Freedom 7 events and trajectory

The sequence of events on the MR-3 mission occurred according to plan, while the actual trajectory flown was very close to the nominal calculated trajectory.

In the first table below, the sequence of major events show the planned and actual times at which they occurred. The second table lists actual and planned trajectory parameters.

Event

Planned Time

Actual Time

Booster Cut-Off

02:23.1

02:21.8

Tower Release

02:23.1

02:22.0

Tower Escape Rocket Fire

02:23.1

02:22.2

Capsule Separation

02:33.1

02:32.3

Time of Retro-fire Sequence

04:41.5

04:44.7

Retro-attitude Comm. Relay

04:41.5

04:44.7

Retro #1 Fire

05:11.5

05:14.1

Retro #2 Fire

05:16.5

05:18.8

Retro #3 Fire

05:21.5

05:23.6

Retro-package Jettison

06:10.5

06:13.6

.05 g Relay

07:43.0

07:48.2

Drogue Chute Deploy

09:36.0

09:38.1

Main Chute Deploy

10:14.3

10:14.8

Antenna Fairing Release

10:14.3

10:14.8

Main Chute Disconnect

14:47.7

15:22.0

Note: With the exception of Redstone booster cutoff, all events on the MR-3 flight were determined from commutated data. Thus the events could vary from the above times by as much as +0 to -0.8 seconds.

Quantity

Planned

Actual

Range (N. M)

256.3

263.1

Maximum Altitude (N. M.)

100.3

101.2

Maximum Exit Dynamic Pressure lb/sq ft

598

586

Maximum Exit Longitudinal Load Factor, g

6.3

6.3

Maximum Reentry Dynamic Pressure lb/sq ft

591

605

Maximum Reentry Longitudinal Load Factor, g

10.8

11.0

Period of Weightlessness (Min:Sec)

04:53

05:04

Note: N. M. = nautical miles