From Mercury To Gemini: the long road of McDonnell Manned Spacecrafts

[archipeppe]

Enjoy them...

 

[SAustin16]

Archipeppe,


Now THIS got my attention. Outstanding chronology. I have often wondered what the Mercury Mark II would have looked like. Thank you very much.

 

[starviking]

Great work Archipeppe!

 

[archipeppe]

Archipeppe,
Now THIS got my attention. Outstanding chronology. I have often wondered what the Mercury Mark II would have looked like. Thank you very much.

Great work Archipeppe!

Many thanks sirs.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Great job indeed! Would you mind if I repost 'gemini rogallo_02.jpg' over in the Rogallo / Para Wing Projects thread?

 

[Barrington Bond]

Dear Archipeppe,

sorry but I disagree with your intepretation of the hatches on Mercury Mark II. Not quite the right shape and I do not think the windows were recessed as in proper Gemini. I have erased a bit of this diagram to show the hatch/window more clearly.
Regards,
Barry
ps I do love your artwork though...

 

[GeorgeA]

Well done Archipeppe. Great work.

 

[archipeppe]

Dear Archipeppe,

sorry but I disagree with your intepretation of the hatches on Mercury Mark II. Not quite the right shape and I do not think the windows were recessed as in proper Gemini. I have erased a bit of this diagram to show the hatch/window more clearly.
Regards,
Barry
ps I do love your artwork though...

No problem Barry.
As you wrote they are personal interpretation not to take as Bible...


Anyway I'm always open to modify and improve my drawings in case of clear references.
For instance I've always seen the images you have enclosed above but never focused about the real shape of windows.

 

[Barrington Bond]

Archippe,
I did think it was a bit of an amalgam of several scantily detailed drawings - however keep up the good work
Regards,
Barry

 

[archipeppe]

Archippe,
I did think it was a bit of an amalgam of several scantily detailed drawings - however keep up the good work
Regards,
Barry

Probably you're right, my job was influeced by all the images published at that times.
Anyway I thank you for your kind words as also for your (constructive) criticism.

 

[Michel Van]

Picture found on X
sadly no source on were they come from
show Mercury Mark II / Gemini with Escape Tower

 

[archipeppe]

Dear Michel, it is an interesting find.
I've never seen a Gemini with Escape Tower, especially the one used for Mercury (or at least quite similiar).

The only thing that came to my mind is that in the early stage of Mercury MkII/Gemini design, considering the Rogallo wing landing item, ejection seats were ruled out. Even if, in a later stage, ejection seats and Rogallo wing cohexisted almost until the end.

It worhts to note that the Big Gemini actually envisioned an Escape Tower (even if derived from Apollo rather than Mercury).

 

[Michel Van]

During Mercury mark II design had Escape Tower, until Jim Chamberlin join the project
Since MM2 used "less" explosive Titan II instead of Atlas Mercury
Chamberlin order removal of the Escape Tower and instalment of ejections seats

McDonnell continue proposal for Gemini Escape Tower for their Lunar Lander, Lunar Orbiter and MORL ferry Gemini.
Since they launch on Saturn V or Saturn IB

USAF consider for a while Escape tower on Blue Gemini for MOL
In end they adapted the design of Retro Module with 6 solids to use this as escape system.

 

[Tybarious]

"Sequence of events for Gemini missions and paraglider deployment sequence of events."
source

 

[NMaude]

Here's an interesting video from Retro Space that's a compilation of the Mercury test-flights:

Documentary about the Project Mercury test flights, entirely based on period narration and footage. Starting with static engine tests of the Redstone and Altas rockets, we then see Little Joe flights and capsule recovery, ending with the crewed flights of Sheppard and Grissom.

Historical narration (from several documentaries and progress reports) is used in an attempt to show the feeling of the times. Language and attitudes must be seen in that context. For example, test failures are minimised or simply not commented, while a modern approach would be more forthcoming. The footage was AI remastered on some segments, besides the usual color correction. Ambient audio was recreated based on historical elements.
Sequences are shown in proper mission context as much as possible.Research, cleanup, editing, and processing by Retro Space HD​

.============================================

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
08:57 Little Joe 1
09:09 Big Joe 1
12:54 Little Joe 6
13:07 Little Joe 1A
14:58 Little Joe 2
15:18 Little Joe 1B
16:23 Beach Abort1
7:45 Mercury-Atlas 118:14 Little Joe 5
18:33 Mercury-Redstone 1
20:00 Mercury-Redstone 1A
20:32 Mercury-Redstone 2
22:46 Mercury-Atlas 2
23:16 Little Joe 5A
23:39 Mercury-Redstone BD
23:48 Mercury-Atlas 3
26:10 Little Joe 5B
27:06 Mercury-Redstone 3
29:28 Mercury-Redstone 4
32:26 Mercury-Atlas 4
34:17 Mercury-Scout 1
35:02 Mercury-Atlas 5