Little Joe 5A
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Mission Insignia | |
---|---|
Mission Statistics | |
Mission Name: | Little Joe 5A |
Call Sign: | LJ-5A |
Number of Crew Members: |
0 |
Launch: | March 18, 1961 Wallops Island |
Landing: | March 18, 1961 |
Duration: | 23 min 48 s |
Number of Orbits: |
suborbital |
Apogee: | 7.7 mi 12.4 km |
Distance Traveled: |
18 mi 29 km |
Maximum velocity: |
1,783 mph 2,869 km/h |
Peak acceleration: | 8 g (78 m/s²) |
Mass: | 1,141 kg |
LJ-5A |
Little Joe 5A 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 # 14. The mission was launched March 18, 1961, from Wallops Island, Virginia. The Little Joe 5A flew to an apogee of 7.7 miles (12 km) and a range of 18 miles (29 km). The mission lasted 5 minutes 25 seconds. Maximum speed was 1,783 mph (2869 km/h) and acceleration was 8 g (78 m/s²). The mission was a success and Mercury spacecraft # 14 was recovered. Mass 1,141 kg.
Mercury spacecraft # 14 used in the Little Joe 5A mission, is currently displayed at the Virginia Air and Space Center, Hampton, VA .