September 9, 1959 8:19 am
Big Joe 1
|
Atlas LV-3B
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
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Last Updated:
2026-07-14 00:10:02
Suborbital flight with the objective of testing the Mercury spacecraft ablative heat shield. The Atlas booster section failed to jettison, leading to a lower apogee. It was nonetheless sufficient to satisfy the Mercury spacecraft team.
Launch Overview
Window Open
08:19 UTC
Window Close
08:19 UTC
Lift Off
Sep 9, 1959 · 08:19 UTC
Launch Facility
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Launch Pad
Space Launch Complex 14
Target Orbit
Suborbital
Payload Overview
Customer
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Payload
Big Joe 1
Rocket
Atlas LV-3B
Destination
Suborbital
Recovery Overview
Landing Location
See Mission Notes
Landing Type
RTLS / Droneship
Suborbital flight with the objective of testing the Mercury spacecraft ablative heat shield. The Atlas booster section failed to jettison, leading to a lower apogee. It was nonetheless sufficient to satisfy the Mercury spacecraft team.
Height
LEO Payload
Total Launches
Status
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Space Launch Complex 14
Launch Overview
Window Open
08:19 UTC
Window Close
08:19 UTC
Lift Off
Sep 9, 1959 · 08:19 UTC
Launch Facility
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Launch Pad
Space Launch Complex 14
Target Orbit
Suborbital
Payload Overview
Customer
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Payload
Big Joe 1
Rocket
Atlas LV-3B
Destination
Suborbital
Recovery Overview
Landing Location
See Mission Notes
Landing Type
RTLS / Droneship
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