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

Exploring the Unknown 245
NASA alone, we learned how to operate the world network in real time and keep
it up. And I think we learned a lot in how to manage development programs of
this kind and to manage operations of this kind.
I thank you very much.
*Oral presentation transcribed by occ; typed by rhd.
Document I-48
Document Title: Christopher C. Kraft, Jr., “A Review of Knowledge Acquired
from the First Manned Satellite Program,” No date, 1963
Source: Folder 18674, NASA Historical Reference Collection, NASA History
Division, NASA Headquarters, Washington DC.
Christopher C. Kraft, Jr. joined the NACA in 1944 and became a member of the Space Task
Group upon its inauguration in 1958 and a close associate of STG Director Robert Gilruth. He
served as Senior Flight Director for all of the Mercury missions. Because of his unique perspective
on Mercury, his review of the program is especially valuable as an historical document.
NASA FACT SHEET #206
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
MANNED SPACECRAFT CENTER
HOUSTON 1, TEXAS
A REVIEW OF KNOWLEDGE ACQUIRED FROM THE FIRST MANNED SAT-
ELLITE PROGRAM
By
Christopher C. Kraft, Jr.
NASA Manned Spacecraft Center
SYNOPSIS
With the completion of the Mercury program, science has gained
considerable new knowledge about space. In more than 52 hours of manned
flight, the information brought back has changed many ideas about space flight.
Design problems occupied the first and major portion of the Mercury program.
The heat shield, the shape of the Mercury spacecraft, the spacecraft systems,
and the recovery devices were developed. Flight operations procedures were
organized and developed and a training program both ground and flight crew
was followed. Scientific experiments were planned with Man in the loop. These
included photography, extra spacecraft experiments, and observation or selfperforming
types of experiments.