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Little Joe 1A

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Little Joe 1A
Mission typeAbort test
OperatorNASA
Mission duration8 minutes, 11 seconds
Distance travelled18.5 kilometres (11.5 mi)
Apogee14 kilometres (9 mi)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeMercury boilerplate
ManufacturerMcDonnell Aircraft
Launch mass1,007 kilograms (2,220 lb)
Start of mission
Launch dateNovember 4, 1959, 14:30 (1959-11-04UTC14:30Z) UTC
RocketLittle Joe
Launch siteWallops LA-1
End of mission
Landing dateNovember 4, 1959, 14:38 (1959-11-04UTC14:39Z) UTC
Project Mercury
Abort Tests

Little Joe 1A (LJ-1A) was an uncrewed rocket launched as part of NASA's Mercury program on November 4, 1959.[1] This flight, a repeat of the Little Joe 1 (LJ-1) launch, was to test a launch abort under high aerodynamic load conditions. After lift-off, the pressure sensing system was to indicate when the correct abort dynamic pressure was reached.[2] This should have happened about thirty seconds after launch.[2] A signal was sent to the explosive bolts to separate the spacecraft from the launch vehicle.[2] Up to this point, everything was going as planned.[2] The impulse was also intended to ignite the escape motor.[2] The motor was ignited, but it took a number of seconds to build up thrust, and thus the abort maneuver was not accomplished at the desired dynamic pressure.[3] Because of this, a repeat of the test was planned. Other events from launch through recovery occurred without incident.[3] An altitude of 9 statute miles (14.5 km) and a range of 11.5 statute miles (18.5 km) were obtained, and a speed of 2,021.6 miles per hour (3,254 km/h) was reached. Flight time 8 minutes 11 seconds.[4] Payload 1,007 kg.

See also

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References

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Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

  1. ^ "Little Joe Series". history.nasa.gov. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e Grimwood, James M. "November 4, 1959". Project Mercury - A Chronology. NASA. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Shaylor, David J. (2009). Space Rescue - Ensuring the Safety of Manned Spacecraft. Praxis. p. 121. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-73996-0. ISBN 978-0-387-69905-9. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  4. ^ "Little Joe 1A". gsfc.nasa.gov. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
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