Astronaut Scientific Debriefings, 1962-1963

This NASA file of astronaut scientific debriefing papers from 1962 collects internal Office of Space Sciences material on the science observations made on early Mercury flights. A February 1962 memo from Maurice Dubin asks for more detail on John Glenn's report of luminous particles and the atmospheric horizon layer. A draft memo concludes that the particles were tied to the spacecraft and were not extraterrestrial. The file also holds a Los Alamos letter that attributes the high haze layer to nitrogen peroxide, and notes on Carpenter's airglow observations.

From the source:Release of 2026-06-12 This file contains memoranda, correspondence, reports, and other materials relating to contemporary scientific interest in investigating the nature of luminous phenomena reported by astronauts John Glenn and Walter Schirra during spaceflight. This collection includes transcripts from NASA interviews and debriefings with both astronauts regarding those observations. It also contains details relating to scientific observations of atmospheric phenomena, including brief descriptions of luminous particles, experiences while aboard spacecraft, and circa 1955 theoretical analysis of meteoric particles entering the atmosphere. Pages 34-35, 55-56, 57-63, 64-113, and 122-127 feature content relevant to the PURSUE initiative.

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In a similar manner, the observations of the horizon and the
extent of the atmosphere are of great interest in determining the
distribution of various atmospheric characteristics. The precise
lighting conditions regarding the position of the sun and the
intensity of the outer edge of the horizon as observed by Colonel
Glenn may be used in the consideration of what Glenn actually saw.
For example, he may have seen the limit of the atmosphere (based
on the 8 degree limb described in the press, the atmosphere
apparently extended to over l50 Km) by Rayleigh scattering; he
may have seen the airglow; or he may have seen the MIE scattering
from dust in the atmosphere. The true limiting angle of his
observations and a graph of the itltensity drop-off with angle from
the earth should be obtained in addition to the lighting conditions.
It is recommended that this information be obtained from
Colonel Glenn as soon as possible.
Maurice Dubin
Head, Aeronomy Program
Geophysics & Astronomy Programs
Office of Space Sciences
___FLSG_........fl ______Fellows