Phase 2: First orbit

Wally Schirra

I see little ice crystals, I'm sure that's what it is around me now.

Deke Slayton (CAPCOM)

You're a little garbled.

Wally Schirra

Okay. Got a good view of the earth now.

Wally Schirra

Coming around to retroattitude. Coming into retroattitude; and a good shot of the sustainer here. It's right in the window where it belongs. I am pitched up a little bit.

Wally Schirra

Okay. Just about into retroattitude.

Deke Slayton (CAPCOM)

Roger. We have full communications. Tell me, can you confirm retrojett off?

Wally Schirra

That's affirmative. Retrojett is off.

Wally Schirra

Okay. I'm getting set up for yaw. I can see yaw at (-) 34 already.

Deke Slayton (CAPCOM)

You say you still have some yaw.

Wally Schirra

Roger. I just went into ASCS at about 7 minutes and 10 seconds. The sustainer is sitting very steady above me. I should say above the horizon. And I'm in chimp mode right now and she is flying beautifully.

Deke Slayton (CAPCOM)

I'll give you (contingency recovery area) 1-B retro 16 22.

Wally Schirra

Roger. Understand 16 22. Is that correct?

Deke Slayton (CAPCOM)

Roger. 16 22.

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Spoken on Oct. 3, 1962, 12:22 p.m. UTC (63 years, 4 months ago). Link to this transcript range is: Tweet

Wally Schirra

Okay. I've got my chart case out. I'll put that in. I'll send the blood pressure now for the medics.

Wally Schirra

Boy! That sustainer looks real cute. I'll pick her up in a moment and track her.

Deke Slayton (CAPCOM)

For your information, you are slightly garbled—slightly garbled.

Wally Schirra

Okay. I'll use VOX-push-to-talk as much as possible.

Wally Schirra

Okay, I'm stopping that blood pressure run. Boy! This ASCS made tracking very nice. The sustainer is very stable. It is not oscillating at all. I see no vapors; it looks very clean.

Wally Schirra

Cape Cap Com, Sigma Seven. Say again.

Deke Slayton (CAPCOM)

Seven, Cap Com. You are fading—you are fading.

Wally Schirra

Cape Cap Com. I read you loud and clear.

Deke Slayton (CAPCOM)

Sigma Seven, Sigma Seven, Cape Cap Com. How do you read?

Wally Schirra

Cape Cap Com, this is Sigma Seven. I read you loud and clear. How me?

Wally Schirra

Cape Cap Com, Sigma Seven. How do you read? Over.

Wally Schirra

This is Sigma Seven. Squib off. Three retro fuse switches on. Fire-arm on. Going to fly-by-wire low.

Wally Schirra

This is Sigma Seven. Tracking sustainer very easily in fly-by-wire low.

Wally Schirra

Am going to manual proportional.

Wally Schirra

This is Sigma Seven. I am now in ASCS auto, retroattitude. Manual proportional works very well.

Wally Schirra

Canary Cap Com this is Sigma Seven. Over.

Canary Islands Comm Tech

Sigma Seven this is Canary Com Tech. Transmitting HF/UHF. Do you read? Over.

Wally Schirra

Roger. Canary Cap Com this is Sigma Seven. Do you read me?

Canary Islands CAPCOM

Sigma Seven this is Canary Cap Com. Reading you loud and clear. We have valid radar track.

Wally Schirra

Roger. Good show on radar. Awfully sorry our friend Julian couldn't be with us. I would like to give you my report on control mode. First off, manual and fly-by-wire low are excellent; aux damp works excellent. I am now in auto mode; retroattitude. Attitudes holding beautifully. I am go. My suit temperature is going up a bit. I have set it at 4.5. Over.

Canary Islands CAPCOM

Roger. I copied suit temperature at 4.5. What does your suit temperature read?

Wally Schirra

Negative. That was suit dome—is reading 75 (degrees). I have set the suit at 4.5.

Canary Islands CAPCOM

Roger.

Wally Schirra

I am checking on my cabin. It's about 60 (degrees). I am going to leave it alone. The cabin heat exchanger is about 48 (degrees).

Canary Islands CAPCOM

Roger.

Wally Schirra

Canary, as far as I am concerned all control systems are perfect. The manual was slightly sluggish as predicted, but better than I have seen.

Canary Islands CAPCOM

Roger. Are you on UHF-hi at this time?

Wally Schirra

That is affirmative, and will be switching to UHF-lo for a check with you shortly.

Canary Islands CAPCOM

Roger.

Wally Schirra

I have made an electrical check. We had communication problems on the way across. And all the systems checked out very well. Oxygen is holding up very well. I will give the suit circuit a little more time to cool down.