Mission: Mercury-Atlas 3
Launch Pad: LC-14
Vehicle: Atlas (3)
Crew: Unmanned, Robot operations
Milestones:
Not applicable
Payload:
Spacecraft number 8, Launch Vehicle number 100-D
Mission Objective:
Quick test of spacecraft/Atlas orbit.
Orbit:
Altitude: 4.5 statute miles
Orbits: 0
Duration: 0 Days, 0 hours, 7 minutes, 19 seconds
Distance: 1,177 statute miles
Max Q: 880 psf
Max G: 11
Launch:
April 25, 1961, 11:15 a.m. EST, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The vehicle was destroyed 40 seconds after liftoff.
Landing:
Not Applicable
Mission Highlights:
The mission was listed as a failure. Forty seconds after the Atlas left the pad, the vehicle was destroyed by the Range Safety Officer. The Mercury spacecraft separated and was recovered.
