Little Joe 5B
Launch of Little Joe 5B from Wallops Island
Mission typeAbort test
OperatorNASA
Mission duration5 minutes, 25 seconds
Distance travelled14 kilometres (9 mi)
Apogee4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftMercury No.14
ManufacturerMcDonnell Aircraft
Launch mass1,141 kilograms (2,515 lb)
Start of mission
Launch dateApril 28, 1961, 14:03 (1961-04-28UTC14:03Z) UTC
RocketLittle Joe
Launch siteWallops LA-4
End of mission
Landing dateApril 28, 1961, 14:08 (1961-04-28UTC14:09Z) UTC
Project Mercury
Abort Tests
 

Little Joe 5B was an uncrewed launch escape system test of the Mercury spacecraft, conducted as part of the US 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.[1]

Mercury spacecraft #14A used in the Little Joe 5B mission, is on display at the Virginia Air and Space Center in Hampton, Virginia.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Loyd S. Swenson Jr.; James M. Grimwood; Charles C. Alexander (1966). "10". This New Ocean: A History of Project Mercury - NASA SP-4201. NASA Special Publication-4201 in the NASA History Series. p. 9. Archived from the original on 2009-04-07. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  2. ↑ "Spacecraft". Virginia Air & Space Science Center. Retrieved March 20, 2023.

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