Oct 3 1962
From The Space Library
SIGMA 7 spacecraft with Astronaut Walter M. Schirra, Jr., as pilot was launched into orbit by Mercury-Atlas vehicle at Cape Canaveral. Orbital data: apogee, 176 mi.; perigee, 100 mi.; period, 88.5 min. Schirra traveled 160,000 mi., nearly six orbits, returning to earth at predetermined point in Pacific Ocean about 9 hrs., 14 min. after blastoff. Within 40 min. after landing he and his spacecraft were safely aboard aircraft carrier U.S.S. Kearsarge.
Highly successful MA-8 flight proved the feasibility of (1) prolonged weightless flight in space and (2) drifting in orbit without consumption of hydrogen-peroxide attitude control fuel and without physically endangering the astronaut. Schirra, who spent a total of 2½ hrs. in drifting flight, reported there were no unusual attitude control problems during drifting.
Various other scientific. experiments during MA-8 flight included astronaut's sighting of luminous particles in space, also reported by Astronauts John H. Glenn and M. Scott Carpenter; and photographing cloud formations with a special hand camera.
SIGMA 7 was sighted by observers on Indian Ocean tracking ship for five min. as the spacecraft made its third orbit more than 100 mi. high. The observers said SIGMA 7 appeared almost as bright as Venus. This was the first reported visual sighting of a manned spacecraft during orbital flight.
Only technical difficulty of the entire operation was attaining proper adjustment of Schirra's spacesuit coolant supply and failure of body temperature measurements in first orbit. However, desired suit temperatures were achieved early in second orbit.
In press conference following MA-8, D. Brainerd Holmes, NASA Director of Manned Space Flight, said: "This was a highly successful flight, magnificently performed. It proved there is no substitute for sound engineering and thorough training." Walter C. Williams, Vice Director of Mercury Operations, said that "so far as I am concerned, the mission was perfect." He added that the next Mercury mission would be a 24-hour flight in early 1963.
Soviet Foreign Ministry told U.S. Embassy in Moscow that the "Soviet Union will not undertake any action that might hinder the flight of the American spaceman Walter Schirra." The Soviets were replying to U.S. note requesting the U.S.S.R. to refrain from nuclear tests during the MA-8 flight.
President Kennedy appointed Dr. Frederick Seitz to his Science Advisory Committee. Dr. Seitz, president of the National Academy of Sciences, succeeded Dr. Detlev W. Bronk on the committee.
SIGMA 7 (MA-8) launching was relayed to Western Europe via TELSTAR satellite. European TV network Eurovision broadcast the launching sequence to 17 countries. Televised launch was also viewed by millions of Americans.
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