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

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First Steps into Space: Projects Mercury and Gemini
plus the heat exchanger, however, increase the total capsule weight
beyond acceptable limits.
Furthermore, the necessary redesign of the antenna and heat exchanger
systems will require considerable testing and development before reliability
and confidence is increased to that required for manned flight. In
addition, the inclusion of a television system in the capsule communication
link will raise R.F. compatibility problems which in the past required
months of tests and developments to solve. For example, ground tests
indicate that extraneous R.F. signals or even incompatible systems can
cause an inadvertent abort or improper ground command during flight.
[2]
4. There is no doubt that at this time a change in the communication system
of this magnitude will compromise the Mercury schedule, the reliability of
the entire system, and the safety of the pilot. The use of television in our
manned flight program must await future flight projects when adequate
booster capability will be available to carry the increased payload and
when an integrated television-communication system can be designed,
developed and suitably tested.
[Signed]
Abe Silverstein
Director of Space Flight Programs
Document I-41
Document Title: Dr. Robert B. Voas, Training Officer, NASA, Memorandum
for Astronauts, “Statements for Foreign Countries During Orbital Flights,” 7
November 1961.
Source: Folder 18674, NASA Historical Reference Collection, NASA History
Division, NASA Headquarters, Washington DC.
The importance of the Mercury program to the larger cold war rivalry with the Soviet Union is
demonstrated by this memorandum concerning the possibility of radio transmissions relating
news about the missions to various foreign nations. One of the key aspects of the early space
race involved persuading non-aligned peoples in the cold war of the superiority of the U.S.
and its way of life over that offered by the Soviet Union’s communism. Directly speaking
to some of these peoples from space might help sway their opinions. At the same time, the
desire to appear genuine, unscripted as to remarks, and non-propagandistic motivated this
discussion of commentary by the astronauts. In the end, the Mercury Seven performed their
roles quite well, making interesting remarks via radio that were heard around the world.
NASA Manned Spacecraft Center
Langley Air Force Base, Virginia
November 7, 1961