Little Joe 1B

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Little Joe 1B
Mission Insignia
Mercury insignia
Mission Statistics
Mission Name: Little Joe 1B
Call Sign: LJ-1B
Number of
Crew Members:
1 Rhesus monkey
Launch: January 21, 1960
Wallops Island
Landing: January 21, 1960
Duration: 8 min 35 s
Number of
Orbits:
suborbital
Apogee: 9 mi
15 km
Distance
Traveled:
12 mi
19 km
Maximum
velocity:
2,055 mph
3,307 km/h
Peak acceleration: 4.5 g (44 m/s²)
Mass: 1,007 kg
LJ-1B
Miss Sam the Rhesus monkey, occupant of Little Joe 1B. (NASA)
Miss Sam the Rhesus monkey, occupant of Little Joe 1B. (NASA)

The Little Joe 1B was a Launch Escape System test of the Mercury spacecraft, conducted as part of the U.S. Mercury program. The mission also carried a female Rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) named Miss Sam in the Mercury spacecraft. The mission was launched January 21, 1960, from Wallops Island, Virginia. The Little Joe 1B flew to an apogee of 9.3 statute miles (15.0 km) and a range of 11.7 miles (18.9 km) out to sea. Miss Sam survived the 8 minute 35 second flight in good condition. The spacecraft was recovered by a Marine helicopter and returned to Wallops Island within about 45 minutes. Maximum speed was 2,055 mph (3,307 km/h) and acceleration was 4.5 g (44 m/s²). Miss Sam was one of many monkeys in space. Payload 1,007 kg.

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