Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. PROJECT MERCURY (LITTLE JOE)

ArchivalResource

Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. PROJECT MERCURY (LITTLE JOE)

1959-1960

Summary: Coverage of NASA boiler-plate Mercury capsule tests containing a Rhesus monkey in hermetically sealed container, launched by Little Joe rocket. Shows Little Joe IV launch, USMC UH-34D returning capsule after pick-up, preparing Rhesus monkey for test, Little Joe III onboard footage and transfer of Mercury capsule from USS BORIE to flat-bed trailer at Norfolk, Virginia. Reel 1: ELS of Little Joe IV rocket after lift-off and climb. (21 January 1960) 10' MS of SAM and NASA personnel following launch with binoculars. 19' LS to MS of Marine UH-34D carrying Mercury capsule and in flight after delivery of capsule--intercut with cameramen in action. 41' LS pan down to military and civilian personnel walking out to Mercury capsule and firemen hosing down capsule--Marine UH-34D in flight in bg--intercut with observers and astronauts Lt Col John H. Glenn (USMC) and Lt Comdr Alan B. Shepard, Jr. (USN), looking at capsule, and capsule being lifted by crane. 77' Total footage in reel. Reel 2: MS's & MCU's of technicians working on environmental capsule for a Rhesus monkey--shows contour couch inside capsule and capsule being tested. 142' MLS & MCU's of three Rhesus monkeys in separate cages--handler feeding them (one eating a piece of apple) and one being removed. 248' Scenes of Rhesus monkey being clipped, electrodes attached and laced into form-fitting couch, placed into environmental cylindrical container, lowered and sealed in outer shell, then capsule is hoisted and placed into Mercury capsule and checked out by electronic equipment. 484' Sequence from onboard up and down cameras as Little Joe III climbs through cloud--short scene of earth receding and separation of escape tower. 663' LS's of cargo ship underway and building along waterfront. 690' MS's, MLS & LS of French Liner, LSD Ft. Mandan No. 21 and another ship underway. 770' MLS's high angle of VIP's going aboard destroyer USS BORIE, transfer of stretcher (possibly Mr. Sam) and Mercury capsule lowered to flat-bed trailer, tied down and covered. 880' Total footage in reel. Reel 3: Static and tracking camera footage of Little Joe IV launch showing lift-off and programmed flight. Also shows a Marine UH-34D in flight to left. (21 January 1960) 812' Total footage in reel. Reel 4: High-speed camera footage of Little Joe IV launch and programmed climb. 209' LS of Little Joe IV rocket on pad--crane nearby. 230' MLS of Little Joe IV in launch position--personnel leaving pad area. 253' LS of Little Joe IV static launch. 283' AELS's of Little Joe IV launch just after lift-off and erratic tracking. 590' MS Little Joe IV launch and programmed climb. 706' Total footage in reel. Good (Basic: R-1, Orig ektachrome; R-2 - 4, Mas Koda)

Film Reel

eng, Latn

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 6497945

National Archives at College Park

Related Entities

There are 3 Entities related to this resource.

Shepard, Alan B. (Alan Bartlett), 1923-1998

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w62b9ffh (person)

Rear Admiral Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr. (November 18, 1923 – July 21, 1998) was an American astronaut, naval aviator, test pilot, and businessman. In 1961, he became the first American to travel into space, and in 1971, he walked on the Moon. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Shepard saw action with the surface navy during World War II. He became a naval aviator in 1946, and a test pilot in 1950. He was selected as one of the original NASA Mercury Seven astronauts in ...

Project Mercury (U.S.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6129mmr (corporateBody)

Project Mercury was the first human spaceflight program of the United States, running from 1958 through 1963. An early highlight of the Space Race, its goal was to put a man into Earth orbit and return him safely, ideally before the Soviet Union. Taken over from the U.S. Air Force by the newly created civilian space agency NASA, it conducted twenty unmanned developmental flights (some using animals), and six successful flights by astronauts. The astronauts were collectively known as the "Mercury...

Glenn, John, 1921-2016

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6t54gzv (person)

John Herschel Glenn, Jr. (b. July 18, 1921, Cambridge, Guernsey County-d. December 8, 2016, Columbus, Ohio), astronaut and U.S. Senator from Ohio. He attended public schools of New Concord, Ohio, and later graduated from Muskingum College. Glenn served in the United States Marine Corps from 1942 to 1965, and was later a test pilot and joining the United States space program in 1959. He was selected as one of the original seven Mercury astronauts. In February 1962, Glenn became the first American...