Flight Report

U.S. and foreign newsmen packed the State Department's Washington auditorium last week along with Senators, Congressmen and Chief Justice Earl Warren of the Supreme Court. The big attraction: first full-dress public report by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on its Mercury man-in-space program. All foreign embassies got invitations and many sent representatives, including the Russians and Hungarians. Everyone got a 116-page illustrated book on the medical aspects of Commander Alan Shepard's memorable 15-minute flight from Cape Canaveral.

Heart & Temperature. The U.S. kept no secrets about its first spaceman. For hours, scientists, engineers and doctors went over masses of intricate detail. The complicated Mercury capsule was described completely. Experts explained the instruments that kept track of all Commander Shepard's reactions to space flight. A group of physicians reported on the astronaut's physical condition before the flight and after: his temperature was slightly higher after landing, and his heart was beating a little faster than normal. A broken toenail and a small patch of sunburn were noted as preflight lesions.

NASA officials then enlivened the symposium with a dramatic movie of the flight, some of it taken by cameras in the capsule focused on Commander Shepard's face. He showed little discomfort as the forces of acceleration and deceleration rose to their peaks. His eyes swung methodically to check instrument dials, and his lips moved to make his now-famous remarks: "All systems, A-O.K.," and "What a beautiful sight!"

Soft Landing. Last to take the stand was Commander Shepard himself. As coolly and unemotionally as any of the scientists, he told exactly how he spent every moment of his 15-minute rocket ride--how he watched the instruments, maneuvered his craft according to plan, snatched hasty looks through the periscope and the capsule's two portholes. The sky was almost black, he said, but because of the position of the sun, he did not see any stars or planets. When the first parachute opened, he got an 11-G shock, but did not mind it much. Through the periscope he watched the second parachute open; then, without haste, he made ready for landing. He disconnected his oxygen hose, loosened belts that held his body to the contour couch. The landing in the Atlantic was soft. For a few mo ments the capsule lay on its side with one porthole under water. Slowly it righted itself, and Commander Shepard opened the door to greet the rescue helicopter.

In Soviet Russia there is surely as complete, or almost as complete, a record of Major Yuri Gagarin's orbital flight around the earth. But so far, the Russians have released only trifles. Major Gagarin's heart speeded up during the flight, just as Shepard's did; he was reportedly in normal condition soon after landing. But little more has been told. Non-Russian space specialists who are interested in the technical details of man's first orbital flight will have to wait until the Soviet government attaches less value to secrecy.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.