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)

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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

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/68749

Summary: Coverage of NASA boiler-plate Mercury capsule containing a Rhesus monkey "Miss Sam" in a hermetically sealed container and launch by Little Joe IV rocket. Shows the monkey being prepared for test, mating of escape tower to Mercury capsule, launch, USMC UH-34D returning capsule after pick-up and removal of "Miss Sam" from capsule. Also includes scenes of destroyer USS BORIE recovering Mercury capsule which was launched by Little Joe III on 4 December 1959. Reel 1: 1) Series of shots in launch area of Little Joe IV rocket on pad, party from School of Aviation Medicine including officers and doctors looking at base of rocket and leaving area; and crane lifting escape tower and being mated to boiler plate Mercury capsule. 2) Scenes of Rhesus monkey "Miss Sam" being prepared, laced into form-fitting couch, lowered and sealed in outer shell, then capsule is carried out and loaded into Merury capsule and checked out by electronic equipment. 3) Scenes of Maj Cloid D. Green (Dr) showing astronauts, Lt Col John H. Glenn (USMC) and Lt Comdr Alan B. Shepard, Jr., (USN), the inside framework of the environmental cylindrical container. 4) ELS of launch and tracking of Little Joe rocket, carrying Mercury capsule. 5) Scenes of SAM and NASA personnel, some with binoculars, following launch. 6) Scenes of enviromental container being removed from Mercury capsule--astronauts Glenn and Shepard watching and "Miss Sam" being removed from the cylindrical container. 7) Onboard footage of reactions of monkey during flight. 560' Total footage in reel. Reel 2: 1) ELS climb of Little Joe IV rocket carrying Mercury capsule. 2) Scenes of SAM and NASA personnel, some with binoculars, looking skyward. 3) Scenes of USMC UH-34D with underslung Mercury capsule in flight, depositing capsule on ground and helicopter in flight. 4) Scenes of crowd rushing over to Mercury capsule, firemen hosing down capsule and crane lifting Mercury capsule. 5) Onboard footage of "Miss Sam's" reactions during flight. 137' Total footage in reel. Reel 3: Scenes of destroyer USS BORIE crew recovering Mercury capsule which was launched by Little Joe III rocket on 4 December 1959--shows capsule bobbing and tossing in high waves, capsule being hoisted aboard ship and environmental container being removed. Also includes scenes of seaman being towed in by line, pulled aboard ship, his Mae West and outer clothing being removed, then he is escorted to lower deck. (He apparently was tossed overboard because waves were high and ship was pitching about badly). 211' Total footage in reel. Reel 4: 1) Onboard footage from down camera showing earth receding after lift-off of rocket. 2) Shows Little Joe IV rocket launch and climb. 3) Onboard footage of "Miss Sam" during flight. 4) Scenes in launch area of SAM and NASA personnel near base of Little Joe rocket and escape tower being placed on Mercury capsule with aid of crane. 5) Scenes of Maj Green (Dr) talking and showing astronauts Glenn and Shepard the environmental cylindrical container. 6) Scenes of Rhesus monkey "Miss Sam" being laced into form-fitting couch, then couch is placed inside environmental cylindrical container which is lowered into outer shell, sealed, carried to and loaded into Mercury capsule and capsule being checked out by electronic equipment. 7) ELS of Little Joe IV rocket launch. 8) Scenes of SAM and NASA personnel, some with binoculars, following launch. 9) Shows "Miss Sam" in couch being fed. 10) Scenes of environmental cylindrical container being removed from Mercury capsule and "Miss Sam" taken from the container. 11) MS's of astronauts Glenn and Shepard observing. 770' Total footage in reel. Fair-good (Basic: R-1&2 Orig neg, R-3 Mas pos, R-4 Dupe neg)

Film Reel

eng, Latn

National Archives at College Park

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 6497946

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 ...

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...

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...