Clearly this will take much time to finish. Please be patient. Approximate progress thus far: 3/4 done Part 1.

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This New Ocean: A History of Project Mercury

by:
Loyd S. Swenson Jr.
James M. Grimwood
Charles C. Alexander

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We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won, and they must be won and used for the progress of all people. For space science, like nuclear science and all technology, has no conscience of its own.

Whether it will become a force for good or ill depemds on man, and only if the United States occupies a position of preeminence can we help decide whether this new ocean will be a sea of peace or a new, terrifying theater of war.

JOHN F. KENNEDY
Rice University Stadium
Houston, Texas
September 12, 1962

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Foreward

Preface

Part 1 - Research

• Chapter 1 - The Lure, the Lock, the Key (to 1958)
  • Conquest of the Air
  • The Highway to Space
  • Postwar American Rocketry
  • Redstone and Atlas
  • Sputniks and Soul-Searching
  
  
• Chapter 2 - Exploring the Human Factor (1948 - 1958)
  • Beginnings of Space Medicine
  • Zero G
  • Multiple G
  • Environmental Control
  • Matter From Space
  • Space Radiation
  • A Reason for Research
  
  
• Chapter 3 - Aeronautics to Astronautics: NACA Research (1952 - 1957)
  • NACA Moves Toward Space
  • Reentry: Aerodynamics to Thermodynamics
  • A Moon for a Man
  • Air Force Provides a Need
  • Jockeying for Position
  
  
• Chapter 4 - From NACA to NASA (November 1957 - September 1958)
  • Missiles to Manned Ballistic Satellites
  • NACA's Metamorphosis Begins
  • Man in Space Soonest?
  • NACA Makes Ready
  • Birth of NASA
  • Other Means to the Same End
  • NASA Gets the Job

Part 2 - Development

• Chapter 5 - Specifications for a Manned Satellite (October - December 1958)
  • A Manned Satellite Plan
  • The People in Charge
  • "Aerospace" Technology
  • Calling for a Capsule Contractor
  • Shopping for the Boosters
  • Heat Sink Versus Ablation
  • Project Astronaut
  
  
• Chapter 6 - From Design into Development (January - June 1959)
  • Brickbat Priority
  • Awarding the Prime Contract
  • Heatshield Resolution
  • Applied Research
  • Costs and Cancellations
  • Supporting Agencies and Industries
  • Astronaut Selection
  
  
• Chapter 7 - Man-Rating the Machines (July - December 1959)
  • Mercury Team Takes Shape
  • Converging Technologies
  • Approaches to Reliability
  • Critical Components of the Capsule
  • Big Joe Shot
  • Little Joe Series
  • One World Network
  
  
• Chapter 8 - Machine-Rating the Men (January - June 1960)
  • Controlling the Hostile Environment
  • Suiting Up for Space
  • Seven Astronauts in Training
  • Looking Over Mercury and Beyond
  • Management Learns Its Limits
  • Is Perfect Reliability Possible?
  • Head and Hands of NASA
  
  
• Chapter 9 - From Development into Qualification: Flight Tests (July - December 1960)
  • Moving to the Launch Site
  • Atlas-Mercury One: A Complete Failure
  • Election Year Appraisals
  • Technical Sprint for Man in Space
  • Little Joe 5 Votes No
  • MR-1: The Four-Inch Flight
  • MR-1A: Suborbital Quality Proven
  
  
• Chapter 10 - Tests Versus Time in the Race for Space (January - April 1961)
  • Interregnum
  • MR-2: Ham Paves the Way
  • MA-2: Trussed Atlas Qualifies the Capsule
  • When is a Vehicle Man-Rated?
  • LJ-5A Still Premature
  • MR-BD Is Not MR-3
  • Vostok Wins the First Lap
  • "News Will be Worse Before it is Better:" MA-3 and LJ-5B

Part 3 - Operations

• Chapter 11 - Suborbital Flights into Space
  • Final Preparation for MR-3
  • Last-Minute Qualms
  • Shepard's Ride
  • Briefing the Briefers
  • Precipitation From MR-3
  • Second Suborbital Trial
  • Liberty Bell Tolls
  • Titov Widens the Gap
  
  
• Chapter 12 - Final Rehearsal
  • Mercury Orbits At Last
  • Space Task Group Gets a New Home and Name
  • Wires Get Crossed: Mercury-Scout 1
  • Man or Chimpanzee for MA-5?
  • Training Primates and Men
  • Chimpanzee Into Orbit
  • Now a Man in Orbit?
  
  
• Chapter 13 - Mercury Mission Accomplished
  • Preparing a Man to Orbit
  • Buildup for the Space Offensive
  • An American in Orbit
  • The Hero
  • Program Growth
  • The Slayton Case
  • MA-7 Preparations
  • Flight of Aurora 7
  
  
• Chapter 14 - Climax of Project Mercury
  • Longer Legs for Mercury
  • Preparations for MA-8
  • The Textbook Flight
  • Redevelopment for MA-9
  • Faith 7 for 22 Orbits
  • Whither Gemini?

Epilogue

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Notes on Sources and Selected Bibliography

• Note on Sources
• Persons Interviewed
• Selected Bibliography (1) - Basic Reports on Project Mercury
• Selected Bibliography (2) - NASA Project Mercury Working Papers
• Selected Bibliography (3) - Biblographical Aids
• Selected Bibliography (4) - Official Reports and Documents
• Selected Bibliography (5) - Books
• Selected Bibliography (6) - Journal Articles
• Selected Bibliography (7) - Unpublished Works
• Selected Bibliography (8) - Postflight Reports

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Page numbers from the original publication are included within the text within square brackets.

The NASA Historical Series
NASA SP-4201
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Scientific and Technical Information Division
Office of Technology Utilization
Washington, DC
Published 1966