note that there is one small hole in my chute. It looks like it is about six inches by six inches -- it's sort of a -- actually it's a triangular rip, I guess.
XX:XX:XX Atlantic Ship: Roger, roger.
00:13:49 Grissom: I'm passing through 3,000 feet; and all the fuses are in flight conditions; ASCS is normal, auto; we're on rate command; gyros are normal; auto retro jettison is armed; squibs are armed also. Four fuel handles are in; decompress and recompress are in; retro delay is normal; retro heat is off; cabin lights are both. TM [telemeter] is on. Rescue aids is auto; landing bag is auto; retract scope is in auto; retro attitude is in auto. All the three, five pull rings are in. Going down through some clouds to 2,000 feet. ATS, I'm at 2000 feet; everything is normal.
XX:XX:XX Atlantic Ship: Roger, Bell 7, what is your rate of descent again? Over.
00:14:39 Grissom: The rate of descent is varying between 28 and 30 feet per second.
XX:XX:XX Atlantic Ship: Ah roger, roger, and once again, verify your fuel has dumped, over.
00:14:54 Grissom: OK, my max g was about 10.2; altimeter is 1,000 [feet]; cabin pressure is approaching 15 [psi]. Temperature is 90 [degrees Fahrenheit]. Coolant quantity is 30 [percent]; temperature is 68 [degrees Fahrenheit]; pressure is 14 [psi]; main 02 is 60 [percent]; normal is, main is 60 [percent]; emergency is 100 [percent]; suit fan is normal; cabin fan is normal. We have 21 amps, and I'm getting ready for impact here. Can see the water coming right on up.
XX:XX:XX Atlantic Ship: Liberty Bell 7, Liberty Bell 7, this is Atlantic CAPCOM, do you read me? Over.
XX:XX:XX Grissom: OK, does anyone read Liberty Bell 7? Over.
XX:XX:XX Hunt Club 1: Liberty Bell 7, Hunt Club 1 is two miles southwest of you.
XX:XX:XX Cardfile 9: Liberty Bell 7, this is 9 Cardfile. We have your entry into the water. Will be over you in just about 30 seconds.
00:16:35 Grissom: Roger, my condition is good. OK, the capsule is floating, slowly coming vertical, have actuated the rescue aids. The reserve chute has jettisoned, in fact I can see it in the water, and the whip antenna should be up.
XX:XX:XX Grissom: Hunt Club, do you copy?
XX:XX:XX Grissom: OK, Hunt Club, this is... Don't forget the antenna.
XX:XX:XX Hunt Club 1: This is Hunt Club, say again.
00:18:07 Grissom: Hunt Club, this is Liberty Bell 7. My antenna should be up.
XX:XX:XX Hunt Club 1: This is Hunt Club 1...your antenna is erected.
00:18:16 Grissom: Ah, roger.
00:18:23 Grissom: OK, give me how much longer it'll be before you get here.
XX:XX:XX Hunt Club 1: This is Hunt Club 1, we are in orbit now at this time, around the capsule.
00:18:32 Grissom: Roger, give me about another five minutes here to mark these switch positions here, before I give you a call to come in and hook on. Are you ready to come in and hook on anytime?
XX:XX:XX Hunt Club 1: Hunt Club 1, roger we are ready any time you are.
00:18:44 Grissom: OK, give me another three or four minutes here to take these switch positions, then I'll be ready for you.
XX:XX:XX Hunt Club 1: One, wilco.
XX:XX:XX Card File 9: Hey Hunt Clubs, Card File, Card File 9, I'll stand by to escort you back as soon as you lift out. I'll keep other aircraft at at least 2,000 feet.
XX:XX:XX Hunt Club 1: Ah, Bell 7, this is Hunt Club 1.
00:20:15 Grissom: Go ahead, Hunt Club 1.
XX:XX:XX Hunt Club 1: Roger, this is One, observe something, possibly the canister in the water alongside the capsule. Will we be interfering with any TM [telemetry] if we come down and take a look at it?
00:20:26 Grissom: Negative, not at all, I'm just going to put the rest of this stuff on tape and then I'll be ready for you, in just about two more minutes, I would say.
XX:XX:XX Hunt Club 1: One, roger.
XX:XX:XX CAPCOM: Liberty Bell 7, CAPCOM at the Cape on a test count, over.
XX:XX:XX CAPCOM: Liberty Bell 7, Cape CAPCOM on a test count, over.
XX:XX:XX Card File 9: Any Hunt Club, this is 9 Card File.
XX:XX:XX Hunt Club 1: Station calling Hunt Club, say again.
00:24:03 Card File 9: This is Niner Card File, there's an object on a line in the water, ah, just about 160 degrees. The NASA people suspect it's the dye marker that didn't activate; ah, say its about, ah, three-fourth of a mile out from the capsule. Ah, after the lift out, will you take a check on it? Over.
XX:XX:XX Hunt Club 1: Ah, this is Hunt Club 1, roger. Will have Hunt Club 3 check at this time. You copy, Three?
XX:XX:XX Hunt Club 3: Hunt Club 1, believe he said three-fourth of a mile?
XX:XX:XX Card File 9: This is 9 Card, that is affirmative.
00:25:20 Grissom: OK, Hunt Club. This is Liberty Bell 7. Are you ready for the pickup?
00:25:26 Hunt Club 1: This is Hunt Club 1. This is affirmative.
00:25:30 Grissom: OK, latch on, then give me a call and I'll power down and blow the hatch, OK?
00:25:36 Hunt Club 1: This is Hunt Club 1, roger. Will give you a call when we're ready to blow.
00:25:42 Grissom: Roger, I've unplugged my suit so I'm kinda warm now so.
00:25:46 Hunt Club 1: One, roger.
00:25:52 Grissom: Now if you tell me to, ah, you're ready for me to blow, I'll have to take my helmet off, power down, then blow the hatch.
00:25:59 Hunt Club 1: One, roger, and when you blow the hatch, the collar will already be down there waiting for you, and we're turning base at this time.
00:26:09 Grissom: Ah, roger.
Grissom powered down the Liberty Bell 7 capsule at this time, ending communications from inside the spacecraft.
00:00:03 Grissom: Ah, roger. This is Liberty Bell 7. The clock is operating.
00:00:08 CAPCOM: Loud and clear, Jose, don't cry too much.
00:00:11 Grissom: Oke-doke.
00:00:18 Grissom: Okay, it's a nice ride up to now.
00:00:20 CAPCOM: Loud and clear.
00:00:21 Grissom: Roger.
00:00:28 Grissom: Okay; the fuel is go; about one and a half gs; cabin pressure is just coming off the peg; the O2 is go; we have 26 amps.
00:00:36 CAPCOM: Roger. Pitch 88 [degrees], the trajectory is good.
00:00:39 Grissom: Roger, looks good here.
00:00:54 Grissom: OK there, we're starting to pick up a little noise and vibration; not bad, though, at all.
00:01:01 Grissom: OK, the fuel is go; one and a half gs; cabin is eight [psi] ; the O2 is go; 27 amps.
00:01:08 Grissom: And... [transmission lost]
00:01:09 CAPCOM: Pitch is...[transmission lost]
00:01:10 Grissom: Four gs, five gs...[transmission lost]
00:01:11 CAPCOM: Pitch is 77 [degrees]; trajectory is go.
00:01:13 Grissom: Roger. Cabin pressure is about six [psi] and dropping slightly. Looks like she's going to hold about 5.5 [psi].
00:01:23 Grissom: Eh... [transmission lost].
00:01:24 Grissom: Cabin... [transmission lost].
00:01:24 Grissom: Believe me, O2 is go.
00:01:26 CAPCOM: Cabin pressure holding 5.5 [psi].
00:01:29 Grissom: Roger, roger.
00:01:31 Grissom: This is Liberty Bell 7. Fuel is go; two and a half g's; cabin pressure is 5.5 [psi]; O2 is go; main [bus] 25 [volts], isolated - ah, isolated [bus] is 28 [volts]. We are go.
00:01:46 CAPCOM: Roger. Pitch is 62 [degrees]; trajectory is go.
00:01:49 Grissom: Roger. It looks good in here.
00:01:56 Grissom: Everything is good; cabin pressure is holding; suit pressure is okay; two minutes and we got four g's; fuel is go; ah, feel the hand controller move just a hair there; cabin pressure is holding; O2 is go; 25 amps.
00:02:15 CAPCOM Roger, we have a go here.
00:02:16 Grissom: And I see a star!
00:02:17 CAPCOM: Stand by for cutoff.
00:02:23 Grissom: There went the tower.
00:02:24 Chase 1: Roger, there went the tower, affirmative Chase.
00:02:26 Grissom: Roger, squibs are off.
00:02:31 CAPCOM: Roger.
00:02:33 Grissom: There went the posigrades, capsule has separated. We are at zero-g and turning around and the sun is really bright.
00:02:42 CAPCOM: Roger cap. sep. [capsule separation light] is green; turnaround has started, manual handle out.
00:02:47 Grissom: Oh, boy! Manual handle is out; the sky is very black; the capsule is coming around into orbit attitude; the roll is a little bit slow.
00:03:01 CAPCOM: Roger.
00:03:02 Grissom: I haven't seen the booster anyplace. Okay, rate command is coming on. I'm in orbit attitude, I'm pitching up. Okay, 40... [transmission lost] ... Wait, I've lost some roll here someplace.
00:03:10 CAPCOM: Roger, rate is command coming on. You're trying manual pitch.
00:03:15 Grissom: OK, I got roll back. OK, I'm at 24 [degrees] in pitch.
00:03:20 CAPCOM: Roger, your IP [impact point] is right on, Gus, right on.
00:03:24 Grissom: Okay. I'm having a little trouble with rate, ah, with the manual control.
00:03:28 CAPCOM: Roger.
00:03:31 Grissom: If I can get her stabilized here, all axes are working all right.
00:03:36 CAPCOM: Roger. Understand manual control is good.
00:03:40 Grissom: Roger, it's -- it's sort of sluggish, more than I expected.
00:03:45 Grissom: Okay, I'm yawing.
00:03:47 CAPCOM: Roger, yaw.
00:03:50 Grissom: Left, ah.
00:03:51 Grissom: Okay, coming back in yaw. I'm a little bit late there.
00:03:57 CAPCOM: Roger. Reading you loud and clear, Gus.
00:03:59 Grissom: Lot of stuff -- there's a lot of stuff floating around up here.
00:04:02 Grissom: I'm going to skip the yaw [maneuver], ah, or [rather the] roll [maneuver] because I'm a bit late and I'm going to try this rough yaw maneuver. About all I can really see is clouds. I haven't seen any land yet.
00:04:15 CAPCOM: Roger, you're on the window. Are you trying a yaw maneuver?
00:04:18 Grissom: I'm trying the yaw maneuver and I'm on the window. It's such a fascinating view out the window and you can't help but look out that way.
00:04:25 CAPCOM: I understand.
00:04:29 Grissom: You, sh, ah, really. There I see the coast, I see.
00:04:30 CAPCOM: Four plus thirty [elapsed time since launch], Gus.
00:04:37 Grissom: I can see the coast, but I can't identify anything.
00:04:42 CAPCOM: Roger, four plus thirty [elapsed time since launch], Gus.
00:04:44 Grissom: Okay, let me get back here to retro attitude, retro sequence has started.
00:04:48 CAPCOM: Roger, retro sequence has started. Go to retro attitude.
00:04:52 Grissom: Right, we'll see if I'm in bad, not in very good shape here.
00:04:57 CAPCOM: Got 15 seconds, plenty of time, I'll give you a mark at 5:10 [elapsed time since launch].
00:05:01 Grissom: OK, retro attitude [light] is still green.
00:05:05 CAPCOM: Retros on my mark, three, two, one, mark.
00:05:11 Grissom: OK, there's one firing, there's one firing.
00:05:13 CAPCOM: Roger, retro one.
00:05:19 Grissom: There's two firing, nice little boost. There went three.
00:05:21 CAPCOM: Roger, three, all retros are fired.
00:05:23 Grissom: Roger, roger.
00:05:25 Grissom: OK, yeah, they're fired out right there.
00:05:29 CAPCOM: Roger, retro jettison armed.
00:05:33 Grissom: Retro jettison is armed, retro jettison is armed, going to rate command.
00:05:36 Grissom: OK, I'm going to switch.
00:05:39 CAPCOM: Roger. Understand manual fuel handle is in.
00:05:41 Grissom: Manual fuel handle is in, mark, going to HF.
00:05:44 CAPCOM: Roger, HF.
00:05:52 CAPCOM: Liberty Bell 7, this is CAPCOM on HF, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. How do you read, Seven?
00:06:00 Grissom: I got you.
00:06:05 CAPCOM: This is CAPCOM on HF, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. How do you read, Seven?
00:06:08 Grissom: ...here, do you read me, do you read me on HF? ...going back to U[HF]... Boy, is that... retro, I'm back on UHF and, ah, the jett-- the retros have jettisoned. Now I can see the Cape and, oh boy, that's some sight. I can't see too much.
00:06:34 Grissom: Roger, I am on UHF high, do you read me?
00:06:38 CAPCOM: Roger, reading you loud and clear UHF high, can you confirm retro jettison?
00:06:41 Grissom: OK, periscope is retracting, going to reentry attitude.
00:06:47 CAPCOM: Roger, retros have jettisoned, scope has retracted, you're going to reentry attitude.
00:06:51 Grissom: Affirmative.
00:06:56 CAPCOM: Bell 7 from CAPCOM, your IP [impact point] is right on.
00:07:00 Grissom: Roger, I'm in reentry attitude.
00:07:05 Grissom: Ah.
00:07:07 CAPCOM: Roger, how does it look out the window now?
00:07:09 Grissom: Ah, the sun is coming in and so all I can really see is just, ah, just darkness, the sky is very black.
00:07:14 CAPCOM: Roger, you have some more time to look if you like.
00:07:27 CAPCOM: Seven from CAPCOM, how do you feel up there?
00:07:30 Grissom: I feel very good, auto fuel is 90 [percent], manual fuel is 50 [percent].
00:07:33 CAPCOM: Roger, 0.05 g in ten [seconds].
00:07:37 Grissom: OK.
00:07:50 Grissom: OK, everything is very good, ah.
00:07:54 Grissom: I have 0.05 g [light] and roll rate has started.
00:07:57 CAPCOM: Roger.
00:08:03 Grissom: Got a pitch rate in here, OK, g's are starting to build.
00:08:09 CAPCOM: Reading you loud and clear.
00:08:11 Grissom: Roger, g's are building, we're up to six [g's]
00:08:17 Grissom: There's nine [g's]
00:08:19 Grissom: There's about ten [g's]; the handle is out from under it; here I got a little pitch rate coming back down through seven [g's].
00:08:32 CAPCOM: Roger, still sound good.
00:08:34 Grissom: Okay, the altimeter is active at 65 [thousand feet]. There's 60 [thousand feet].
00:08:38 CAPCOM: Roger, 65,000 [feet].
00:08:42 Grissom: OK, I'm getting some contrails, evidently shock wave, 50,000 feet; I'm feeling good. I'm very good, everything is fine.
00:08:49 CAPCOM: Roger, 50,000 [feet].
00:08:52 Grissom: 45,000 [feet], do you still read?
00:08:54 CAPCOM: Affirmative, still reading you. You sound good.
00:09:00 Grissom: Okay, 45,000 feet, do you read?
00:09:07 Grissom: 35,000 feet, if you read me.
00:09:19 Grissom: 30,000 feet, everything is good, everything is good.
00:09:24 CAPCOM: Bell 7, this is CAPCOM. How... [transmission lost]
00:09:28 Grissom: 25,000 feet.
00:09:36 Grissom: Approaching drogue chute altitude.
00:09:41 Grissom: There's the drogue chute. The periscope has extended.
00:09:45 CAPCOM: This is...we have a green drogue [light] here, Seven, how do you read?
00:09:49 Grissom: OK, we're down to 15,000 feet, if anyone reads. We're on emergency flow rate, can see out the periscope okay. The drogue chute is good.
00:10:03 CAPCOM: Roger, understand drogue is good, the periscope is out.
00:10:05 Grissom: There's 13,000 feet.
00:10:09 CAPCOM: Roger.
00:10:14 Grissom: There goes the main chute; it's reefed; main chute is good; main chute is good; rate of descent is coming down, coming down to -- there's 40 feet per second, 30 feet per, 32 feet per second on the main chute, and the landing bag is out green.
00:10:40 Grissom: Hello, does anyone read Liberty Bell? Main chute is good, landing bag [light] is on green.
XX:XX:XX CAPCOM: ...and the landing bag [light] is on green.
XX:XX:XX Atlantic Ship: Liberty Bell 7, Liberty Bell 7, this is Atlantic Ship CAPCOM. Read you loud and clear, our telemetry confirms your events, over.
XX:XX:XX Grissom: Ah, roger, is anyone reading Liberty Bell 7? Over.
XX:XX:XX Cardfile 23: Roger, Liberty Bell 7, reading you loud and clear. This is Cardfile 23. Over.
00:10:52 Grissom: Atlantic Ship CAPCOM, this is Liberty Bell 7, how do you read me? Over.
XX:XX:XX Atlantic Ship: Read you loud and clear, loud and clear. Over. Liberty Bell 7, Liberty Bell 7, this is Atlantic Ship CAPCOM. How do you read me? Over.
00:11:12 Grissom: Atlantic Ship CAPCOM, this is Liberty Bell 7, I read you loud and clear, how me? Over.
XX:XX:XX Atlantic Ship: Roger, Bell 7, read you loud and clear, your status looks good, your systems look good, we confirm your events. Over.
00:11:28 Grissom: Ah, roger, and confirm the fuel has dumped. Over
00:11:34 Atlantic Ship: Roger, confirm again, confirm again, has your auto fuel dumped?
00:11:42 Grissom: Auto fuel and manual fuel has dumped.
XX:XX:XX Atlantic Ship: Roger, roger.
00:11:47 Grissom: And I'm in the process of putting the pins back in the door at this time.
00:12:04 Grissom: OK, I'm passing through 6,000 feet, everything is good, ah.
00:12:15 Grissom: I'm going to open my faceplate.
00:12:35 Grissom: Hello, I can't get one back in; I can't get one door pin back in. I've tried and tried and can't get it back in. And I'm coming ATS [Atlantic Ship], I'm passing through 5,000 feet and I don't think I have one of t he door pins in.
XX:XX:XX Atlantic Ship: Roger, Bell 7, roger.
00:13:04 Grissom: Do you have any word from the recovery troops?
XX:XX:XX Cardfile 23: Liberty Bell 7, this is Cardfile 23; we are heading directly toward you.
00:13:18 Grissom: ATS, this is CAP -- this is Libery Bell 7. Do you have any word from the recovery troops?
XX:XX:XX Atlantic Ship: Negative, Bell 7, negative. Do you have any transmission to MCC [Mercury Control Center]? Over.
00:13:33 Grissom: Ah, roger, you might make a note that there is one small hole in my chute. It looks like it is about six inches by six inches -- it's sort of a -- actually it's a triangular rip, I guess.
XX:XX:XX Atlantic Ship: Roger, roger.
00:13:49 Grissom: I'm passing through 3,000 feet; and all the fuses are in flight conditions; ASCS is normal, auto; we're on rate command; gyros are normal; auto retro jettison is armed; squibs are armed also. Four fuel handles are in; decompress and recompress are in; retro delay is normal; retro heat is off; cabin lights are both. TM [telemeter] is on. Rescue aids is auto; landing bag is auto; retract scope is in auto; retro attitude is in auto. All the three, five pull rings are in. Going down through some clouds to 2,000 feet. ATS, I'm at 2000 feet; everything is normal.
XX:XX:XX Atlantic Ship: Roger, Bell 7, what is your rate of descent again? Over.
00:14:39 Grissom: The rate of descent is varying between 28 and 30 feet per second.
XX:XX:XX Atlantic Ship: Ah roger, roger, and once again, verify your fuel has dumped, over.
00:14:54 Grissom: OK, my max g was about 10.2; altimeter is 1,000 [feet]; cabin pressure is approaching 15 [psi]. Temperature is 90 [degrees Fahrenheit]. Coolant quantity is 30 [percent]; temperature is 68 [degrees Fahrenheit]; pressure is 14 [psi]; main 02 is 60 [percent]; normal is, main is 60 [percent]; emergency is 100 [percent]; suit fan is normal; cabin fan is normal. We have 21 amps, and I'm getting ready for impact here. Can see the water coming right on up.
XX:XX:XX Atlantic Ship: Liberty Bell 7, Liberty Bell 7, this is Atlantic CAPCOM, do you read me? Over.
XX:XX:XX Grissom: OK, does anyone read Liberty Bell 7? Over.
XX:XX:XX Hunt Club 1: Liberty Bell 7, Hunt Club 1 is two miles southwest of you.
XX:XX:XX Cardfile 9: Liberty Bell 7, this is 9 Cardfile. We have your entry into the water. Will be over you in just about 30 seconds.
00:16:35 Grissom: Roger, my condition is good. OK, the capsule is floating, slowly coming vertical, have actuated the rescue aids. The reserve chute has jettisoned, in fact I can see it in the water, and the whip antenna should be up.
XX:XX:XX Grissom: Hunt Club, do you copy?
XX:XX:XX Grissom: OK, Hunt Club, this is... Don't forget the antenna.
XX:XX:XX Hunt Club 1: This is Hunt Club, say again.
00:18:07 Grissom: Hunt Club, this is Liberty Bell 7. My antenna should be up.
XX:XX:XX Hunt Club 1: This is Hunt Club 1...your antenna is erected.
00:18:16 Grissom: Ah, roger.
00:18:23 Grissom: OK, give me how much longer it'll be before you get here.
XX:XX:XX Hunt Club 1: This is Hunt Club 1, we are in orbit now at this time, around the capsule.
00:18:32 Grissom: Roger, give me about another five minutes here to mark these switch positions here, before I give you a call to come in and hook on. Are you ready to come in and hook on anytime?
XX:XX:XX Hunt Club 1: Hunt Club 1, roger we are ready any time you are.
00:18:44 Grissom: OK, give me another three or four minutes here to take these switch positions, then I'll be ready for you.
XX:XX:XX Hunt Club 1: One, wilco.
XX:XX:XX Card File 9: Hey Hunt Clubs, Card File, Card File 9, I'll stand by to escort you back as soon as you lift out. I'll keep other aircraft at at least 2,000 feet.
XX:XX:XX Hunt Club 1: Ah, Bell 7, this is Hunt Club 1.
00:20:15 Grissom: Go ahead, Hunt Club 1.
XX:XX:XX Hunt Club 1: Roger, this is One, observe something, possibly the canister in the water alongside the capsule. Will we be interfering with any TM [telemetry] if we come down and take a look at it?
00:20:26 Grissom: Negative, not at all, I'm just going to put the rest of this stuff on tape and then I'll be ready for you, in just about two more minutes, I would say.
XX:XX:XX Hunt Club 1: One, roger.
XX:XX:XX CAPCOM: Liberty Bell 7, CAPCOM at the Cape on a test count, over.
XX:XX:XX CAPCOM: Liberty Bell 7, Cape CAPCOM on a test count, over.
XX:XX:XX Card File 9: Any Hunt Club, this is 9 Card File.
XX:XX:XX Hunt Club 1: Station calling Hunt Club, say again.
00:24:03 Card File 9: This is Niner Card File, there's an object on a line in the water, ah, just about 160 degrees. The NASA people suspect it's the dye marker that didn't activate; ah, say its about, ah, three-fourth of a mile out from the capsule. Ah, after the lift out, will you take a check on it? Over.
XX:XX:XX Hunt Club 1: Ah, this is Hunt Club 1, roger. Will have Hunt Club 3 check at this time. You copy, Three?
XX:XX:XX Hunt Club 3: Hunt Club 1, believe he said three-fourth of a mile?
XX:XX:XX Card File 9: This is 9 Card, that is affirmative.
00:25:20 Grissom: OK, Hunt Club. This is Liberty Bell 7. Are you ready for the pickup?
00:25:26 Hunt Club 1: This is Hunt Club 1. This is affirmative.
00:25:30 Grissom: OK, latch on, then give me a call and I'll power down and blow the hatch, OK?
00:25:36 Hunt Club 1: This is Hunt Club 1, roger. Will give you a call when we're ready to blow.
00:25:42 Grissom: Roger, I've unplugged my suit so I'm kinda warm now so.
00:25:46 Hunt Club 1: One, roger.
00:25:52 Grissom: Now if you tell me to, ah, you're ready for me to blow, I'll have to take my helmet off, power down, then blow the hatch.
00:25:59 Hunt Club 1: One, roger, and when you blow the hatch, the collar will already be down there waiting for you, and we're turning base at this time.
00:26:09 Grissom: Ah, roger.
Grissom powered down the Liberty Bell 7 capsule at this time, ending communications from inside the spacecraft.