43 a
Astronaut Scott Carpenter leaving Hangar S for Pad 14 at Cape Canaveral to begin Mercury-Atlas 7 mission. He is outfitted in spacesuit and is carrying portable air conditioner. He rode transfer van from Hangar S to Pad 14 (first photograph).
NASA, contractor, and USAF personnel applaud as Carpenter leaves the transfer van and walks toward reporters on his way to the elevator to board his Aurora 7 spacecraft atop the Atlas booster in predawn darkness at Pad 14 on May 24, 1962 (second photograph).
43 b
“McDonnell technicians along with astronauts John Glenn and Walter Schirra watch Carpenter prepare for his three-orbit mission” (NASA caption).
“It was dark when I rode the elevator up to the gantry to be inserted into the capsule. Wally [Schirra] was waiting to greet me after having checked out the capsule through the preliminary stage of the count. ‘Its’ ready, Scott,’ he said. ‘It’s all yours,’” recalled Scott Carpenter.
43 c
The Mercury-Atlas 7 spacecraft was launched from Pad 14, Cape Canaveral, at 07:45:00 a.m. EST on May 24, 1962.
5,4,3,2,1,0.
000:00:01 Carpenter: I feel the lift-off, the clock has started.
000:00:04 Capcom (Mission Control): Roger.
000:00:06 Carpenter: Loud and clear, Gus.
000:00:07.5 Capcom: Roger, Aurora 7, stand by for - the time hack.
000:00:11 Carpenter: Roger.
000:00:12.5 Carpenter: Little bit of shaking, pretty smooth.
43 d
The separation occurred at approximate altitude of 55 miles. The tracking camera was located at Patrick AFB and had a 500 inch lens.
000:02:16 Carpenter: Roger. I felt staging. Do you confirm?
000:02:19 Capcom (Mission Control): Staging?
000:02:20 Carpenter: Do you confirm staging?
000:02:22 Capcom: Aurora 7, we confirm staging.
000:02:24 Carpenter: Roger, g peaked at 6.3.