Astronaut Scientific Debriefings, 1962-1963

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ROUGH DRAFI': l/13/62
CODE SCG: MD:dd
MEMORANDUM to Director, Office of Space Sciences
Subject:
Considerations and(tecommendations of'Mtwmed
0
'},pace~lorationYollowing the~tJ rview ( February 27)
~
with Lt. Col. John H. Glenn, q7coi{"i(i_erm presented a
~
detailed and factual description of his observations
during the MA' 6 flight.
He answered rather well the many
and varied questions presented to him during the limited
interview. ftespite the fact that he was ~
it~ e v e1 , 'n ~
1
\
~·t"· l..,
properly Q~"- o.
a number of his observations remain of
~.~
JV?
~
interest aad ~
further explorationJ"1further~re,
it is evident that the astronaut can perform various scien­
~
tific experiments,~has the aeiil~y capability of doing
com act
so despite the many limitations imposed.by the. Mercury capsule.
Some commezits*on f£01. Glenn's observations are presented
\) u
LL ... IA.~ t N.,c~~- clc--+'""""'""!
below ~• •~ •-, -
r·
"\
kun.inous ~ rticles :
In response to~ a series
of questions, Col. Glenn described the velocity field of
ii.- QM~
the luminous particles, their brightness 8'1./i. outside the
in
shadow of the spacecvaft, the coloring aBa sunlight and
their shape.
For the velocity field, the particles !all.
in
moved at preeise)y the same speed and !!.ll,.moved a~ precisely
the same direction except for particles coming very close
_,_ ....
~"'~•"<- f .-L
to the spacecraft.
This occurred similarl:i, :i,Q, all three
, . ..~d'f¥t.....~
orbits. From t.l¼e~-eie Vconsiderations alone, it may
be stated that the luminous Jparticles observed by Col. Glenn
were not extra~errestial particles but were particles asso­
ciated with the spacecraft or ~fte la~@Mftg e~ the booster.