Scott Carpenter's spiral-bound “Project Mercury Indoctrination: Manned Satellite Capsule” manual that was issued to him as one of NASA’s original Mercury Seven astronauts. This early NASA manual, 164 pages, 9.75 x 11.25, identified as Report No. 6821, is initialed by Carpenter in the upper right of the front cover, “C.” The title page bears a May 21, 1959 revision date (one month and 12 days after NASA announced Carpenter as an astronaut), and is marked with the serial number “41.” The manual contains a total of 14 sections, with accompanying figures and illustrations: General Description, Aerodynamic and Hydrodynamic Considerations, Structural Considerations and Heating, Environmental Control Systems, Reaction Control System, Automatic Stabilization Control System, Major Rocket Systems, Electrical System, Avionics, Instrumentation, Landing and Recovery System, Human Factors and Training, Crew Station, and Reliability. A handful of pages bear pencil notations. In very good to fine condition, with moderately heavy wear to the covers. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Stephen Hankow of Farthest Reaches, which states that this manual “was obtained directly from the Carpenter family via special arrangement.” An exceptionally early NASA manual that must have been a great source of education and excitement for Carpenter, who made astronautical history when his Aurora 7 spacecraft flew into space as part of the Mercury-Atlas 7 mission on May 24, 1962.
