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Redstone MRLV

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Redstone Mercury Credit: © Thomas Kladiva - Thomas Kladiva

Status: Retired 1961. First Launch: 1960-11-21. Last Launch: 1961-07-21. Number: 6 . Thrust: 357.00 kN (80,256 lbf). Gross mass: 28,400 kg (62,600 lb). Height: 20.00 m (65.00 ft). Diameter: 1.78 m (5.83 ft). Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

The Redstone used for the Mercury manned flights was derived from the Jupiter-C version of the Redstone originally developed as the first stage of a satellite launch vehicle. The designers of the Redstone and Jupiter missile systems proposed an extensive list of basic modifications to adapt the vehicle to the Mercury capsule. The fundamental change made to the Jupiter-C airframe was the elimination of its staging capability. Other modifications stripped it of its more sophisticated components while permitting it to retain greater performance characteristics than the original single-stage Redstone.

The elongated fuel tanks of the Jupiter-C had to be retained for 20 extra seconds of engine burning time, especially since they decided to revert to alcohol for fuel rather than use the more powerful but more toxic Hydyne that fueled the Jupiter-C. Another high-pressure nitrogen tank to pressurize the larger fuel tank and an auxiliary hydrogen peroxide fuel tank to power the engine turbopump also had to be added. To increase the reliability of the advanced Redstone, they had to simplify other parts of the Jupiter-C system. Instead of the sophisticated autopilot called ST-80, one of the first inertial guidance systems (the LEV-3 ) was reinstalled as the guidance mechanism. The after unit of the payload on the old Redstone, which had contained a pressurized instrument compartment, became the permanent forebody of the main tank assembly, there being no need to provide terminal guidance for the new payload. A spacecraft adapter ring likewise had to be designed to simplify interface coordination and to ensure clean separation between capsule and booster. At the other end of the launch vehicle it was necessary to use the most recent engine model, the A-7, to avoid a possible shortage of spare parts. Von Braun's propulsion engineers took the basic responsibility for "mandating" this engine.

Although NASA engineers bought the Redstone in the first place because it was considered an "off-the-shelf" rocket, they gradually learned that the Mercury-Redstone was in danger of being modified in about 800 particulars, enough to vitiate the record of reliability established by the earlier Redstones and Jupiter-Cs. Too much redesign also meant reopening the Pandora's box of engineering "trade-offs," the compromises between overdesign and underdesign. Von Braun's team tended in the former direction; NASA's in the latter. Von Braun's team wanted "positive redundancy" to ensure aborts whenever required, whereas NASA wanted more "negative redundancy" to avoid aborts unless absolutely essential. This distinction was the crux of the dispute and the essence of the distinction between "pilot safety" and "mission success."

• Redstones ordered for Mercury suborbital launches. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: von Braun. Spacecraft: Mercury. NASA requested eight Redstone-type launch vehicles from the Army to be used in Project Mercury development flights..

• Mercury-Redstone inflight abort sensing system. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  The Army Ballistic Missile Agency submitted a proposal (Report No. DG-TR-7-59) for a Mercury-Redstone inflight abort sensing system. This system would monitor performance of the control system (attitude and angular velocity), electrical power supply, and launch vehicle propulsion. If operational limits were exceeded, the spacecraft would be ejected from the launch vehicle and recovered by parachute.

• Eight Mercury Redstone launch vehicles final cost $20.1 million. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Against an original estimated cost of $15.5 million for eight Redstone launch vehicles in support of Project Mercury, the final negotiated figure was $20.1 million..

• Open-circuit television system in the Mercury-Redstone MR-2 and MR-3 flights - . Nation: USA. Flight: Mercury MR-3. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  At the fifth Mercury Coordination Meeting, the Army Ballistic Missile Agency proposed the installation of an open-circuit television system in the Mercury-Redstone second and third flights (MR-2 and MR-3). The purpose of the system was to observe and relay launch vehicle and spacecraft separation data.

• Redstone for Mercury MR-1 installed on the interim test stand. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. The Redstone launch vehicle for the first Mercury-Redstone mission (MR-1) was installed on the interim test stand at the Army Ballistic Missile Agency for static testing..

• Mercury-Redstone Coordination Committee - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Walter C. Williams proposed the establishment of a Mercury-Redstone Coordination Committee to monitor and coordinate activities related to Mercury-Redstone flight tests..

• Tests started for the mission abort sensing program for Mercury-Redstone - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Tests were started by the Army Ballistic Missile Agency for the mission abort sensing program to be integrated in the Mercury-Redstone phase of Project Mercury..

• Mercury spacecraft No. 2 delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Mercury spacecraft No. 2 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Redstone 1-A (MR-1A) mission..

• Final Trajectory for Mercury MR-1 - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Marshall Space Flight Center published the 'Final Standard Trajectory for MR-1 (Mercury-Redstone).'.

• Redstone launch vehicle No. 1 delivered - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Redstone launch vehicle No. 1 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the MR-1 (Mercury-Redstone)..

• Format of first Mercury-Redstone postlaunch report - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. The format of subject matter coverage for the first Mercury-Redstone postlaunch (MR-1) report was issued. This report, covering a full range of topics related to the mission, was to be submitted within 5 days after the launch..

• Mission rules for Mercury-Redstone 1 (MR-1) issued. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. A revision was published on Nov. 1, 1960..

• An attempt was made to launch Mercury-Redstone 1 (MR-1) from Cape Canaveral. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury, Mercury Escape Tower.

  This unmanned mission was unsuccessful because premature cut-off of the launch vehicle engines activated the emergency escape system when the vehicle was only about 1 inch off the pad. Engine cut-off was caused by premature loss of electrical ground power to the booster. The launch vehicle settled back on the pad with only slight damage. Since the spacecraft received a cut-off signal, the escape tower and recovery sequence was initiated. The undamaged spacecraft was recovered for reuse.

• Mercury MR-1 - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Apogee: 0 km (0 mi). Suborbital launch attempt. After a four- or five-inch liftoff, MR-1 launched its escape tower but not the capsule. The undamaged spacecraft was recovered for reuse..

• Mercury Redstone launch vehicle No. 3 shipped to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Redstone launch vehicle No. 3 was shipped to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Redstone 1A (MR-1A) mission..

• Mercury spacecraft No. 7 delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Flight: Mercury MR-3. Spacecraft: Mercury. Spacecraft No. 7 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) manned ballistic mission (Shepard)..

• Mercury MR-1A - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Apogee: 210 km (130 mi).

  Mercury-Redstone 1A (MR-1A) was launched from Cape Canaveral in a repeat of the November 21, 1960, mission and was completely successful. This was the third attempt to accomplish the objectives established for this flight. The first attempt on November 7, 1960, was canceled as a result of a helium leak in the spacecraft reaction control system relief valve, and on November 21, 1960, the mission could not be completed because of premature cut-off of the launch vehicle engines. Objectives of the MR-1A flight were to qualify the spacecraft for space flight and to qualify the flight system for a primate flight scheduled shortly thereafter. Close attention was given to the spacecraft-launch vehicle combination as it went through the various flight sequences: powered flight; acceleration and deceleration; performance of the posigrade rockets; performance of the recovery system; performance of the launch, tracking, and recovery phases of the operation; other events of the flight including retrorocket operation in a space environment; and operation of instrumentation. Except that the launch vehicle cut-off velocity was slightly higher than normal, all flight sequences were satisfactory; tower separation, spacecraft separation, spacecraft turnaround, retrofire, retropackage jettison, and landing system operation occurred or were controlled as planned. The spacecraft reached a maximum altitude of 130.68 statute miles, a range of 234.8 statute miles, and a speed of 4,909.1 miles per hour. Fifteen minutes after landing in the Atlantic Ocean, the recovery helicopter picked up the spacecraft to complete the successful flight mission.

• Mercury Redstone launch vehicle No. 2 delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Redstone launch vehicle No. 2 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Redstone 2 (MR-2) mission (chimpanzee 'Ham' flight)..

• Mercury MR-1A postlaunch system evaluation tests - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. The Mercury-Redstone 1A (MR-1A) postlaunch system evaluation tests were completed at Cape Canaveral. Data disclosed that the instrumentation system, communication system, and other components had operated satisfactorily during the flight mission..

• Mercury MR-2 - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Apogee: 251 km (155 mi).

  Ham, a 37-pound chimpanzee, was aboard the spacecraft. The over-acceleration of the launch vehicle coupled with the velocity of the escape rocket caused the spacecraft to attain a higher altitude and a longer range than planned. In addition, the early depletion of the liquid oxygen caused a signal that separated the spacecraft from the launch vehicle a few seconds early. However spacecraft recovery was effected, although there were some leaks and the spacecraft was taking on water. Ham appeared to be in good physiological condition, but sometime later when he was shown the spacecraft it was visually apparent that he had no further interest in cooperating with the space flight program. Despite the over-acceleration factor, the flight was considered to be successful.

• Mission rules for the Mercury MR-3 - . Nation: USA. Flight: Mercury MR-3. Spacecraft: Mercury. Mission rules for the Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3 - Shepard's flight) were published. Revisions were issued on February 27, and April 28, 1961..

• Mercury Redstone launch vehicle No. 5 delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Redstone launch vehicle No. 5 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Redstone, Booster Development flight (MR-BD)..

• Mercury spacecraft No. 11 delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Flight: Mercury MR-4. Spacecraft: Mercury. Spacecraft No. 11 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) ballistic manned (Grissom) flight..

• Mercury MR-BD - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Apogee: 181 km (112 mi). Suborbital test of Redstone modifications using a boilerplate Mercury capsule. The test was done at von Braun's insistence against Shepard's wishes, thereby putting the first US manned flight after Gagarin's..

• Mercury Redstone launch vehicle No. 7 delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Flight: Mercury MR-3. Spacecraft: Mercury. Redstone launch vehicle No. 7 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) mission..

• Glenn, Grissom, and Shepard refresher course on centrifuge for Mercury - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Glenn, Grissom, Shepard. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Glenn, Grissom, and Shepard began refresher course on centrifuge in preparation for the first manned Mercury-Redstone suborbital flight. John Glenn, Virgil Grissom, and Alan Shepard began a refresher course on the Aviation Medical Acceleration Laboratory centrifuge in preparation for the first manned Mercury-Redstone suborbital flight.

• Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) readiness review. - . Nation: USA. Flight: Mercury MR-3. Spacecraft: Mercury. Spacecraft, mission, and launch vehicle flight safety were reviewed by Space Task Group personnel in preparation for the Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) mission..

• Simulated countdown for Mercury MR-3 - . Nation: USA. Flight: Mercury MR-3. Spacecraft: Mercury. A simulated countdown for the first Mercury-Redstone manned suborbital flight (MR-3) was successfully completed..

• Webb warns of Mercury failures. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Webb. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  NASA Administrator Webb issued a statement concerning the 2-year Mercury manned space flight program, which said, in part: "NASA has not attempted to encourage press coverage of the first Mercury-Redstone manned flight. It has responded to press and television requests, with the result that over 100 representatives of the press, radio, and TV are now at Cape Canaveral. . . . We must keep the perspective that each flight is but one of the many milestones we must pass. Some will completely succeed in every respect, some partially, and some will fail. From all of them will come mastery of the vast new space environment on which so much of our future depends."

• Mercury MR-3 postponed. - . Nation: USA. Flight: Mercury MR-3. Spacecraft: Mercury. Manned Mercury-Redstone (MR-3) launch postponed because of rain squalls in the recovery area..

• Mercury MR-3 - . Call Sign: Freedom 7. Crew: Shepard. Backup Crew: Grissom. Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Flight: Mercury MR-3. Spacecraft: Mercury. Duration: 0.0107 days. Apogee: 187 km (116 mi).

  Astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr., made the first United States manned space flight in a Mercury spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral atop the Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) vehicle. "Freedom 7" completed the suborbital, ballistic flight without incident in this historical first mission of NASA's Project Mercury. Alan Shepard first American in space, less than a month after Gagarin and only on a 15 minute suborbital flight. Only manned flight with original Mercury capsule design (tiny round porthole and periscope a la Vostok). If NASA had not listened to Von Braun, Shepard would have flown on the MR-BD flight of 24 March, beating Gagarin by three weeks and becoming the first man in space (though not in orbit). Shepard's capsule reached an altitude of 115.696 miles, range of 302 miles,and speed of 5,100 miles per hour. He demonstrated control of a vehicle during weightlessness and high G stresses. Recovery operations were perfect; there was no damage to the spacecraft; and Astronaut Shepard was in excellent condition.

• Kennedy decision to allow MR-3 flight defended. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kennedy. Flight: Mercury MR-3. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  Senator Robert S. Kerr, chairman of the Senate Aeronautical and Space Sciences Committee, told a group at the National Radio and Television Convention that President Kennedy accepted the views of NASA and congressional leaders in approving the manned Mercury-Redstone flight of May 5.

• Mercury Redstone launch vehicle No. 8 delivered to Cape Canaveral - . Nation: USA. Flight: Mercury MR-4. Spacecraft: Mercury. Redstone launch vehicle No. 8 was delivered to Cape Canaveral for the Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) suborbital flight mission..

• Redstone for Mercury MR-4 manned suborbital flight erected - . Nation: USA. Flight: Mercury MR-4. Spacecraft: Mercury. The Redstone booster for the Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) manned suborbital flight mission was erected on Pad 5, at Cape Canaveral..

• Mercury MR-4 recovery requirements - . Nation: USA. Flight: Mercury MR-4. Spacecraft: Mercury. Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) recovery requirements were forwarded by the Space Task Group to the Navy..

• Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) manned suborbital flight mission rules were published. - . Nation: USA. Flight: Mercury MR-4. Spacecraft: Mercury.

• Mercury MR-6 static engine test - . Nation: USA. Flight: Mercury MR-6. Spacecraft: Mercury. Mercury-Redstone 6 was static tested for 30 seconds at Marshall Space Flight Center to ensure satisfactory operation of the turbopump assembly..

• Mercury MR-4 launch scrubbed. - . Nation: USA. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Flight: Mercury MR-4. Spacecraft: Mercury. Mercury-Redstone (MR-4) with manned Liberty Bell 7 capsule canceled within minutes of launch because of adverse weather..

• Mercury MR-4 - . Call Sign: Liberty Bell 7. Crew: Grissom. Backup Crew: Glenn. Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Flight: Mercury MR-4. Spacecraft: Mercury. Duration: 0.0108 days. Apogee: 189 km (117 mi).

  The Mercury capsule, Liberty Bell 7, manned by Astronaut Virgil I. Grissom, boosted by a Redstone rocket, reached a peak altitude of 190.3 km and a speed of 8,335 km per hour. After a flight of 15 minutes and 37 seconds, the landing was made 487 km downrange from the launch site. The hatch blew while still in water, and the capsule sank; Grissom saved, though his suit was filling up with water through open oxygen inlet lines.

  This was the second and final manned suborbital Mercury Redstone flight, and the first flight with trapezoidal window. Further suborbital flights (each astronaut was to make one as a training exercise) were cancelled. An attempt to recover the capsule in very deep water in 1994 not successful. It was finally raised in the summer of 1999.

• Further Mercury suborbital flights cancelled. - . Nation: USA. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Flight: Mercury MR-5. Spacecraft: Mercury. NASA announced that analysis of Project Mercury suborbital data indicated that all objectives of that phase of the program had been achieved, and that no further Mercury-Redstone flights were planned..

• Investigation of the Mercury MR-4 explosive egress hatch. - . Nation: USA. Flight: Mercury MR-4. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  An investigation was conducted as a result of the premature activation of the Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) explosive egress hatch. Tests were initiated in an environment more severe than had been conducted in prelaunch activities and tests, but no premature firings occurred. As a backup, McDonnell was asked to design a mechanical-type hatch. The model weighed some 60 pounds more than the explosive type, so other methods had to be sought to prevent any recurrence of the incident. A procedure was initiated which stipulated that the firing plunger safety pin would be left in place until the helicopter hook was attached to the spacecraft and tension was applied to the recovery cable.

• Mercury MR-5 (cancelled) - . Crew: Glenn. Backup Crew: Slayton. Payload: Mercury SC15. Nation: USA. Flight: Mercury MR-5. Spacecraft: Mercury.

  The original Mercury project plan envisioned all of the astronauts making an initial suborbital hop aboard a Redstone booster before making an orbital flight aboard an Atlas. But Gherman Titov was launched on a full-day orbital flight in August 1961, making NASA's suborbital hops look pathetic. Further suborbital Mercury flights after that of Grissom were cancelled.

• Mercury Freedom 7 presented to the Smithsonian - . Nation: USA. Flight: Mercury MR-3. Spacecraft: Mercury. Freedom 7, the Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) spacecraft, was presented by NASA to the National Air Museum of the Smithsonian Institution..

• Mercury MR-6 (cancelled) - . Crew: Slayton. Payload: Mercury SC16. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Slayton, Webb. Flight: Mercury MR-6. Spacecraft: Mercury. After the Russians began orbiting cosmonauts, NASA cancelled further suborbital flights. The MR-6 mission was cancelled by NASA administrator James Webb at the beginning of July, 1961..