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Launch was a Partial FailureNational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Little Joe: LJ-5A
Uncrewed launch escape system test of the Mercury spacecraft, conducted as part of the U.S. Mercury program. It was an attempted re-test of the failed Little Joe 5 flight.
Saturday, 18 March 1961
Mission Data
🇺🇸National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationEst. 1958
Launch VehicleLittle Joe
Vehicle FamilyLittle Joe
Vehicle Record3 of 8 launches (37.5%)
Provider TypeGovernment
Agency Record122 successes / 20 failures (86%)
Success Streak12 consecutive
ProgramMercury · Human Spaceflight
Mission TypeTest Flight
Target OrbitSuborbital
Launch PadLaunch Area 1
Location🇺🇸 Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA USA
Agency Launches This Year#4
Launches From This Pad7
Launches From This Site87
Status Note
Either the launch vehicle reached orbit but did not deliver its payload in the targeted orbit, or an exceptional event made it impossible to consider the mission a success.
About Little Joe
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.
Launch Site
Launch Area 1 · 37.9386°N 75.4572°W
Launch data from Launch Library 2 by The Space Devs.