 In November 1960 and February 1962, she assisted in the recovery operations for Project Mercury space capsules, Mercury 2 and Mercury 6.After the latter, "Robert A. Owens" sailed east to join Task Group Bravo (TG Bravo) for eastern Atlantic antisubmarine operations.Reclassified DD-827 on 7 August 1962, she was a unit of the Cuban Quarantine Task Force 136 during October and November.