Mercury LJ-6

Launch & landing data: Designation  59 Sub3 Launch date - time  04 Oct 1959 Launch site  Wallops Island Launch vehicle  Little-Joe 1 Payload  Boilerplate Spacecraft Mass (kg)  1134 kg Mission  Test of Capsule aerodynamics and integrity Suborbital flight:    - Altitude  60 km (37 miles) Flight Duration (d:u:min)  5 min, 10 sec Distance  127 km (79 miles) Max Velocity  4949 km/h (3,075 mph) Max Q  3,400 psf Max G  5.9 g (58 m/s²) Landing date - time  04 Oct 1959 Landing location  115 km from launch place Prime recovery ship  USS Salvager (ARSD 3) Flight Duration (d:hr:min)  2min 30sec (5min 10sec?)

Mission Detail:

• 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.
• Launching of the Little Joe launch vehicle on October 4, 1959 took place at Wallops Island, Va. This was the first attempt to launch an instrumented capsule with a Little Joe booster. Only the LJ1A and the LJ6 used the space metal/chevron plates as heat reflector shields, as they kept shattering. Little Joe was used to test various components of the Mercury spacecraft, such as the emergency escape rockets.
• The Little Joe 6 flew to an apogee of 37 miles and a range of 79 miles. The mission lasted 5 minutes 10 seconds. Maximum speed was 3,075 mph and acceleration was 5.9 g (58 m/s²).

Mission Highlights: