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

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First Steps into Space: Projects Mercury and Gemini
ABORT LANDING AREAS, AND IN CONTINGENCY RECOVERY AREAS ALONG
THE ORBIT GROUND TRACK. RECOVERY READINESS WAS SATISFACTORY
IN ALL RESPECTS AT LAUNCH. [9]
THE LANDING OCCURRED WITHIN VISUAL RANGE OF THE
DESTROYER NOA, STATIONED APPROXIMATELY 45 NAUTICAL MILES
UPRANGE OF THE CENTER OF THE THIRD ORBIT LANDING AREA.
THE NOA SIGHTED THE PARACHUTE DURING CAPSULE DESCENT AT A
RANGE OF ABOUT 5 MILES AND ESTABLISHED COMMUNICATIONS WITH
THE ASTRONAUT. THE SHIP REPORTED THAT LANDING OCCURRED AT
APPROXIMATELY 1943Z AND THE SHIP WAS ALONGSIDE FOR RETRIEVAL
AT APPROXIMATELY 1959Z. THE ASTRONAUT REMAINED IN THE
CAPSULE DURING PICKUP AND THE CAPSULE WAS ABOARD AT ABOUT
2004Z. THE ASTRONAUT THEN LEFT THE CAPSULE THROUGH THE SIDE
HATCH AFTER FIRST ATTEMPTING A TOP EGRESS WITHOUT SUCCESS.
FOLLOWING INITIAL DEBRIEFING ON THE NOA THE ASTRONAUT WAS
TRANSFERRED BY HELICOPTER TO THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER RANDOLF
FOR FURTHER TRANSFER TO GRAND TURK. HE ARRIVED AT GRAND TURK
AT ABOUT 0145Z. WALTER C. WILLIAMS, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR.
SCP-4
RGA.jhr
CCK
COPY TO: NASA Hq – Attn.: Mr. G. M. Low, MS
Goddard SFC – Attn: Dr. H. J. Goett
J. C. Jackson