Glossy 10.5 x 13.5 photo of the “Mercury Control Center Plotboards for MA-8,” the Mercury-Atlas 8 mission, containing four plotboards for Velocity Ratio, Range, Elapsed Time, and Longitude, signed in the center in black felt tip, “Wally Schirra, [Sigma]7 on the way!” This photo was presented to Schirra by NASA Retrofire Controller Carl R. Huss, who signed the lower right in black ink. In fine condition, with some small edge dings. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Stephen Hankow of Farthest Reaches, who states that the photo “comes from the Schirra Family Collection and was obtained via special arrangement.”
Carl Huss was a Retrofire Controller during the Mercury program. As a flight dynamics officer, Huss drew up abort plans and was responsible for determination of retrofire times, actions which played a major role in figuring out when Mercury astronauts should fire retro or reverse rockets to bring them out of orbit. His decisions greatly affected the proximity between splashdown sites and recovery ships. Huss was also instrumental in bringing John Glenn back safely from his Friendship 7 flight after the decision was made to not jettison the retropack.
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