Mission type Abort test Spacecraft Mercury No.3 Launch site Wallops LA-1 Distance travelled 23,000 m Launch date 8 November 1960 Rocket Little Joe | Mission duration 2 minutes, 22 seconds Manufacturer McDonnell Aircraft Apogee 16,300 m Date 8 November 1960 Landing date 8 November 1960 Operator NASA | |
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Launch mass 1,141 kilograms (2,515 lb) | ||
Little joe 5
Little Joe 5 was an unmanned atmospheric test flight of the Mercury spacecraft, conducted as part of the U.S. Mercury program. The objective was to test a production Mercury capsule (#3) and the Launch Escape System during an ascent abort at maximum dynamic pressure. The mission was launched November 8, 1960, from Wallops Island, Virginia. Sixteen seconds after liftoff, the escape rocket and the tower jettison rocket both fired prematurely. Furthermore, the booster, capsule and escape tower failed to separate as intended. The entire stack was destroyed on impact with the Atlantic Ocean. The Little Joe 5 flew to an apogee of 10.1 miles (16.2 km) and a range of 13 miles (20.9 km). Some capsule and booster debris was recovered from the ocean floor for post flight analysis.