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(NASA-T_-X-_2338) _.RCU_Y-AILAS MISSION 6 N75-70815

(_A-6 SPACICRAfT 13) (NASA) 15 p

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 TEST OBJECTIVES

Test objectives for MA-6/13.- The MA-6/15 mission will be the sixth
flight of a specification Mercury spacecraft to be powered by an Atlas
booster. The spacecraft will be occupied by an astronaut. The space-
craft, after insertion, will complete three orbits before reentering
the earth's atmosphere and landing in a predesignated area approxi-
mately 700 nautical miles southeast of Cape Canaveral, Florida.

First-order test obOectives.-

(a) Evaluate the performance of a man-spacecraft system in a

three-orbit mission

(b) Evaluate the effects of space flight on the astronaut

(c) Obtain the astronaut's opinions of the operational suita-

bility of the spacecraft and supporting systems for manned space
flight

FLIGHT ACTIVITIES

General.- One of the objectives of the first manned orbital flight

will be detailed reporting of spacecraft systems operations. In
addition, the astronaut will perform many flight maneuvers using
the manual proportional and fly-by-wire systems to determine his
ability to control the spacecraft under varying conditions of
attitudes and his ability to recover from a nonstandard attitude
maneuver. Additional objectives will be to make visual observations,
and to report on his physical condition.

Launch phase.- During the launch phase, the astronaut will make
periodic reports on spacecraft systems status and launch phase
events as they occur.

Orbit phase.- All ground stations will receive telemetry from the
spacecraft which will indicate the condition of both the spacecraft
and astronaut. In addition, the voice sites will have talk capa-
bility to discuss operations with the astronaut and relay any
pertinent information back to the Mercury Control Center.

At 30-minute intervals during the orbit phase, the astronaut will

make a complete report on his physical condition and the status of
 - 2 -

the spacecraft. Observations will be madeby the astronaut of cloud

formations, weather conditions, landmarks, sunrises and sunsets,
visibility of stars, night visibility of cities, etc. The astronaut
will eat two meals during the mission and any changes in taste and
smell sensation will be noted. Three primary maneuvers are planned,
(one in the second orbit and two in the third orbit), wherein rates
about all axes are initiated and recovery is madeusing either the
mar_al proportional or fly-by-wire control mode. A combinedyaw-
roll maneuverwill be madeto observe sunrise. Also during the orbit
phase, brief maneuverswill be madeusing day and night horizons,
landmarks, and stars as references. A period of inverted flight is
planned to determine effect of replacement of earth and sky on
disorientation.

Reentry phase.- At the end of the third orbit, the retrorockets will
be fired by the onboard clock with the astronaut and California
ground station as backup. From this point on, the sequence of events
will be automatic with the astronaut observing the sequence and
providing manual override if required.
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 TABLE II.- NOMINAL WEIGHTS FOR THE MA-6/13 SPACECRAFT

4,257.70 pounds Gross weight at lift-off (includes adapter and

escape tower)

2,969.66 pounds Spacecraft weight after separation from Atlas

2,681.31 pounds Spacecraft weight at start of reentry

2,405.28 pounds Spacecraft flotation weight

 AERODYNAMIC
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VERNIER FAIRING

Figure l.-

Mercury-Atlas launch vehicle configuration.

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(a) Over At]

Figure 6.- Earth track of Mercury-Atlas

significant events and dep]

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Concluded.

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