Little Joe 5 was an unmanned Launch Escape System

Launch escape system

A Launch Escape System is a top-mounted rocket connected to the crew module of a crewed spacecraft and used to quickly separate the crew module from the rest of the rocket in case of emergency. Since the escape rockets are above the crew module, an LES typically uses separate nozzles which are...

 test of the Mercury spacecraft, conducted as part of the U.S. Mercury program

Project Mercury

In January 1960 NASA awarded Western Electric Company a contract for the Mercury tracking network. The value of the contract was over $33 million. Also in January, McDonnell delivered the first production-type Mercury spacecraft, less than a year after award of the formal contract. On February 12,...

. The mission used a production Mercury spacecraft #3. The mission was launched November 8, 1960, from Wallops Island, Virginia. The Little Joe 5 flew to an apogee of 10.1 miles (16.2 km) and a range of 13 miles (20.9 km). The mission was a failure and Mercury spacecraft #3 was destroyed.

External links

• NASA Project Mercury Mission LJ-5 (9) at Kennedy Space Center Science and Technology website
• LJ-5 (9) at NASA.gov