Mercury LJ-1B

Launch & landing data: Designation  60 Sub.1 Launch date - time  21 Jan 1960 Launch site  Wallops Island Launch vehicle  Little-Joe-1 Payload  Boilerplate Spacecraft Mass (kg)  1007 kg Crew  Monkey Miss Sam Suborbital flight:    - Altitude  14 km (9 miles) Distance traveled  19 km (12 miles) Max Velocity  3307 km/h (2,055 mph) Max Q  1,070 psf Max G  4.5 g (44 m/s²) Landing date - time  21 Jan 1960 Landing location  18 km from launch place Prime recovery ship  USS Oppertune (ARS 41) Flight Duration (d:hr:min)  8 min, 35 sec Nbr orbits  0

monkey "Miss Sam", with fiberglass couch, neing placed in a container for the flight.

Mission Objective:

Mission details:

• 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 MAG-26 Marine helicopter at 12 miles and returned to Wallops Island within about 45 minutes. Miss Sam was one of many monkeys used in space travel research.
• The USS Opportune recovering submerged escape tower in two pieces.

Mission Highlights:

Astrophilately covers:

Manuel launch cancel Wallops Island

Second Recovery Ship "USS Orleans Parish" (MCS-61) cancel