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This answer links to this answer which shows the acceleration g-force envelopes experienced by early astronauts, reaching as high as almost 7.5g!

Both show BECO, which is what I might call MECO or Main Engine Cut-Off if I am understanding correctly.

Is BECO the same as MECO? Does it stand for Big Engine Cut-Off?

After getting beaten up here for not pre-Googling, I can testify that I have indeed searched for "Gemini BECO" and all I get is a baby carrier.

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  • $\begingroup$ The trick is to make the search more specific. "Gemini launch BECO" gives an NTRS link as one of the top 10 results. $\endgroup$ – Hobbes May 19 '18 at 7:25
  • $\begingroup$ @Hobbes there's no reason to expect google results for different people and/or different locations will be the same or even similar. Here are my first two pages for example: 1, 2, 3, 4 It picked up this SE question and a Wikipedia article, but no NTRS link. I am sure I could have found something had I spent long enough though. $\endgroup$ – uhoh May 19 '18 at 8:00
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    $\begingroup$ OTOH, searching for "BECO site:stackexchange.com" puts this question at the very top (at least for me), and even people looking for "Dr Beco" or for a baby product will see this question with that search criteria. $\endgroup$ – David Hammen May 19 '18 at 9:22
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    $\begingroup$ Nearly 8 Gs - ouch! $\endgroup$ – Sean Jan 12 at 4:38
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    $\begingroup$ @Sean yes indeed. The links go back to this answer and then to Launch Accelerations: Values, history and answers there. Quite a ride. Now I understand why a lot of the early photos of the space program included those rotating centrifuges that went up to 20 g! See also How fast to they spin astronauts these days? Maximum routine g-training for astronauts in the 21st century? $\endgroup$ – uhoh Jan 12 at 5:11
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“Booster Engine Cut Off” (though I like Big Engine better)

There’s a handy NASA Glossary for things like this.

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    $\begingroup$ And to fend off the inevitable follow-up,SECO is Sustainer Engine Cut Off. $\endgroup$ – Organic Marble May 19 '18 at 2:12
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    $\begingroup$ More engine cut-off acronyms in this answer. $\endgroup$ – uhoh May 24 '18 at 2:48

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