Phase 8: Reentry & splashdown

Wally Schirra

Pacific Command Ship this is Sigma Seven. Do you read? Over.

Al Shepard (CAPCOM)

Sigma Seven this is Pacific Command Ship. Do you read? Over.

Al Shepard (CAPCOM)

Affirmative, Seven. Are you reading me?

Wally Schirra

Roger, Al. Read you loud and clear.

Al Shepard (CAPCOM)

Understand you're ready to go home, Wally.

Wally Schirra

Roger. I've got everything all set, Al, except for the squib switch, which I'll put on your count.

Al Shepard (CAPCOM)

Very good. You're going to use ASCS retro, and manual proportional standby.

Wally Schirra

That is affirmative. The handle is sitting in at this time; I'll pull it out.

Al Shepard (CAPCOM)

Okay. Your attitudes look very good, Wally, and your clock is 5 seconds fast.—So with the present setting, we should time out right on time.

Wally Schirra

Roger, Al. I've got—I'm coming up on 30 seconds to go. I'll give you my light.

Wally Schirra

I've got the 5 minute light on. This is the 30 second light—5, 4, 3, 2, 1, LIGHTT There it is. I've got a light and a tone. Tone is out.

Al Shepard (CAPCOM)

Very good. The timing is right on, Wally. I'll count down to retrosequence, and you'll arm the squibs at 5.

Al Shepard (CAPCOM)

Here we go at 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5.

Wally Schirra

I have sequence, and capsule is nice and tight. Got attitude green. She sitting here like a tight rock, Al.

Wally Schirra

Yeah. They looked beautiful here, too. Oh boy! She's a good little capsule, I'll clue you.

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Spoken on Oct. 3, 1962, 9:06 p.m. UTC (63 years, 4 months ago). Link to this transcript range is: Tweet

Wally Schirra

I've got (retro rocket number) 1, and she's holding real tight. Very tight. I got 2, my attitudes are right on the money. I've got 3.

Al Shepard (CAPCOM)

Very good. We confirm on T/M. Retros 1, 2, and 3. Attitudes holding very well. Retro jettison switch to arm.

Al Shepard (CAPCOM)

Emergency retro jettison fuse switch is on.

Wally Schirra

Roger. They are all on. Retro jet is armed. Got sunlight. Everybody's very happy. I'm going to fly-by-wire, Al, to pitch to reentry attitude. Manual is going in.

Al Shepard (CAPCOM)

And we show you have about 68 percent auto and 84 percent manual fuel left. I think our readings are probably a little closer than yours.

Wally Schirra

I've got 68 (percent) auto and 78 (percent) manual.

Wally Schirra

Standing by for retro jett. I have retro jett, and light is green. I could hear it by the way.

Al Shepard (CAPCOM)

Very good. We confirm retro jettison.

Wally Schirra

Okay. I am using fly-by-wire low to pitch up to reentry attitude.

Al Shepard (CAPCOM)

Okay. We're following you here.

Wally Schirra

Roger. I am a little sloppy on the roll as you may see. No strain. I'm going to put her right into ASCS when I get up here. Okay. She's in reentry as far as roll goes. Okay. The scope is coming in. I'm on the gyros.

Al Shepard (CAPCOM)

Roger. We confirm scope retract on T/M.

Al Shepard (CAPCOM)

And you're very close to reentry attitude.

Wally Schirra

Roger. I'm in reentry attitude now.

Al Shepard (CAPCOM)

Roger. Understand you will go to RSCS prior to 0.05g, with aux damp as a back up.

Wally Schirra

That is affirmative. I'm now going to ASCS at this time. And she's tight and holding.

Al Shepard (CAPCOM)

Understand you are in ASCS.

Wally Schirra

That is correct. I want to see if the reentry logic was in.

Al Shepard (CAPCOM)

Roger. And you will go to RSCS prior to 0.05g.

Wally Schirra

That is correct, Al. I want to give her a checkout. Those retros were real cute, and right on the money.

Wally Schirra

I'd say attitudes didn't vary 1 degree.

Al Shepard (CAPCOM)

Real tight. Real tight.

Wally Schirra

Righto. I think they're gonna put me on number 3 elevator.