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

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First Steps into Space: Projects Mercury and Gemini
vision for twenty-four (24) hours operation. The lights shall be suitably
mounted for maximum sighting distance.
A light weight transceiver shall be used for voice communication backup
during the recovery phase. It shall have self-contained batteries, have a
range of approximately 200 miles, be suitable for twenty-four (24) hours
operation and have a suitable antenna on the vehicle.
So-Far bombs which will automatically fire at reasonable time interval
after landing shall be used so that signals received at suitable stations will
aid in locating the vehicle.
Dye marker shall be deployed upon landing to aid in the visual location
of the vehicle during the search phase.
6.6 Navigational Aids
6.6.1 The pilot shall be provided with a means of navigation. To provide a back
up to the ground range tracking facilities, in the event of failure of the
capsule tracking beacons or other contingency that would exceed the
capability of the ground range system. This operation would entail the
determination of altitude, velocity position and local earth vertical, and
ground track over the earth.
6.6.2 The optical periscope, or equivalent specified in Section 4.3.3 and a
chronometer, shall be provided to fulfill the above requirements. Also
manual aids in the form of simplified tables or displays shall be provided
to facilitate navigational problems based on observations of earth, sun,
moon, or stars. The periscope will be used to indicate the misalignment
of the longitudinal axis of the capsule with respect to the flight path over
the earth. In the case of failure of the stabilization system, it will allow
the pilot to manually align the capsule with the flight path prior to firing
the retro rockets.
6.7 Power Supply
6.7.1 The main supply shall be of the silver-zinc type. It shall be suitable for
providing the capsules various power-requirements for the twenty-eight
(28) hour orbital flights plus the twelve (12) hour recovery phase.
6.7.2 Consideration should be given to the use of an emergency silver-zinc battery
to operate vital equipment during the reentry phase in case of failure
of the main power supply.
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