20th Century NASA History: Mercury Manned Orbital Capsule Detail Specification and Project Mercury Capsule Flight Operations Manual

The detailed preparation required in attempting a mission of the magnitude and scope of PROJECT MERCURY obviously cannot and need not be covered in a document of the handbook type. Prior to any actual attempt to launch a manned capsule, many weeks will be spent in an extensive training and familiarization program. The information contained in this manual, therefore, will pre-suppose a detailed knowledge of the capsule systems and will be confined, for the most part, to procedural data.