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Mercury 4
was the second U.S. manned sub-orbital space flight. Mercury 4’s
objectives were to study a man’s capabilities in a space environment
during a manned orbital flight and to confirm the man-in-space concept.
Mercury 4’s astronaut was Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom. Launched
on July 21, 1961. Mercury 4 was slightly different from Mercury 3.
Three minutes and 5 seconds into the mission Gab Ericson took control
using the manual proportional control system. Grissom fired the retro
rockets at T and 5 minutes 10 seconds. He controlled the space craft by
using the manual rate command system during reentry. Liberty Bell 7
splashed down on July 21, 1961. Grissom was retrieved after being in the
water for 3 to 4 minutes after Liberty Bell 7 sank in 15,000 feet of
water.
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Quick
Facts
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| Height |
31
Meters |
| Weight |
28,440
kg |
| Crew |
Virgil
"Gus" Grissom |
| Launch
Date |
July
21, 1961 |
| Duration |
15
min, 37 seconds |
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