Spacelog Mercury 8

Okay, at 6 hours and 35 minutes we are at 81 (percent auto fuel)—79 (percent manual fuel). . . .cabin 90 (degrees). . . suit 63 (degrees) . . .. Dome 71 (degrees).

We're now at 6 40. Going to map two.

All the equipment is in good order. Coming up over IOS for 6+50, in the night, and this time I want to go down the star charts to check this bear out. That is why I am on ASCS.

Had the fun with experimenting and now will get the fun of being ready for reentry at any time. Okay. Let's see—we got IOS at 6 40. 6 40. . . . same as 0 52.

There is a nice interesting horizon. The sun is off to the left about—oh I'd say 40 degrees. There's a dark line of the surface of the earth, orange at the clouds—a light yellow, a light white and a blue band. A very light blue and I have the Planet Mercury in sight at this point. Before the sun has set. And it's in the proper position.

Describing the blue band. There's a relatively dark blue band right at the surface of the earth, and a light blue band, and another dark blue band, and a large white band which is the air glow, and then a deep black one and sorta goes from a grayish blue in to a dense black. Almost looks like underneath a rain cloud as far as the transition from the blue band to the total darkness. And I'll bring up my fingertip lights. And at 06 45 52 Mercury is right on the horizon. Arcturus should be in view, but I guess we we can't get her.

Okay, it looks like we are getting some lighted areas over the southern tip of Africa. I definitely have a city in sight, and—this is Sigma Seven. On transmit, I've had on VOX record only. I definitely have a city in sight in Africa. It first showed up at 06 49 30 seconds. The lights come up very clear. I'm in retroattitude at this point to give a mark on my position, and the moon is on my flight path for yaw references

I'll bet you any money that city my left, and was Port Elizabeth.

Indian Ocean Cap Com this is Sigma Seven. Over.

Indian Ocean Cap Com. Sigma Seven. Over.

Sigma Seven, Sigma Seven. Unable to read your transmission. Over.

Indian Ocean Cap Com. Sigma Seven. Over.

Roger. I read you now. Over.

Roger. I read you weak.

Do you have a short report for me? Over.

Roger. I'll give you my configuration. I am in auto, retro control mode; gyros are normal; maneuver switch is off; all consumables are in the green; electrical is checking out very well; capsule is tracking well. The moon is perfect reference at this point, it is right on the predicted path as well as Venus, as you probably know from down there.

Roger. We have a CET. You have about a plus 3 second lead on your CET.

Would you give me a countdown on CET, please.

Roger. On my mark it will be 06 52 33. MARK^T

That was 33—that's about a 4 second difference. I see you have some good ole' lightning again.

Sigma Seven. Not to mention the word, but will you send a BP? (blood pressure) Over.

Okay.

This is IOS Cap Com. Standing by.

Roger. If you'll stand by I'm going to take a check on Venus, at this point, for extinction to see how she looks.

Roger.

Okay. Venus is extincted at 06 54 29, at a value of 5.2.

Seven. What was the time you stated?

I'm just recording data.

The standard light is also extincted at 3.8.

Picture taken, 06 56 27 black and white, of the moon. With the weather bureau filter pulled out. Picture number 6. And as the moon sets we'll try one more at a lower shutter speed. Trying to hold it carefully. That's the second picture taken of the moon at moon set. At this point the camera back will be reinstalled and the camera stowed in case of retro attempt.

Hello!—A pretty flash of light.

. . ..

At 07 hours 10 minutes and 30 seconds, I see a lighted area. Very well lighted.—It shows up more like an airport. Better identify where that would be—that should be the Phillippines. Possibly it's at Zamboanga, and that's 07 hours 10 minutes and 30 seconds. Very graphic series of lights. Very easy to see.

Correction, at 07 hours and minutes put me over.

. . .. It's marked on the chart at 07 hours and 10 minutes. I was looking down at—almost in retroattitude. It showed up very clearly.

Now we're getting a planet in sight. Roger. Jupiter. I can see a string of stars for Grus, and good ole' Formalhaut—there in the upper corner, Grus coming down through the middle. And Formalhaut coming right down middle. Very good.

All attitudes seem to be checking out very well. Head and couch with scribe line works. My reticle at this, quick check on it.

Sigma Seven, Sigma Seven this is PCS Com Tech, PCS Com Tech. Do you read? Over.

This is Sigma Seven. Read you loud and clear. How me?

Roger. Sigma Seven. Reading you 5 by, 5 by. Going to Cap Com.

Roger.

Hello Seven. Standing by for your report.

Roger, Al. I am in auto; retro; the gyro switches are normal; maneuver is off. The capsule is prepared for retrosequence but for stowing two charts. I'm sure we're go. I have 81 percent auto, (fuel) 80 percent manual (fuel), which is the same as my intermediate report. They did not change. I have 52 (psi, in hundreds) on primary, 75 (psi, in hundreds) on secondary oxygen. Suit is go at 62 (degrees). Same as before.