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

Exploring the Unknown 193
SECTION A [Enclosure 4, page A1-4]
CARRIER DEBRIEFING
IMMEDIATELY AFTER FLIGHT
MAY 5, 1961
1. The following is a transcription of a tape recording made by Astronaut
Shepard aboard the aircraft carrier approximately one to two hours after
flight. This tape recording constitutes an essential part of the planned
debriefing of Shepard and covers the time period from his entrance
into the capsule to his arrival aboard the aircraft carrier. The period
of the flight between retrojettison and main chute deployment was not
described aboard the carrier. A description of this part of the flight was
made on the day after the flight and is included herein.
2. “This is the first flight debriefing, and before I go into the formal
debriefing kit, I would like to say, as a general comment, that I quite
frankly did a whole lot better than I thought I was going to be able to
do. I was able to maintain control of the capsule fairly well throughout
all of the manual maneuvers I made. I was able to follow the sequences
fairly well throughout the entire flight, and, as a general comment, I
felt that even though I did not accomplish every single detail that we
had planned for the flight, I still did much better than I had originally
thought I would.
3. “With that general comment as a start, I’ll go into the first question
of the debriefing kit which says ‘What would you like to say first?’ and I’ve
just said it.
4. Question, No. 2 ‘Starting from your insertion into the capsule and ending
with your arrival aboard the recovery ship, tell us about the entire mission.’
“Starting with foot over the sill back at Pad 5, I make these remarks.
The preparations of the capsule and its interior were indeed excellent.
Switch positions were completely in keeping with the gantry check lists.
The gantry crew had prepared the suit circuit purge properly. Everything
was ready to go when I arrived, so as will be noted elsewhere, there was no
time lost in the insertion. Insertion was started as before. My new boots
were so slippery on the bottom that my right foot slipped off the right
elbow of the couch support and on down into the torso section causing
some superficial damage to the sponge rubber insert – nothing of any
great consequence, however. [Page A4-7] From this point on, insertion
proceeded as we had practiced. I was able to get my right leg up over
the couch support and part way across prior to actually getting the upper
torso in. The left leg went in with very little difficulty. With the new
plastic guard I hit no switches that I noticed. I think I had a little trouble
getting my left arm in, and I’m not quite sure why. I think it’s mainly