UAP D015 Astronaut Scientific Debriefings 1962 1963
AI Summary
This document details the scientific debriefings of astronauts John Glenn and others regarding their observations during the Mercury spaceflights in 1962-1963, focusing on luminous particles, atmospheric phenomena, and recommendations for future scientific observations in space.
Key Findings
- Astronauts observed luminous particles during their flights, which were initially thought to be extraterrestrial but later attributed to particles associated with the spacecraft. - The observations included descriptions of the atmosphere's color and haze layers, with suggestions for further scientific experiments to study these phenomena. - Recommendations were made for improving scientific observation capabilities in future missions, including better dark adaptation methods and additional instruments.
OCR Text
....... a ittle ra r ··-to at • ➔ Vu W.. t.Mrtid. or =--~--===L-...::::actnaU7 .Dll":l.,IID1~ • Oil ----. I' ~to itlllN tMt 11U a ..tataala . ~ •tat-it ~etanI rtson, tbe &'tall. C 11.gbt. tll&t ,, C COIie t I bo • • at boti. ,tbeil l ltlQ'ecl 1n 1 j( tbe ~ ont.bento • Dee' • • • ) t hit • •••••• ••••••••••••• 4 5 0 :t 9 • _______......,___. • • • /8 0 • a ' re. t . . " . ' . ~--...........--......................,..__. t ) ROUGH DRAFI': l/13/62 CODE SCG: MD:dd MEMORANDUM to Director, Office of Space Sciences Subject: Considerations and(tecommendations of'Mtwmed 0 '},pace~lorationYollowing the~tJ rview ( February 27) ~ with Lt. Col. John H. Glenn, q7coi{"i(i_erm presented a ~ detailed and factual description of his observations during the MA' 6 flight. He answered rather well the many and varied questions presented to him during the limited interview.ftespite the fact that he was ~ it~ e v e1 , 'n ~ 1 \ ~·t"· l.., properly Q~"-o. a number of his observations remain of ~.~ JV? ~ interest aad ~ further explorationJ"1further~re, it is evident that the astronaut can perform various scien- ~ tific experiments,~has the aeiil~y capability of doing com act so despite the many limitations imposed.by the. Mercury capsule. Some commezits* on f£01. Glenn's observations are presented \) u LL ... IA.~ t N.,c~~-clc--+'""""'""! below ~• •~ •-,-r· "\ kun.inous ~ rticles : In response to~ a series of questions, Col. Glenn described the velocity field of ii.-QM~ the luminous particles, their brightness 8'1./i. outside the in shadow of the spacecvaft, the coloring aBa sunlight and their shape. For the velocity field, the particles !all. in moved at preeise)y the same speed and !!.ll,.moved a~ precisely the same direction except for particles coming very close _,_ .... ~"'~•"<-f .-L to the spacecraft. This occurred similarl:i, :i,Q, all three , . ..~d'f¥t.....~ orbits. From t.l¼e~-eie Vconsiderations alone, it may be stated that the luminous Jparticles observed by Col. Glenn were not extra~errestial particles but were particles asso ciated with the spacecraft or ~fte la~@Mftg e~ the booster. -2- The consistency in the observations on the three separate orbits would require that the particles were associated with the spacecraft itself ( I have heard that O'Keefe ~....~ ~~~ 6\ANI&~~ -..,..laA, ,,_-, has i;c;r,r9~9d the life support system which ~ ~ ....~ ~ ~ \'""~\~) \wM. ~ \: wat9z: i;a:t;e apaee) Col. Glenn iJjf described the ~ .,., particlei and the luminosity. The fact that the coloring a,~aPen~ ~~~,~ was a yellow-green and the eiiee~ive observational pi,e- became fluorescent in sunlight.~e particles observed in shadow were observed in the scattered light from the spacecraft and were probably illuminated only by visible ~- ~~f the spectrum. -;l- The change of angles of the ~particles approaching e.""'1ft,- close th the~ spacecraft~ be attributed to the since repJesive charge HD the polarities of the particles and spacecraft were the same. The ability of Col. Glenn to observe the particles under improper dark adaptation ~ indicate'that an astronaut would be in a position to carry through a series of experi'1nents to investigate C.o~.L" the physics of Q.QmROMS in the solar environment. P.1wpe1 ry ~d°\he various gases and dust particles ejected ~ while from the spacecraft during~! c~.~nd ~tH'l,BS,! .o-\,,..U\..c.l, ~ ~~~ ~ > the spacheaft is in sunlight could be ~ by the a.\~........ c\M,\t.~~' astronaut-scientist~ 1&.,"U!S...lt'emld!.r.sr--~~~09...~~~ed ~ Observati~ns of.~low ana:-/iaze: Limited by poor dark adaptation, Col. Glenn was not able to descibe any -3- significant observations of the sta/ ield or the moon. In the absenf e of atmospheric scattEring the sun appeared a brillant white, but showed no signs of corona . It is of interest, however_, to consider Col. Glenn's observation -.'t o{ '-band six to eight degrees 9'f t~e twill a-eix-~e-eiga~-a e gPee-e&Ba above the horizon, with a haze layer about two degrees Although it has been speculated that wide at the top. ~5'~~1!:irl~-.eilli-il~e observation = ~\:- the multipa~wl:l:,ers of the 1 'window cause the high 0~ angle~ the horizon ~ ~ ti&..,.a;l.la-~l'O"l~tm~te2:~~~, this ~ o~~~ ~ likely because of the variatio~ a.ad angle of \Jw&. ~--.>-"I ~Ill'\. ~ ~~w.-\ 0 :\.,:u.~ • view a;i,10w :ee Sel '-l.lina.._o& P0'5ft'D1 Bi& the space craft,-~.\ t.e'-M'" "~••:~ ~that he did not see any double imag~ing ~ ~ ~:La any of his ~ observations1'1:rurther- _.,'4'4. more, he was able to infii.is8a:ec that the stars e»serve</t,hrough the haze layer became less intense while changi ng angle _,,,..,._ .,"C ~ the horizon . ~ USSR repo:i;l,s by Tito'V! also ind ., .__ _,,<>I' :fJ o\~t.. ...~,..... ~'-u"~ .t.,.a4!d.,. ~ -sm rJ.-.uL,,:.,,. •.,.\. • ~ ~l ~-.llt.,dicated a high angle haze layer. ,. n…
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