Exploring the Unknown: Selected Documents in ... - The Black Vault

56
First Steps into Space: Projects Mercury and Gemini
Beryllium ablation shield 850 pounds
Parachute
100 pounds
Recovery (?) system 50 pounds
Retrorocket
250 pounds
Structure
300 pounds
Instruments
70 pounds
Capsule
70 pounds
Total weight 2545 pounds
Boosters: Atlas and Rustler (F 2
– NH 3
)
Schedule: Manned earth satellite late in 1963 (with 3300 pound payload and
Atlas-Rustler booster.)
[6]
Costs $80 x 10 6 .
Discussion
Concerning the high lift/drag glider configurations as opposed to the high drag
zero-lift ballistic reentry concepts Mr. Krause presented the following arguments:
The high L/D configuration entail:
(a) Unsolved aerodynamic and structural problems
(b) Development of new test methods
(c) Major test facilities
(d) Material development
(e) Long development schedule
(f) Structural fabrication problems
The high drag configurations entail:
(a) Nominal test facilities
(b) Development of heat sink materials
(c) Short development schedule
(d) Simple fabrication
(e) Aerodynamic data available
A high altitude research program involves:
(a) Procuring scientific data
(b) Studying environmental effects
(c) Testing components
(d) Developing recovery techniques
(e) Biomedical experiments
(g) Manned flight