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LJ-5

Little Joe

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Launch Status
Failure

Mission


LJ-5

  • Type: Test Flight
  • Orbit: Suborbital

Suborbital test flight of the Mercury spacecraft, conducted as part of the U.S. Mercury program. The objective was to test a production Mercury capsule and the launch escape system during an ascent abort at maximum dynamic pressure. 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.

Location


Launch Area 1

Wallops Island, Virginia, USA

Launch Area 1 has witnessed the launch of 7 rockets, including 0 orbital launch attempts, while Wallops Island, Virginia, USA, has been the site for 78 rocket launches.

Launch Area 1

Rocket


North American Aviation Little Joe

Little Joe was a solid-fueled booster rocket used by NASA for eight launches from 1959-1960 from Wallops Island, Virginia to test the launch escape system and heat shield for Project Mercury capsules.

Little Joe

Agency


National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. NASA have many launch facilities but most are inactive. The most commonly used pad will be LC-39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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