Little Joe-Apollo 3 (A-001)

Launch data:

Description:

• The first test with an active LES, it repeated the trajectory of the QTV mission. The thrust termination blast was successful, destroying the Little Joe II, and the abort was acceptable, although the capsule did re-contact booster debris during the abort. Excessive oscillation of the capsule caused one of the three main parachutes to rip away at deployment, but the capsule landed successfully on the remaining two chutes.
• Later missions employed canards on the LES to stabilize the CM in a heat-shield-forward attitude and prevent excessive oscillations.

A-001 Little-Joe II launch

Launch

A-001 Launch Sequence

Astrophilately covers:

Launch cancel White Sands Missile Range