America's First Orbital Flight 2/20/62

Glenn_enters_Transfer_Van.rm

Streaming RealVideo of Glenn entering the Transfer Van before proceeding to the launch pad.

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Glenn_enters_Transfer_Van.high.zip

The above in a high quality 500 Kbps RealVideo file (recommended for use only by those with fast processors).

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Glenn_enters_Friendship_7.rm

Streaming RealVideo of Glenn entering his space capsule, Friendship 7.

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Glenn_enters_Friendship_7.high.zip

The above in a high quality 500 Kbps RealVideo file (recommended for use only by those with fast processors).

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Glenn_Heart_prelaunch.wav

The sound of John Glenn's heart just before lift-off.

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Glenn_Launch.wav

The launch countdown from T-60 seconds to the starting of the backup capsule clock after lift-off. One of the most interesting and exciting launch countdown recordings.

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Glenn_Godspeed.wav

From the above - the famous "Godspeed, John Glenn" quote made by Flight Director Kris Kraft during countdown.

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Glenn_Lift-off.rm

Streaming RealVideo of the launch from T-8 seconds.

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Glenn_Lift-off.high.zip

The above in a high quality 500 Kbps RealVideo file (recommended for use only by those with fast processors).

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Glenn_All_systems_are_go.wav

Glenn: "All systems are go!".

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Glenn_Control_system_checks.wav

Bermuda CapCom asks Glenn about status of control system checks.

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Glenn_Orbital_days.wav

Glenn to Muchea Australia Capcom & fellow Astronaut Gordon Cooper about his experience with orbital days.

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Glenn_Loud_and_clear.wav

Guaymas, Mexico tracking station - "Roger, Friendship 7, loud and clear."

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Glenn_hails_Guaymas.wav

Glenn hails Guaymas tracking station during second orbit.

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Glenn_Particles.wav

Glenn describes particles floating outside his cabin to Guaymas tracking station. These turned out to be ice particles that condensed around the capsule and broke free during orbit.

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Glenn_fly-by-wire.wav

Glenn tells Bermuda tracking station he is "flying by wire" (manually controlling the ship's direction) since his leftward controls are malfunctioning.

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Glenn_Landing_Bag.wav

Glenn is asked about his the status of his landing bag switch for the first time by Capcom Gordon Cooper. Telemetry was reporting that Glenn's landing bag had deployed, which if true would have been fatal during re-entry into the earth's atmosphere.

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Glenn_hailed_by_Muchea.wav

From the above - Glenn is hailed by Muchea tracking station.

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Glenn_Landing_Bag_Switch.wav

From the same as above - Capcom Cooper: "Will you confirm that your landing bag switch is in the off position, over?".

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Glenn_Go_for_third_orbit.wav

Hawaii Capcom asks Glenn if he considers himself "go" for a third orbit.

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Glenn_California_station.wav

Glenn banters with California Capcom & fellow Astronaut Wally Schirra at the end of his third orbit.

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Glenn_California_hail.wav

From the above - California tracking station hails Glenn.

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Glenn_Mercury_Control.wav

Mercury Control at Cape Canaveral Florida reports on the status of Friendship 7.

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Glenn_Retro_Sequence.wav

Glenn with the assistance of California Capcom Schirra's directions fires his retro-rockets to initiate re-entry.

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Glenn_Retro_fire_countdown.wav

From the above - Schirra counts down to retro fire.

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Glenn_Retro_fire.wav

From the same as above - The retro rockets fire.

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Glenn_That's_affirmative.wav

From the same as above - Glenn responds "That's affirmative" to Schirra regarding his keeping his retro package on. Ground engineers believed that doing this might save Glenn's life during re-entry if his landing bag had indeed deployed.

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Glenn_signs_off_with_Schirra.wav

From the same as above - Glenn signs off with California Capcom Schirra.

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Glenn_Retro_Package_re-entry.wav

Texas Capcom recommends that the retro package be left on during reentry. Glenn asks why, but is told there is no reason "at the present time".

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Glenn_asks_for_reason.wav

From the above - Glenn asks for the reason for his leaving his retro package on during re-entry.

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Glenn_asks_instructions.wav

From the same as above - Glenn asks for instructions regarding leaving his retro package on during re-entry.

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Glenn_Roger.wav

Glenn gives a tepid "Roger" to his received his re-entry instructions. Glenn's voice demonstrates he knew there must have been something wrong with his craft if ground control was having him keep the pack on.

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Glenn_Roger_understand.wav

After learning that telemetry had been reporting his landing bag deployed, Glenn betrays his concern with "Roger, understand.".

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Glenn_Re-entry_to_LOS.wav

The last moments of communications between Cape Canaveral and Glenn before loss-of-signal (LOS) caused by the ionization field around Friendship 7 during re-entry. At the time, it was feared that this might be the last conversation had with Glenn alive before burning up in the earth's atmosphere.

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Glenn_Just_let_go.wav

Unheard by the ground during LOS, but recorded by his onboard recorder, Glenn remarks "This is Friendship 7, I think the pack just let go.".

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Glenn_Canaveral_hails_Glenn_1.wav

Cape Canaveral Capcom and fellow Astronaut Alan Shepard tries to hail Glenn during LOS.

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Glenn_Fireball.wav

During LOS, Glenn exclaims "Friendship 7, there's a real fireball outside.".

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Glenn_Canaveral_hails_Glenn_2.wav

Capcom Shepard continues to hail Glenn during LOS.

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Glenn_Canaveral_hails_Glenn_3.wav

Anxious to hear that Glenn is still alive, Capcom Shepard hails Glenn yet again during LOS.

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Glenn_Communications_reestablished.wav

With obvious tension, Shepard continues to hail Glenn, and at last Glenn answers, verifying that he has made it through re-entry alive.

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Glenn_Loud_&_clear.wav

From the above - Glenn: "Roger, reading you loud and clear.".

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Glenn_Say_again.wav

Glenn: "Say again.".

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Glenn_Descent.wav

Glenn's descent from the deployment of his parachutes to his contacting the US Destroyer Noa (Codename "Steelhead") for pick-up.

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Glenn_Drogue_chute.wav

From the above - Glenn reports the deployment of his drogue parachutes.

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Glenn_Main_chute.wav

From the same as above - a relieved and excited Glenn reports the deployment of his main parachute.

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Glenn_hails_Steelhead.wav

From the same as above - Glenn hails the destroyer Noa ("Steelhead") to inform them of his position so that they can arrange to pick him up from his landing position in the Atlantic Ocean.

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