American Mariner, Maritime Commission hull number 20, launched in 1941 as SS George Calvert, but renamed almost immediately.
While in the Pacific Ocean, the USAS American Mariner was temporarily assigned in late September 1962 to NASA in support of NASA's Project Mercury.
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She was originally assigned to DAMP Project by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) to attempt to collect radar signature data on incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles in the Caribbean, the South Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean.
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During Wally Schirra's MA-8 transits over the Pacific Ocean, the USAS American Mariner successfully provided radar track of the capsule.
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The ship, redesignated USAS American Mariner, was then assigned to Mathiesen Tankers Industry, which provided the crew for the ship, and to RCA Service Company, which provided the necessary radar equipment and technical personnel, and Barnes Engineering Company, which provided the necessary optical equipment and technical personnel for the ship's new DAMP Project assignment.
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During her years on the DAMP Project the USAS American Mariner operated various types of long-distance, narrow-beam radars to gather data on intercontinental ballistic missiles.
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