Questions and Answers
What was the maximum altitude achieved during the suborbital mission?
The spacecraft used for the suborbital mission attained orbital speed during its ascent.
False
What was the name of the rocket used to boost the capsule during the suborbital mission?
Redstone rocket
The pilot experienced _______ from the time of booster-spacecraft separation until reentry.
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Match the following events with their respective times during the suborbital mission:
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What is the purpose of the special diet the astronaut followed before the launch?
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The launch vehicle is filled with liquid hydrogen before the astronaut enters the spacecraft.
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What is the angle of retrofire when leaving orbit?
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The highest point of the orbit is referred to as the __________.
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Match the following events with their corresponding descriptions:
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Study Notes
Suborbital Missions
- Utilized a Redstone rocket to boost a capsule to an altitude of 32 nautical miles (59 km) for a duration of 2 minutes and 30 seconds.
- The capsule ascended on a ballistic curve after booster separation, reaching an apogee of 102–103 nautical miles (189–191 km).
- Total mission duration was approximately 15 minutes; downrange distance achieved was 262 nautical miles (485 km).
- Notable experience of weightlessness occurred between booster separation and reentry, enhancing the pilot’s experience.
- Recovery procedures mirrored those used in orbital missions.
Timetable of Suborbital Mission
- 0:00 - Launch commences
- 2:22 - Launch vehicle cut-off and tower separation
- 2:32 - Spacecraft separation occurs
- 2:37 - Turnaround maneuver executed
- 5:14 - Retrofire phase begins
- 6:14 - Retropack jettisoned
- 7:48 - Reentry initiated
- 9:38 - Drogue parachute deployed
- 10:15 - Main parachute deployed for landing
- 15:22 - Successful landing in the ocean
Orbital Missions
- Launch preparations commenced a month prior, involving astronaut selection and practice sessions.
- Astronaut dietary adjustments prior to launch aimed to minimize defecation needs during the mission.
- On launch day, astronauts consumed a hearty steak breakfast, donned pressure suits, and breathed pure oxygen for acclimatization.
- The launch pad walk-through occurred two hours before launch, followed by securing the astronaut in the spacecraft and bolting the hatch.
Countdown Procedure
- Countdown initiated with a pre-count a day before launch to check all systems.
- Following a 15-hour hold for pyrotechnic preparation, the main countdown began 6½ hours before liftoff.
- The launch vehicle was secured down until sufficient thrust was generated at lift-off after four seconds of engine ignition.
Launch and Reentry Profiles
- Maximum dynamic pressure experienced 30 seconds into the flight, noted by heavy vibrations.
- After 2 minutes and 10 seconds, booster engines shut down and separated, maintaining flight with the center sustainer engine.
- The spacecraft entered a horizontal position before sustaining engine cutoff at 87 nautical miles (161 km) altitude for orbital insertion.
- Achieved speeds benefited from Earth's rotation during departure from the launch complex.
Orbital Flight Characteristics
- Without trajectory adjustments possible in orbit, spacecraft maintained communication by orienting 180° for the duration of the orbital phase.
- Typical orbit duration was 88 minutes, with perigee at 87 nautical miles (161 km) and apogee at about 150 nautical miles (280 km).
- Retrofire executed at a 34° angle for reentry, and retrorockets fired in sequence for controlled descent.
- Astronaut experienced about 8 g during reentry, with temperatures around the heat shield reaching extreme levels.
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Description
Explore the key aspects of suborbital missions, including the trajectory, mission duration, and notable experiences such as weightlessness. This quiz covers important timelines and processes involved in launching and recovering suborbital spacecraft.
