Little Joe 5

Little Joe 5
Little Joe 5 prepared for launch, Wallops Island
Mission typeAbort test
OperatorNASA
Mission duration2 minutes, 22 seconds[1]
Distance travelled23 kilometres (14 mi)[1]
Apogee16.3 kilometres (10.1 mi)[1]
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftMercury No.3
ManufacturerMcDonnell Aircraft
Launch mass1,141 kilograms (2,515 lb)[1]
Start of mission
Launch dateNovember 8, 1960, 15:18 (1960-11-08UTC15:18Z) UTC[1][2]
RocketLittle Joe
Launch siteWallops LA-1
End of mission
Landing dateNovember 8, 1960, 15:20 (1960-11-08UTC15:21Z) UTC[1][2]
Project Mercury
Abort Tests

Little Joe 5 was the November 8, 1960, 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 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.[3] 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.

See also

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References

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Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

  1. ^ a b c d e f "LJ-5 (9)". Kennedy. December 8, 2000. Archived from the original on October 28, 2009. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
  2. ^ a b Wade, Mark (July 31, 2008). "Little Joe". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on January 7, 2010. Retrieved January 16, 2010. 1960 November 8–15:18 GMT - Wallops Island LA1. LV Model: Little Joe 1 2P . Little Joe 1-2P LJ-5 FAILURE: At 15.4 seconds the escape rocket motor and tower jettison motor ignited prematurely. Mercury LJ-5 Agency: NASA. Apogee: 16 km (9 mi). Little Joe 5 with a Mercury production spacecraft was launched from Wallops Island to test the spacecraft in an abort simulating the most severe launch conditions. At 15.4 seconds after liftoff, the escape rocket motor and tower jettison motor ignited prematurely. Booster, capsule, and tower remained mated through ballistic trajectory until destroyed on impact.
  3. ^ NASA SP-4201
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