NASA LJ-5A Little Joe
About the LJ-5A Mission
| Type | Test Flight |
|---|---|
| Orbit | Suborbital |
Uncrewed launch escape system test of the Mercury spacecraft, conducted as part of the U.S. Mercury program. It was an attempted re-test of the failed Little Joe 5 flight.
Launch Pad & Location
Launch Area 1
Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA
| Launches | 7 |
|---|---|
| Total Launches | 87 |
Wallops Flight Facility is a rocket launch site on Wallops Island on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, United States, just east of the Delmarva Peninsula and north-northeast of Norfolk. The facility is operated by the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and primarily serves to support science and exploration missions for NASA and other federal agencies. WFF includes an extensively instrumented range to support launches of more than a dozen types of sounding rockets; small expendable suborbital and orbital rockets; high-altitude balloon flights carrying scientific instruments for atmospheric and astronomical research; and, using its Research Airport, flight tests of aeronautical research aircraft, including uncrewed aerial vehicles.
North American Aviation Little Joe Rocket
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.
| Length | 17.0 m |
|---|---|
| Stages | 1 |
| Maiden Flight | 8/21/1959 |
Learn more about the North American Aviation Little Joe Rocket
Mission Spacecraft
Mercury No.14
Mercury No.14 (14) was the spacecraft used for this mission. It is a NASA Capsule designed for Human transportation to upper Earth atmosphere and low Earth orbit. and traveled to Suborbital.
Mercury No.14 is the Mercury capsule used for the Little Joe 5A mission. The Mercury spacecraft's principal designer was Maxime Faget, who started research for manned spaceflight during the time of the NACA. With 100 cubic feet (2.8 m3) of habitable volume, the capsule was just large enough for a single crew member. Inside were 120 controls: 55 electrical switches, 30 fuses and 35 mechanical levers. The heaviest spacecraft, Mercury-Atlas 9, weighed 3,000 pounds (1,400 kg) fully loaded. Its outer skin was made of René 41, a nickel alloy able to withstand high temperatures. Between 15 minutes and 3 days.
| Type | Capsule |
|---|---|
| Agency | NASA |
| Serial Number | 14 |
| Status | Single Use |
| Destination | Suborbital |
| Maiden Flight | 5/5/1961 |
| Mission End | 3/18/1961 |
| Flights | 2 |
| Crew Capacity | 1 |
| Human Rated | Yes |
| Height | 3.3 m |
| Diameter | 1.8 m |
About NASA
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.
| Total Launches | 142 |
|---|---|
| Successful | 122 |
| Failed | 20 |
| Pending | 5 |
| Consecutive Success | 12 |
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the NASA Little Joe LJ-5A launch scheduled?
The NASA Little Joe LJ-5A launch was scheduled for:
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Where did the NASA Little Joe LJ-5A mission launch from?
The NASA Little Joe rocket launched from Launch Area 1 at Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA. Wallops Flight Facility is a rocket launch site on Wallops Island on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, United States, just east of the Delmarva Peninsula and north-northeast of Norfolk. The facility is operated by the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and primarily serves to support science and exploration missions for NASA and other federal agencies. WFF includes an extensively instrumented range to support launches of more than a dozen types of sounding rockets; small expendable suborbital and orbital rockets; high-altitude balloon flights carrying scientific instruments for atmospheric and astronomical research; and, using its Research Airport, flight tests of aeronautical research aircraft, including uncrewed aerial vehicles.
What rocket was used for the LJ-5A mission?
The LJ-5A mission launched aboard a NASA Little Joe rocket. 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. Detailed rocket specifications and performance data are available in the rocket details above.
What weather conditions could have delayed the NASA Little Joe LJ-5A launch?
The NASA Little Joe LJ-5A launch could have been delayed by various weather conditions including lightning within 10 nautical miles, high winds (especially upper-level winds), thick cloud layers, precipitation, and poor visibility. Weather must be favorable at the launch site, downrange landing zones, and abort landing sites.
How can I get updates if the NASA Little Joe LJ-5A launch was delayed?
This page was updated in real-time with the latest NASA Little Joe launch status, including any delays or scrubs for the LJ-5A mission. You can also check our space launch schedule for historical launch information. Our mobile app provides push notifications for instant alerts about launch status changes. Official NASA live streams provided the most immediate range updates during the launch window.
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