Topic: USS Recovery 1961 cover and Mercury-Scout 1
NAAmodel#240 Member
Posts: 312 From: Boston, Mass. Registered: Jun 2005
posted 09-22-2014 10:49 AM
Just found a cover with USS Recovery as the return address dated Nov. 1, 1961. Any chance it had involvement in the Mercury Scout launch? From Wikipedia:
Occasionally assigned to experimental programs, USS Recovery was involved in escape and recovery tests off the Virginia coast for the National Aeronautical and Space Administration's man-in-space program. In May she again operated in support of NASA's space program and directed offshore standby recovery forces during Commander Shepard's suborbital flight, America's first manned space flight. In July Recovery returned to Cape Canaveral and joined the support force for Major Grissom's suborbital flight. In 1962 returned to Florida for Lieutenant Colonel Glenn's February orbital mission.
yeknom-ecaps Member
Posts: 660 From: Northville MI USA Registered: Aug 2005
posted 09-22-2014 08:56 PM
Since the Mercury-Scout was intended to launch a satellite with a communications payload there would be no reason to recover anything from the satellite (like the film from the Discoverer satellites) or all/part of the launch rocket.
What you didn't copy from Wikipedia was "Between August and November [1961] she supported the Arctic resupply program" so being in the Arctic is a long way from the cape.
NAAmodel#240 Member
Posts: 312 From: Boston, Mass. Registered: Jun 2005
posted 10-02-2014 08:23 PM
Yeah, kinda thought it was a long shot. Thanks.