Little Joe 5A: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Little Joe 5A

Mission Insignia
Mission Statistics
Mission Name:	Little Joe 5A
Call Sign:	LJ-5A
Number of Crew Members:	0
Launch:	March 18, 1961 Wallops Island
Landing:	March 18, 1961
Duration:	23 min 48 s
Number of Orbits:	suborbital
Apogee:	7.7 mi 12.4 km
Distance Traveled:	18 mi 29 km
Maximum velocity:	1,783 mph 2,869 km/h
Peak acceleration:	8 g
Mass:	1,141 kg
LJ-5A

Little Joe 5A was an unmanned Launch Escape System test of the Mercury spacecraft, conducted as part of the U.S. Mercury program. The mission used production Mercury spacecraft # 14. The mission was launched March 18, 1961, from Wallops Island, Virginia. The Little Joe 5A flew to an apogee of 7.7 miles and a range of 18 miles (29 km). The mission lasted 5 minutes 25 seconds. Maximum speed was 1,783 mph (2869 km/h) and acceleration was 8 g (78 m/s²). The mission was a success and Mercury spacecraft # 14 was recovered. Mass 1,141 kg.

Mercury spacecraft # 14 used in the Little Joe 5A mission , is currently displayed at the Virginia Air and Space Center, Hampton, VA . Mercury spacecraft #14 display page on A Field Guide to American Spacecraft website.