Redstone Mercury Credit: © Thom

Suborbital. Unmanned Project Mercury spacecraft launched by modified Redstone booster (MR-1) in a suborbital trajectory, impacting 235 miles downrange after reaching an altitude of 135 miles and a speed of near 4,200 mph. Capsule was recovered about 50 minutes after firing.The objective was to qualify the spacecraft for a primate flight scheduled shortly thereafter. Apart from the launch vehicle cutoff velocity being slightly higher than normal, all flight sequences were satisfactory.

Manufacturer: Von Braun. Launches: 2. Success Rate: 100.00% pct. First Launch Date: 5 May 1961. Last Launch Date: 21 July 1961. Apogee: 200 km. Associated Spacecraft: Mercury. Liftoff Thrust: 357.00 kN. Total Mass: 28,400 kg. Core Diameter: 1.78 m. Total Length: 20.00 m.

• Negotiations for Redstone and Jupiter launch vehicles for Mercury project. Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Personnel from the Langley Research Center visited the Army Ballistic Missile Agency to open negotiations for procuring Redstone and Jupiter launch vehicles for manned satellite projects. References: 483 .

• Redstone and Jupiter launch vehicle use on Mercury discussed. Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Space Task Group officials visited the Army Ballistic Missile Agency to determine the feasibility of using the Jupiter launch vehicle for the intermediate phase of Project Mercury, to discuss the Redstone program, and to discuss the cost for Redstone and Jupiter launch vehicles. References: 483 .

• Redstones ordered for Mercury suborbital launches. Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  NASA requested eight Redstone-type launch vehicles from the Army to be used in Project Mercury development flights. References: 17 .

• Eight Redstone and two Jupiter launch vehicles for Mercury Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  NASA requested the Army Ordnance Missile Command, Huntsville, Alabama, to construct and launch eight Redstone launch vehicles and two Jupiter launch vehicles in support of Project Mercury manned and unmanned flights. References: 483 .

• Redstone and Jupiter flight phases of Project Mercury. Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Space Task Group and Army Ballistic Missile Agency personnel met at Huntsville, Alabama, to discuss Redstone and Jupiter flight phases of Project Mercury. During the course of the meeting the following points became firm: (1) Space Task Group was the overall manager and technical director of this phase of the program, (2) ABMA was responsible for the launch vehicle until spacecraft separation, (3) ABMA was responsible for the Redstone launch vehicle recovery (this phase of the program was later eliminated since benefits from recovering the launch vehicle would have been insignificant), (4) Space Task Group was responsible for the spacecraft flight after separation, (5) McDonnell was responsible for the adapters for the Mercury-Redstone configuration, and (6) ABMA would build adapters for the Mercury-Jupiter configuration. Because many points could only be settled by detailed design studies, it was decided to establish several working panels for later meetings. References: 483 .

• Mercury-Redstone-Jupiter trajectory, aerodynamics, and flight loads Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Mercury-Redstone-Jupiter Study Panel Number IV (choice of trajectory, aerodynamics, and flight loads) met at Redstone Arsenal. Subjects studied included pilot safety, simulation of entry from orbit, length of zero-g time, missile stability and aerodynamics, ascent accelerations, and range. This group reconvened on March 13, 1959. References: 483 .

• Integration of the Mercury spacecraft with the Redstone and Jupiter launch vehicles. Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Panel Number I (Design Subcommittee) met at Redstone Arsenal for the first time to discuss integration requirements for the Mercury spacecraft with the Redstone and Jupiter launch vehicles. References: 483 .

• Mercury-Redstone and Mercury-Jupiter test objectives. Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Mercury-Redstone and Mercury-Jupiter test objectives were discussed in a meeting at Langley between Space Task Group and Army Ballistic Missile Agency personnel. At that time it was decided that the first flights of both the Redstone and Jupiter would be unmanned. The second flights would be 'manned' with primates, and the Jupiter phase would end at that point. The six remaining Redstones would be used in manned flights for astronaut training. References: 483 .

• Negotiations on the cost of Redstone and Jupiter boosters for Project Mercury. Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  The Space Task Group, in the process of negotiations with the Army Ordnance Missile Command on the cost of Redstone and Jupiter boosters in support of Project Mercury, received revised funding estimates for study covering Contract HS-44 (Redstone) and HS-54 (Jupiter). References: 483 .

• Mercury-Redstone inflight abort sensing system. Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  The Army Ballistic Missile Agency submitted a proposal (Report No. DG-TR-7-59) for a Mercury-Redstone inflight abort sensing system. This system would monitor performance of the control system (attitude and angular velocity), electrical power supply, and launch vehicle propulsion. If operational limits were exceeded, the spacecraft would be ejected from the launch vehicle and recovered by parachute. References: 483 .

• Eight Mercury Redstone launch vehicles final cost $20.1 million. Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Against an original estimated cost of $15.5 million for eight Redstone launch vehicles in support of Project Mercury, the final negotiated figure was $20.1 million. References: 483 .

• Open-circuit television system in the Mercury-Redstone MR-2 and MR-3 flights Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Manned Flight: Mercury MR-3.

  At the fifth Mercury Coordination Meeting, the Army Ballistic Missile Agency proposed the installation of an open-circuit television system in the Mercury-Redstone second and third flights (MR-2 and MR-3). The purpose of the system was to observe and relay launch vehicle and spacecraft separation data. References: 483 .

• Redstone for Mercury MR-1 installed on the interim test stand. Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  The Redstone launch vehicle for the first Mercury-Redstone mission (MR-1) was installed on the interim test stand at the Army Ballistic Missile Agency for static testing. References: 483 .

• Mercury-Redstone Coordination Committee Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Walter C. Williams proposed the establishment of a Mercury-Redstone Coordination Committee to monitor and coordinate activities related to Mercury-Redstone flight tests. References: 483 .

• Six chimpanzees ready for Mercury missions. Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Six chimpanzees were rated as being trained and ready to support Mercury-Redstone or Mercury-Atlas missions. Other chimpanzees were being shipped from Africa to enter the animal training program. References: 483 .

• Tests started for the mission abort sensing program for Mercury-Redstone Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Tests were started by the Army Ballistic Missile Agency for the mission abort sensing program to be integrated in the Mercury-Redstone phase of Project Mercury. References: 483 .

• Reporting plan for Mercury-Atlas and Mercury-Redstone missions Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  A reporting plan for Mercury-Atlas and Mercury-Redstone missions was issued. This document was amended on February 17, 1961, and April 10, 1961. References: 483 .

• Mercury spacecraft No. 2 delivered to Cape Canaveral Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Mercury spacecraft No. 2 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Redstone 1-A (MR-1A) mission. References: 483 .

• Final Trajectory for Mercury MR-1 Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Marshall Space Flight Center published the 'Final Standard Trajectory for MR-1 (Mercury-Redstone).' References: 483 .

• Redstone launch vehicle No. 1 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the MR-1 (Mercury-Redstone). Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. References: 483 .

• Format of first Mercury-Redstone postlaunch report Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  The format of subject matter coverage for the first Mercury-Redstone postlaunch (MR-1) report was issued. This report, covering a full range of topics related to the mission, was to be submitted within 5 days after the launch. References: 483 .

• Mission rules for Mercury-Redstone 1 (MR-1) issued. Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  A revision was published on Nov. 1, 1960. References: 483 .

• An attempt was made to launch Mercury-Redstone 1 (MR-1) from Cape Canaveral. Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  This unmanned mission was unsuccessful because premature cut-off of the launch vehicle engines activated the emergency escape system when the vehicle was only about 1 inch off the pad. Engine cut-off was caused by premature loss of electrical ground power to the booster. The launch vehicle settled back on the pad with only slight damage. Since the spacecraft received a cut-off signal, the escape tower and recovery sequence was initiated. The undamaged spacecraft was recovered for reuse. References: 483 .

• Mercury Redstone launch vehicle No. 3 shipped to Cape Canaveral Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Redstone launch vehicle No. 3 was shipped to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Redstone 1A (MR-1A) mission. References: 483 .

• Mercury spacecraft No. 7 delivered to Cape Canaveral Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Manned Flight: Mercury MR-3.

  Spacecraft No. 7 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) manned ballistic mission (Shepard). References: 483 .

• Mercury Redstone launch vehicle No. 2 delivered to Cape Canaveral Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Redstone launch vehicle No. 2 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Redstone 2 (MR-2) mission (chimpanzee 'Ham' flight). References: 483 .

• Mercury MR-1A postlaunch system evaluation tests Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  The Mercury-Redstone 1A (MR-1A) postlaunch system evaluation tests were completed at Cape Canaveral. Data disclosed that the instrumentation system, communication system, and other components had operated satisfactorily during the flight mission. References: 483 .

• Mission rules for the Mercury MR-3 Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Manned Flight: Mercury MR-3.

  Mission rules for the Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3 - Shepard's flight) were published. Revisions were issued on February 27, and April 28, 1961. References: 483 .

• Mercury Redstone launch vehicle No. 5 delivered to Cape Canaveral Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Redstone launch vehicle No. 5 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Redstone, Booster Development flight (MR-BD). References: 483 .

• Mercury spacecraft No. 11 delivered to Cape Canaveral Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Manned Flight: Mercury MR-4.

  Spacecraft No. 11 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) ballistic manned (Grissom) flight. References: 483 .

• Mercury Redstone launch vehicle No. 7 delivered to Cape Canaveral Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Manned Flight: Mercury MR-3.

  Redstone launch vehicle No. 7 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) mission. References: 483 .

• Glenn, Grissom, and Shepard refresher course on centrifuge for Mercury Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  Glenn, Grissom, and Shepard began refresher course on centrifuge in preparation for the first manned Mercury-Redstone suborbital flight. John Glenn, Virgil Grissom, and Alan Shepard began a refresher course on the Aviation Medical Acceleration Laboratory centrifuge in preparation for the first manned Mercury-Redstone suborbital flight. References: 483 .

• Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) readiness review. Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Manned Flight: Mercury MR-3.

  Spacecraft, mission, and launch vehicle flight safety were reviewed by Space Task Group personnel in preparation for the Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) mission. References: 483 .

• Simulated countdown for Mercury MR-3 Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Manned Flight: Mercury MR-3.

  A simulated countdown for the first Mercury-Redstone manned suborbital flight (MR-3) was successfully completed. References: 483 .

• Webb warns of Mercury failures. Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

  NASA Administrator Webb issued a statement concerning the 2-year Mercury manned space flight program, which said, in part: "NASA has not attempted to encourage press coverage of the first Mercury-Redstone manned flight. It has responded to press and television requests, with the result that over 100 representatives of the press, radio, and TV are now at Cape Canaveral. . . . We must keep the perspective that each flight is but one of the many milestones we must pass. Some will completely succeed in every respect, some partially, and some will fail. From all of them will come mastery of the vast new space environment on which so much of our future depends." References: 18 .

• Mercury MR-3 postponed. Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Manned Flight: Mercury MR-3.

  Manned Mercury-Redstone (MR-3) launch postponed because of rain squalls in the recovery area. References: 18 .

• MR-3 Test/Biological mission Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Payload: Mercury SC7. Mass: 1,290 kg. Class: Manned. Type: Spacecraft. Spacecraft: Mercury. Location of Spacecraft: U.S. Naval Academy, College of Medicine, Anapolis, MD. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 187 km. Flight Crew: Shepard, Manned Flight: Mercury MR-3.

  Alan Shepard first American in space, less than a month after Gagarin and only on a 15 minute suborbital flight. Only manned flight with original Mercury capsule design (tiny round porthole and periscope a la Vostok). If NASA had not listened to Von Braun, Shepard would have flown on the MR-BD flight of 24 March, beating Gagarin by three weeks and becoming the first man in space (though not in orbit). Shepard's capsule reached an altitude of 115.696 miles, range of 302 miles,and speed of 5,100 miles per hour. He demonstrated control of a vehicle during weightlessness and high G stresses. Recovery operations were perfect; there was no damage to the spacecraft; and Astronaut Shepard was in excellent condition. References: 5 , 16 , 26 , 33 , 59 , 60 , 1758 .

• Kennedy decision to allow MR-3 flight defended. Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Manned Flight: Mercury MR-3.

  Senator Robert S. Kerr, chairman of the Senate Aeronautical and Space Sciences Committee, told a group at the National Radio and Television Convention that President Kennedy accepted the views of NASA and congressional leaders in approving the manned Mercury-Redstone flight of May 5. References: 18 .

• Mercury Redstone launch vehicle No. 8 delivered to Cape Canaveral Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Manned Flight: Mercury MR-4.

  Redstone launch vehicle No. 8 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) suborbital flight mission. References: 483 .

• Mercury MR-4 recovery requirements Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Manned Flight: Mercury MR-4.

  Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) recovery requirements were forwarded by the Space Task Group to the Navy. References: 483 .

• Redstone for Mercury MR-4 manned suborbital flight erected Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Manned Flight: Mercury MR-4.

  The Redstone booster for the Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) manned suborbital flight mission was erected on Pad 5, at Cape Canaveral. References: 483 .

• Mercury MR-6 static engine test Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Manned Flight: Mercury MR-6.

  Mercury-Redstone 6 was static tested for 30 seconds at Marshall Space Flight Center to ensure satisfactory operation of the turbopump assembly. References: 18 .

• Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) manned suborbital flight mission rules were published. Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Manned Flight: Mercury MR-4. References: 483 .

• Mercury MR-4 launch scrubbed. Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Class: Manned. Type: Spacecraft. Spacecraft: Mercury. Manned Flight: Mercury MR-4.

  Mercury-Redstone (MR-4) with manned Liberty Bell 7 capsule canceled within minutes of launch because of adverse weather. References: 18 .

• MR-4 Test mission Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Payload: Mercury SC11. Mass: 1,286 kg. Class: Manned. Type: Spacecraft. Spacecraft: Mercury. Location of Spacecraft: In the Atlantic Ocean (5 km deep, 832 km NW of Grand Turk island, 1961-1999; Kansas Cosmosphere thereafter. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 190 km. Flight Crew: Grissom, Manned Flight: Mercury MR-4.

  The Mercury capsule, Liberty Bell 7, manned by Astronaut Virgil I. Grissom, boosted by a Redstone rocket, reached a peak altitude of 190.3 km and a speed of 8,335 km per hour. After a flight of 15 minutes and 37 seconds, the landing was made 487 km downrange from the launch site. The hatch blew while still in water, and the capsule sank; Grissom saved, though his suit was filling up with water through open oxygen inlet lines.

  This was the second and final manned suborbital Mercury Redstone flight, and the first flight with trapezoidal window. Further suborbital flights (each astronaut was to make one as a training exercise) were cancelled. An attempt to recover the capsule in very deep water in 1994 not successful. It was finally raised in the summer of 1999. References: 5 , 26 , 33 , 59 , 60 , 1758 .

• Further Mercury suborbital flights cancelled. Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Class: Manned. Type: Spacecraft. Spacecraft: Mercury. Manned Flight: Mercury MR-5.

  NASA announced that analysis of Project Mercury suborbital data indicated that all objectives of that phase of the program had been achieved, and that no further Mercury-Redstone flights were planned. References: 18 .

• Investigation of the Mercury MR-4 explosive egress hatch. Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Manned Flight: Mercury MR-4.

  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. References: 483 .

• Mercury MR-5 (cancelled) Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Payload: Mercury SC15. Spacecraft: Mercury. Location of Spacecraft: Ames Research Center, NASA, Moffett Field, CA. Flight Crew: Glenn, Manned Flight: Mercury MR-5.

  The original Mercury project plan envisioned all of the astronauts making an initial suborbital hop aboard a Redstone booster before making an orbital flight aboard an Atlas. But Gherman Titov was launched on a full-day orbital flight in August 1961, making NASA's suborbital hops look pathetic. Further suborbital Mercury flights after that of Grissom were cancelled. References: 366 .

• Mercury Freedom 7 presented to the Smithsonian Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Manned Flight: Mercury MR-3.

  Freedom 7, the Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) spacecraft, was presented by NASA to the National Air Museum of the Smithsonian Institution. References: 483 .

• Mercury MR-6 (cancelled) Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Payload: Mercury SC16. Spacecraft: Mercury. Location of Spacecraft: United States Astronaut Hall of Fame, Titusville, FL. Flight Crew: Slayton, Manned Flight: Mercury MR-6.

  After the Russians began orbiting cosmonauts, NASA cancelled further suborbital flights. The MR-6 mission was cancelled by NASA administrator James Webb at the beginning of July, 1961. References: 366 .

• Krebs, Gunter, Gunter's Space Page, University of Frankfurt, 1996. Web Address when accessed: http://www.skyrocket.de/space.
• Baker, David, The History of Manned Spaceflight, Crown, New York, 1981.
• Swenson, Grimwood, Alexander, Charles C, This New Ocean, Government Printing Office, 1966. Web Address when accessed: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4201/cover.htm.