Astronaut Scientific Debriefings, 1962-1963

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I
23
blue scout had been launched from Vandenberg (AF$).
It had
the most fantastic lighting I have ever seen anywhere~
It
had the exhaust trail and above the horizon it had this
fantastic glow - ionization glow (like a vapor · cloud)
would describe it as - which would best pin down - resemble­
the zodiacal light if you ever wanted to do it ~ It had a
band across the horizon about 60 to 70 degrees· and it · went
right up the ecliptic and picked up the moon· and the · planets.
It was just amazing.
Shoemaker - How far could you trace it?
Schirra - I could see it right up to the zenith as much as I
could see out the cockpit.
We were all oohing and ahing.
I think you have seen this same glow from a booster· flight at
night, particularly if you can pick up a sunset or· sunrise
when you get above the earth's shadow and get into the lighted
area where the booster is.
There is a tremendous · expansion wave
that's behind the vehicle and this is basically what it looks
like.
Dubin - These pictures of Glenn's Atlas flight show the same
thing .
o o o
Schirra - I think it was mine you saw ...
O'Keefe - What you saw from the cockpit - was it from the blue
streak or was it the zodiacal light?
Schirra - I think the two just drew it together and that it was
definitely stimulated by this blue streak as it went up almost
up the ecliptic in relation to the arc field of view.