LAUNCH CENTER

Success

Fri Dec 04 1959

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

LJ-2

Launch Successful

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
The Little Joe 2 was a suborbital test flight of the Mercury space capsule, carrying the rhesus monkey Sam close to the edge of space. He was sent to test the space equipment and the adverse effects of space on humans.

COMPLEX OVERVIEW

Location

Wallops Island, Virginia, USA

Pad

Launch Area 1