Mercury LJ-5

Mission details:

• Little Joe 5 was an unmanned Launch Escape System test of the Mercury spacecraft, conducted as part of the U.S. Mercury program. The mission used a production Mercury spacecraft # 3.
• The mission was launched November 8, 1960, from Wallops Island, Virginia. The Little Joe 2 flew to an apogee of 10.1 miles (16.2 km) and a range of 13 miles (20.9 km). The mission lasted 2 minutes 22 seconds. Maximum speed was 1,785 mph (798 m/s) and acceleration was 6 g (58.8 m/s²).
• The spacecraft and booster did not separate and impacted about 12 miles from the launch point in 68 feet of water. Salvage operations were conducted by USS Opportune ARS 41, and the services of USS Bittern MHC 43 were requested to assist in recovery. 60% of the booster and 80% of the escape tower were recovered, providing NASA with the principal desired information.
• The mission was a failure and Mercury spacecraft # 3 was destroyed.

Astrophilately covers:

Launch cancel Wallops Island. (with Goldcraft cachet) Credit: R403

Launch cancel Wallops Island.