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

342
First Steps into Space: Projects Mercury and Gemini
White
We proved, in my mind, that I had the capability to go from Point A to Point B
with that maneuvering unit.
McDivitt
Let me ask you this question, and be honest about it. Would you detach your
tether and go without it? Don’t be too optimistic, because other people’s lives may
depend on it,
White
I think that we probably have not done enough investigation to do that at this
time, but I feel we are progressing toward the point. We made the first, say 50
percent, of the step toward being able to detach the tether and go. I don’t be lieve
that I would detach the tether and go with that 6-feet/second --.
[4-64]
McDivitt
Oh, no. I didn’t mean that. I mean with that type of unit.
White
If I had some more change of V in a unit like that I think that I would be willing
to detach myself on the next flight, right now, from the spacecraft and go. That’s
combined with two things, you see. You have two things working for you. You have
the capability to maneuver yourself, and, if you should get out of control, the
spacecraft still has the capability to come over and get close enough so that you
could get yourself back in control and get in the spacecraft.
White
I think that 40 or 50 feet/second would be a minimum, I had 6 and I’d like to see,
probably, a capability of about 10 times that. That may be a little --.
McDivitt
It’s difficult. I would think it would be difficult to fix a number on it until you
fixed the job.
White
Yes.
McDivitt
If you wanted to go to something that was 10 feet away and come back, you’d
probably get by with 20 feet/second.
White
If I wanted to get out of the spacecraft and go along to the back of the adapter and
get in the adapter without being attached to the spacecraft, I’d only need two or
three times the amount. I’d be happy to go with that.