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(idASA-Ta-X-51302) PR3JEC'f EIEFCUAY: N74-74580

T E C R N I C A L I N F O R M A T I C N SUPlEJABY OF
f l E F C U R Y - A T L A S klISSION 5/9 ( C A P S U L E NO. 9)
(NASA) 1 4 p Unclas
9c/99 37593
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Space Task Group

Langley Air Force Base, Virginia

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 TEST OaTECTIVES AND SYSTEMS PRIORITIES

Test objectives f o r MA-5/9.- The MA-5/9 mission w i l l be the f i f t h f l i g h t

of a specification Mercury capsule t o be powered by an Atlas booster.
The capsule w i l l have a medium-sized primate aboard f o r t h i s mission.
The capsule, after insertion, w i l l complete three o r b i t s before
reentering t h e e a r t h ' s atmosphere and landing i n a predesignated area
approximately 689 nautical miles southeast of C a p e Camaveral, Florida.

Capsule -
(1) Demonstrate t h e performance of t h e Environmental Control
System by u t i l i z i n g a primate during the three-orbit mission.

(2) Demonstrate s a t i s f a c t o r y performance of t h e capsule

systems throughout a Mercury o r b i t a l mission.

(3) Determine by detailed measurements t h e heating rate and

the thermal e f f e c t s throughout t h e Mercury capsule f o r a l l phases
of an o r b i t a l mission.

(4) Exercise the s a t e l l i t e clock.

Booster -Determine the a b i l i t y of t h e Atlas booster t o release
t h e Mercury capsule a t t h e prescribed o r b i t a l i n s e r t i o n conditions.

Network - Demonstrate s a t i s f a c t o r y performance of the Mercury N e t -

work i n supporting an o r b i t a l mission.

F l i g h t control - Demonstrate the a b i l i t y of t h e F l i g h t Controllers

t o s a t i s f a c t o r i l y monitor and control an o r b i t a l mission.

Recoverz - Demonstrate the adequacy of the recovery plans f o r an

o r b i t a l mission. P a r t i c u l a r emphasis i s required f o r t h e capsule
occupant.

Second-order t e s t objectives.-

Booster -
(1) Evaluate t h e performance of t h e Abort Sensing and Imple-
mentation System.

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( 2 ) Determine t h e magnitude of the sustainer/vernier residual

t h r u s t a f t e r cutoff.

( 3 ) Obtain data on the r e p e a t a b i l i t y of the performance of

a l l A t l a s missile and ground systems.

Network - Evaluate Mercury Network countdown and operational pro-

cedure a.

Third-order t e a t ObjeCtiW6. -
Booster - Evaluate t h e A t l a s booster with regard t o engine start
and p o t e n t i a l causeB f o r combustion i n s t a b i l i t y .

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 TABI;E 11.- NOMINAL WEIGHTS FOR "HE MA-5/9 CAPSU~

4,195 pounds Gross weight at l i f t - o f f (includes adapter and

escape tower)

2,924 pounds Capsule weight a f t e r separation from A t l a s

2,635 pounds Capsule weight at start of reentry

2,347 pounds Capsule f l o t a t i o n weight

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ESCm TOWER

CAPS--BOOSTER

EQUIPMENT POD

LIQUID OXYGEN LIIE

STUB POD--
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Figure 1.-
Mercury-Atlas launch vehicle configuration.
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