Narrator: Before one small step for man, and one giant leap for mankind,
a team of daring space pioneers embarked on a pair of experimental rocket projects to
study the Earth and the heavens.
With the eyes on the sky and the future of
space exploration, flight controllers inside NASA’s Mercury Control Center watched
the American space program take flight. And so here, the story of American space exploration began.
Scott Carpenter: I feel the lift-off, the clock is started.
Flight Controller: Roger
Narrator: In the late 1950’s the earliest chapters of American space exploration were written along
Florida’s central Atlantic coast. Later known as the Mission Control Center,
NASA’s Mercury Control Center was the United States’ first mission control for both unmanned and
manned space programs.
Narrator: The Mercury Control Center controlled the flights of three different vehicles from three
different sea side launch pads at the Cape.
Narrator: The MCC housed the programs’ critical launch equipment. Inside the unassuming 30,000
square foot building known to NASA as Building 1385, flight controllers monitored and controlled the
Project Mercury launches and the first three flights of the Gemini Program.
The Mercury/Gemini programs set the stage for the highly technical challenges and accomplishments
later executed by NASA Kennedy Space Center.
Charlie Mars/Power&Sequential Engineering/Project Mercury: The Mercury program was absolutely
essential to all of our space programs that followed. And the main reason being,
it was proof of the pudding that we could launch into space, we could put a man in there,
we could guide throughout a mission, we could bring him back safely, and from there,
Mercury led into Gemini, going into the Apollo Program where we went to the moon.
Narrator: Florida’s mild climate, vast undeveloped land surrounding the Cape and its proximity to water
made it a good choice for launching rockets. And so the Mercury Control Center was designed
by the Army Corps of Engineers and built in stages on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
between 1956 and 1963.
Narrator: The modest looking building faced east, toward the ocean,
though thick vegetation hid it from view. The MCC had an inset floor and a flat roof.
The exterior was designed with a pair of light metal swing doors that opened onto covered entrances.
Later, the famous NASA logo graced a west facing exterior wall.
Floodlights and speakers were placed along the upper roof edge.
Narrator: Project Mercury began in 1958, one week after NASA was enacted and three days before the
one year anniversary of the Soviet’s launch of Sputnik.
Jack King/NASA Public Information Officer/Apollo Launch Commentator: To steal from Dickens, it was
the best of times and the worst of times for the space program. Because, of course,
the Russians had put up the first satellite, we had put a satellite on January 31st of 1958,
and the space race was on. Before that time, the missile race was on, and the Soviet Union was rattling
their rockets at the United States, and it was a very tough time for our nation.
But now we were in the space race at the same and it appeared, once again, we were behind.
Don Phillips/Aerospace Technologist/Project Mercury: I'd have to say that nothing was more exciting
than working on the Mercury Program, because we were doing things for the first time. It was new.
Narrator: The project’s goals were straightforward: Orbit a manned spacecraft around Earth,
investigate the pilot’s ability to function in space and to recover both the pilot and the spacecraft safely.
Narrator: A Flight Control Room was added to the existing building beginning in 1959
for the upcoming Mercury flights.
The upgrade included a viewing area that was built by Bell Telephone, Inc. A second addition,
along the west elevation, provided additional space for support equipment.
The Flight Control Room occupied just 10 percent of the entire building.
Christopher Kraft would be the very first flight director and he was key in the development of the flight
control operations and the first flight control team. Chris gave final launch approval.
His console was equipped with a black and white monitor and he had access to every
communication circuit, called “loops”.
Andy Anderson/Ground Communication Coordinator/Project Mercury: In the final analysis, that had to
be the gentleman right here, Chris Kraft, as flight director running the entire show, and that's what
made it work. Chris was an amazing person. He's the only person, I'm a communicator, and he's the only
person I ever saw that could listen and understand eight intercom nets simultaneously,
we always teased him about that, but he's the only person I know of who could do that.
Dr. Christopher Kraft/Flight Director/Project Mercury: So the combination of the two, between the guys
on the ground and crew in space really was a phenomenal thing in its time.
I think we were able to get a lot done, more done than had we not had a control center.
Jack King/NASA Public Information Officer/Apollo Launch Commentator: We had the Mercury Control
Center right there, right adjacent to the press site, actually. And Chris Kraft, who was the flight director,
Walt Williams, who was the operations director, and you had a number of other key people who grew
up in that program and carried us all the way to the moon, as far as flight control was concerned.
They had a fantastic worldwide map in there because they wanted to cover the orbital flights that would
follow on the Mercury Atlas.
Narrator: The MCC was part of the Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network.
The tracking network provided communication between the capsule and mission control with an
impressive system of ships on three oceans and eighteen ground stations on three continents.
As part of this world-wide network of tracking stations, a two-dimensional world map and two large
projector boards dominated the front wall of the flight control room.
The map used a series of circles to pinpoint tracking stations.
To keep continuous track of the Mercury spacecraft, a mini spacecraft model suspended by wires traced
its orbit. The projector boards were used to display flight measurements plotted by sliding beads.
Trend charts displayed the astronaut’s condition. Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland
was the link between the remote stations and the MCC.
Narrator: As Project Mercury took shape, so too did the first astronaut corps.
Leroy Gordon Cooper,
Virgil “Gus” Grissom,
Alan Shepard,
Walter “Wally” Schirra,
Donald “Deke” Slayton,
Scott Carpenter
and John Glenn
became known as the Mercury 7.
They were in training as teams prepared for the upcoming flights.
Inaugural operations inside the MCC supported the first Mercury-Redstone launch attempt.
The MR-1 launch on November 21, 1960 from launch pad 6 was classified unsuccessful,
but proved many of the systems designed for the vehicle and capsule worked.
MR1-A successfully launched a few weeks later on December 19, 1960.
The same spacecraft was used.
Narrator: About six months later, astronaut Alan Shepard made history with his suborbital ballistic flight
on May 5, 1961.
Ike Rigell/Electrical Network Systems Chief/Project Mercury: So this was a very significant flight,
because the county needed this. The whole free world needed this flight at this time.
Flight Controller: Lift-off.
Alan Shepard: Ahh roger lift-off and the clock is started.
Narrator: A Mercury Redstone rocket, MR-3, known as Freedom 7 lifted off from Launch Complex 5/6
at 9:34 a.m. eastern.
It was the first manned flight controlled by teams inside the MCC and it last 15 minutes.
Andy Anderson/Ground Communication Coordinator/Project Mercury: It was a beautiful,
beautiful May morning.
I was in charge also of the telephone, the intercom service for the control center and I was also in charge
of the air-to-ground, so I had a fairly busy time during all of the launches.
But obviously there was an air of excitement in the control center on that first manned flight you
couldn’t duplicate anywhere in the world.
Robert Cabana/Kennedy Space Center Director/Space Shuttle Astronaut: That very first flight on that
Mercury Redstone going up into space and coming back down, even though he didn’t orbit the Earth,
that set the stage for everything else that we’ve done.
Narrator: As the command center, the MCC had eight primary functions.
To direct all aspects of the capsule’s flight, monitor the health of the astronaut and the system status of
the capsule, make decisions to abort a mission, determine the proper procedures following
an abort procedure, command the reentry of the capsule, keep the astronauts and all the tracking
stations informed of the mission’s progress, coordinate and maintain the flow of communication
between all tracking stations and inform the recovery forces when the capsule would
reenter the atmosphere.
It would take fourteen flight controllers to meet these mission objectives.
The first critical row of flight control seats was coined “the trench.” One of those important positions
was the capsule communicator, or, CAPCOM position, one held only by an astronaut.
Robert Cabana/Kennedy Space Center Director/Space Shuttle Astronaut: I think the Capcom today is
very much the same as it was back during the early Mercury days.
It's that point-of-contact with the crew.
It provides the crew perspective to the control team. Yeah, very similar.
Narrator: Public interest in the space program and the astronauts grew as Project Mercury
realized much success.
Ed Harrison/NASA Photography and Audio Visual/KSC Public Affairs Chief: Because the beaches were
loaded. The program was pretty small; it was only about 350, 400 people, and it was real excitement.
The cities around here were growing. The center was really on its way.
Narrator: News of the Mercury missions was in the papers and on TV.
Jay Barbree/NBC News Space Reporter: I've had the pleasure of covering every launch of American
astronauts from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Narrator: Shorty Powers was the first Public Information Officer for NASA.
He was the voice of mission control.
Jay Barbree/NBC News Space Reporter: We had a red light that would come on on our desks,
and that red light was a signal that Mercury Control would have a report in 30 seconds.
Narrator: Some employees at the Cape were just as excited about the astronauts and the missions
as the public.
Nancy Gunter/Secretary/Project Mercury: I met all the original seven astronauts because they would
come into the ready room. They were excited like everyone else, and everything was new to them.
And they would all come through because each one was interested, of course, wouldn't just one come
through, they would all come through.
Narrator: The Mercury Atlas and Mercury Redstone vehicles flew 26 missions as part of Project Mercury.
Six of those were manned flights. The first orbital flight for the Mercury Program was MA-6.
John Glenn: Roger backup clock is started.
Astronaut John Glenn performed it on February 20, 1962.
Narrator: Astronaut Scott Carpenter followed Glenn’s successful mission with his own orbit of the Earth
later that year.
Scott Carpenter/Mercury 7 Astronaut/Project Mercury: Climbing into that spacecraft and sitting on the
top of the rocket was something we had simulated time and time and time again.
So, in a certain sense, it was just another day at the office, except this time,
you realized that it was for real.
Narrator: MA-9 was the last flight of Project Mercury piloted by Gordon Cooper on May 15, 1963
in his spacecraft named “Faith 7.”
He was the last American to orbit the Earth solo,
the mission lasted one day, 10 hours, 19 minutes and 49 seconds.
Gordon Cooper/Faith 7 Astronaut/Project Mercury: I named my spacecraft Faith 7 for three reasons:
One because of belief in God and country, two because of the loyalty to the organization, to the two
organizations actually to which I belong, and three because of the confidence in the entire space team.
Narrator: The Mercury Program was ending and America’s second human spaceflight program was soon
to begin, in support of one very clear mission.
President John F. Kennedy: We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things,
not because they are easy, but because they are hard.
Music
Narrator: Bridging the gap between Mercury and Apollo was the Gemini Program.
Following the Mercury Program, Gemini subjected astronauts to long duration flights in support of the
upcoming Apollo moon missions.
Gemini accomplished 10 manned missions and 2 unmanned, each on a Titan II launch vehicle from
Launch Complex 19. Two astronauts flew in the capsule which is how it got its moniker,
“Gemini” or “twin”.
Renovations to the MCC were completed in 1962 and in 1963 in support of the Gemini missions.
An addition wrapped around the east, north, and most of the west and south sides of the MCC.
New areas included space for flight control briefing,
data analysis and room for a new Gemini spacecraft trainer.
The old trend charts on either side of the world map were replaced by rear projection screens.
The world map displayed new tracking stations and one clock above the map changed
to estimated lift-off time.
A desk for a Public Affairs Officer was also added along with a pair of consoles on the left side of the
room facing inward for the support control coordinator and the display coordinator.
After the conclusion of Gus Grissom and John Young’s flight of Gemini 3 in March 1965,
NASA transferred mission control to Houston, Texas, where it still resides today.
After mission control functions were relocated to Houston, TX, the Mercury Control Center provided
backup for the initial launch and trajectory for the remaining Gemini missions.
In 1967, the MCC became a tour stop for guests visiting NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
A bus tour provided the public an opportunity to look through the glass panels of the viewing room and
see were the first chapters of American space history were written.
It was a popular attraction from 1967-1995.
In the late 90’s, the building began to show signs of aging.
In an effort to preserve what remained inside the deteriorating structure,
NASA removed the artifacts inside.
Later, a plan was developed to create an authentic MCC flight control room exhibit
at the KSC Visitor Complex.
Luis Berrios/NASA Artifacts and Display Manager: The opportunity for relocating this amazing room full
of history was to offer it to many, many more people.
Accessibility to the actual facility was becoming more and more challenging, and it allowed for the
consoles throughout the room to be displayed and preserved.
Had they been left in the building all those years, they’d be in terrible condition right now.
Narrator: The exhibit is inside an 8,500 square foot building dedicated to early space exploration.
Luis Berrios/NASA Artifacts and Display Manager: One piece at a time we carefully removed it and
brought it over. So what you see here is duplication of the actual MCC, Mission Control Center,
with the screens, the consoles, the flooring, the finishes and, of course, the tracking board.
The consoles themselves are completely authentic; the tracking map is completely authentic.
Narrator: Guests get memorable and authentic experience.
Luis Berrios/NASA Artifacts and Display Manager: I think it's an amazing opportunity for our guests to
look through the glass and step back in time and honor the heroic first years of our space program.
Narrator: The MCC was designated by the National Park Service as a contributing structure
to a National Historic Landmark district in 1984.
The district consists of seven other contributing properties.
Launch Complex 5/6,
13,
14,
19,
26,
34.
NASA determined the Mercury Control Center was no longer needed for NASA missions
and had deteriorated beyond repair.
Final artifact preservation efforts for demolition preparation began in 2009.
The Mercury Control Center controlled the flights of three launch vehicles from three launch pads
during its years of service.
In March 2010 heavy equipment operated by NASA contractors leveled
the concrete block and metal building.
Robert Cabana/Kennedy Space Center Director/Space Shuttle Astronaut: It’s a transition, that we have
to be energy efficient, you have to prepare for the future.
You've got to prepare for going beyond low Earth orbit and doing bigger and better things.
And this is all part of the process as we grow and change here at the Kennedy Space Center,
we will never forget our heritage -- it's crucial to us, history is important.