Mission type | Abort test |
---|---|
Operator | NASA |
Mission duration | 5 minutes, 10 seconds |
Distance travelled | 127 kilometres (79 mi) |
Apogee | 60 kilometres (37 mi) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft type | Mercury boilerplate |
Manufacturer | McDonnell Aircraft |
Launch mass | 1,134 kilograms (2,500 lb) |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | October 4, 1959, 10:00 | UTC
Rocket | Little Joe |
Launch site | Wallops LA-1 |
End of mission | |
Landing date | October 4, 1959, 10:05 | UTC
Project Mercury Abort Tests |
The Little Joe 6 was a launch escape system test of the Mercury spacecraft, conducted as part of the U.S. Mercury program. The mission used a boilerplate Mercury spacecraft. The mission was launched October 4, 1959, from Wallops Island, Virginia.[1] The Little Joe 6 flew to an apogee of 60 kilometres (37 mi) and a range of 127 kilometres (79 mi). The mission lasted 5 minutes 10 seconds. Maximum speed was 1,375 metres per second (3,075 mph) and acceleration was 5.9 g (58 m/s²). Payload 1,134 kilograms (2,500 lb).[2]