LAUNCH CENTER

Failure

Fri Aug 21 1959

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

LJ-1

Launch Failure

LAUNCH TIME

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RECOVERY OVERVIEW

Location

No Recovery Specified

Type

No Recovery Specified

Rocket Details

Name:

Little Joe

Description:

Little Joe was a solid-fueled booster rocket used by NASA for eight launches from 1959-1960 from Wallops Island, Virginia to test the launch escape system and heat shield for Project Mercury capsules.

MISSION OVERVIEW

Type: Test Flight
Little Joe 1 (LJ-1) was a failed launch of a Little Joe by NASA, a solid fuel rocket that was designed for a Max Q abort and Launch Escape System test for Mercury capsule. The objective was to determine how well the escape rocket would function under the most severe dynamic loading conditions anticipated during a Mercury-Atlas launching.

COMPLEX OVERVIEW

Location

Wallops Island, Virginia, USA

Pad

Launch Area 1