Mission type Abort test Spacecraft Mercury No.14 Launch site Wallops LA-4 Distance travelled 14,000 m Launch date 28 April 1961 Rocket Little Joe | Mission duration 5 minutes, 25 seconds Manufacturer McDonnell Aircraft Apogee 4,500 m Date 28 April 1961 Landing date 28 April 1961 Operator NASA | |
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Launch mass 1,141 kilograms (2,515 lb) | ||
Little Joe 5B was an unmanned Launch Escape System test of the Mercury spacecraft, conducted as part of the U.S. Mercury program. The mission used production Mercury spacecraft # 14A. The mission was launched April 28, 1961, from Wallops Island, Virginia. The Little Joe 5B flew to an apogee of 2.8 miles (4.5 km) and a range of 9 miles (14 km). The mission lasted 5 minutes 25 seconds. Maximum speed was 1,780 mph (2865 km/h) and acceleration was 10 g (98 m/s²). The mission was a success and Mercury spacecraft # 14A was recovered.
Mercury spacecraft # 14A used in the Little Joe 5B mission, is currently displayed at the Virginia Air and Space Center in Hampton.
References
Little Joe 5B Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA