Little Joe 6

Little Joe 6
Little Joe 6 launch Oct. 4, 1959
Mission typeAbort test
OperatorNASA
Mission duration5 minutes, 10 seconds
Distance travelled127 kilometres (79 mi)
Apogee60 kilometres (37 mi)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeMercury boilerplate
ManufacturerMcDonnell Aircraft
Launch mass1,134 kilograms (2,500 lb)
Start of mission
Launch dateOctober 4, 1959, 10:00 (1959-10-04UTC10Z) UTC
RocketLittle Joe
Launch siteWallops LA-1
End of mission
Landing dateOctober 4, 1959, 10:05 (1959-10-04UTC10:06Z) 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]

  1. ^ "Historical Snapshot. Little Joe Launch Vehicle". Boeing. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  2. ^ "Chapter 7: Little Joe Series". This New Ocean. NASA. Retrieved March 26, 2023.