Mission: Mercury-Atlas 1
Launch Pad: LC-14
Vehicle: Atlas (1)
Crew: Unmanned
Milestones:
Not applicable
Payload:
Spacecraft number 4, Launch Vehicle 50-D
Mission Objective:
Qualify spacecraft and Atlas combination. The specific test ojectives were:
- Recover the capsule
- Determine the structral integrity of the Mercury capsule structure and afterbody shingles under the maximum heating conditions which could be encountered from an orbital launch
- Determine Mercury capsule afterbody heading rates during reentry (for this purpose 51 thermocouples were installed)
- Determine the flight dynamic characteristics of the Mercury capsule during reentry
- Determine the adequacy of the Mercury capsule recovery systems
- Familiarize Project Mercury personnel with launch and recovery opperations
Orbit:
Altitude: 8.1 statute miles
Orbits: 0
Duration: 0 Days, 0 hours, 0 minutes, 0 seconds
Distance: 6 statute miles
Max Velocity: 1,701 miles per hour
Launch:
July 29, 1960
Landing:
Not applicable
Mission Highlights:
Mission was listed as a failure.
