Detailed history of Project Mercury, from the impetus caused by Soviet Cold War rocketry and Sputnik, to the early research on G-forces and human factors of manned space flight, to actual rocket design, development, astronaut selection, the space race, launch and more. Authors: Loyd S. Swenson Jr., James M. Grimwood and Charles C. Alexander.
Project Mercury was the first human spaceflight program of the United States from 1959 through 1963. Although its two primary goals were to put a human in orbit around the Earth, and to do so prior to the Soviet Union, the Soviets achieved this a month before Mercury.
A quote from President John F. Kennedy from the end of the Mercury program appears on the book cover and sums up the national sentiment about the legacy of the project, while simultaneously providing the inspiration for the title of this book:
"We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won, and they must be won and used for the progress of all people. For space science, like nuclear science and all technology, has no conscience of its own. Whether it will become a force for good or ill depends on man, and only if the United States occupies a position of preeminence can we help decide whether this new ocean will be a sea of peace or a new, terrifying theater of war." - JOHN F. KENNEDY, Rice University Stadium, Houston, Texas; September 12, 1962
Table of Contents
Foreword
Preface
Part 1 - Research
Chapter 1 - The Lure, the lock, the Key (to 1958)
Conquest of the Air
The Highway to Space
Postwar American Rocketry
Redstone and Atlas
Sputniks and Soul-Searching
Chapter 2 - Exploring the Human Factor (1948 - 1958)
Beginnings of Space Medicine
Zero G
Multiple G
Environmental Control
Matter From Space
Space Radiation
A Reason for Research
Chapter 3 - Aeronautics to Astronautics: NACA Research (1952 - 1957)
NACA Moves Toward Space
Reentry: Aerodynamics to Thermodynamics
A Moon for a Man
Air Force Provides a Need
Jockeying for Position
Chapter 4 - From NACA to NASA (November 1957 - September 1958)
Missiles to Manned Ballistic Satellites
NACA's Metamorphosis Begins
Man in Space Soonest?
NACA Makes Ready
Birth of NASA
Other Means to the Same End
NASA Gets the Job
Part 2 - Development
Chapter 5 - Specifications for a Manned Satellite (October - December 1958)
A Manned Satellite Plan
The People in Charge
"Aerospace" Technology
Calling for a Capsule Contractor
Shopping for the Boosters
Heat Sink Versus Ablation
Project Astronaut
Chapter 6 - From Design into Development (January - June 1959)
Brickbat Priority
Awarding the Prime Contract
Heatshield Resolution
Applied Research
Costs and Cancellations
Supporting Agencies and Industries
Astronaut Selection
Chapter 7 - Man-Rating the Machines (July - December 1959)
Mercury Team Takes Shape
Converging Technologies
Approaches to Reliability
Critical Components of the Capsule
Big Joe Shot
Little Joe Series
One World Network
Chapter 8 - Machine-Rating the Men (January - June 1960)
Controlling the Hostile Environment
Suiting Up for Space
Seven Astronauts in Training
Looking Over Mercury and Beyond
Management Learns Its Limits
Is Perfect Reliability Possible?
Head and Hands of NASA
Chapter 9 - From Development into Qualification: Flight Tests (July - December 1960)
Moving to the Launch Site
Atlas-Mercury One: A Complete Failure
Election Year Appraisals
Technical Sprint for Man in Space
Little Joe 5 Votes No
MR-1: The Four-Inch Flight
MR-1A: Suborbital Quality Proven
Chapter 10 - Tests Versus Time in the Race for Space (January - April 1961)
Interregnum
MR-2: Ham Paves the Way
MA-2: Trussed Atlas Qualifies the Capsule
When is a Vehicle Man-Rated?
LJ-5A Still Premature
MR-BD Is Not MR-3
Vostok Wins the First Lap
"News Will be Worse Before it is Better:" MA-3 and LJ-5B
Part 3 - Operations
Chapter 11 - Suborbital Flights into Space
Final Preparation for MR-3
Last-Minute Qualms
Shepard's Ride
Briefing the Briefers
Precipitation From MR-3
Second Suborbital Trial
Liberty Bell Tolls
Titov Widens the Gap
Chapter 12 - Final Rehearsal
Mercury Orbits At Last
Space Task Group Gets a New Home and Name
Wires Get Crossed: Mercury-Scout 1
Man or Chimpanzee for MA-5?
Training Primates and Men
Chimpanzee Into Orbit
Now a Man in Orbit?
Chapter 13 - Mercury Mission Accomplished
Preparing a Man to Orbit
Buildup for the Space Offensive
An American in Orbit
The Hero
Program Growth
The Slayton Case
MA-7 Preparations
Flight of Aurora 7
Chapter 14 - Climax of Project Mercury
Longer Legs for Mercury
Preparations for MA-8
The Textbook Flight
Redevelopment for MA-9
Faith 7 for 22 Orbits
Whither Gemini?
Epilogue
Notes on Sources and Selected Bibliography
Note on Sources
Persons Interviewed
Selected Bibliography (1) - Basic Reports on Project Mercury
Selected Bibliography (2) - NASA Project Mercury Working Papers
Selected Bibliography (3) - Biblographical Aids
Selected Bibliography (4) - Official Reports and Documents
Selected Bibliography (5) - Books
Selected Bibliography (6) - Journal Articles
Selected Bibliography (7) - Unpublished Works
Selected Bibliography (8) - Postflight Reports
Appendices
Appendix A - Functional Organization of Mercury
Appendix B - Workflow Organization of Mercury
Appendix C - Organization Charts(Please be aware that this file contains graphics-laden organizational charts that will take significant time to download).
Appendix D - Flight Data Summary
Appendix E - Personnel Growth
Appendix F - Project Mercury Cost Summaries
Appendix G - Project Mercury Tracking Net
Students would find valuable information on the history of Project Mercury and human spaceflight programs of the United States. In addition, this would be an enjoyable read for scientists, historians, and others interested in the history of space flight.
