1961: Mercury-Atlas 3 (NASA)

Mercury- Atlas 3 (MA-3) was launched unmanned on 25 April 1961 at 16:15 UTC, from Launch Complex 14 at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The mission was terminated by the range safety officer after approximately 43.3 seconds due to failure of the launch vehicle to follow its roll and pitch programmes.

Although the launch-vehicle was destroyed as a result of a malfunction, considerable benefit was derived from the flight test. The launch escape system saved the Mercury spacecraft from destruction. The capsule flew to an apogee of 7.2 km and downrange only 1.8 km.

The flight of the MA-3 capsule lasted 7-minutes and 19-seconds, most of it descending on its parachute. The spacecraft was recovered some 20 minutes after launch and reused on the next flight.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• 1961
• iaf
• space
• nasa
• mercury
• atlas

[ti994apc]

Although computers are more advanced today. Rocket hardware has gone backwards technologically since 1972. Shuttle used dangerous solid rocket fuel which should NEVER be used to lift people because it cannot be turned off once started. Also, Shuttle had no escape system. The average person does not know they only care about what it looks like.

[BigRIJoe]

Any sane person knows women and blacks are just oxygen bandits

[UdallIn72]

@mailmancoupe

Especially if you were black or a woman!

[5ivepdx]

@amb1962 - thanks! :)

[amb1962]

Actually, the voice belongs to NASA Public Affairs Officer John A. "Shorty" Powers - "The Voice of Mercury".

[5ivepdx]

The voice sounds like Gene Krantz. Yes?

[rockyPants4000]

Amazing to see how far we've come.

This "little joe" flight experienced less speed and altitude than any average jet fighter of today goes through every day.

[rockyPants4000]

Virgin/Rutan's White Knight 2 flights will be suborbital... and being that you can buy a ticket yourself... that's pretty exciting.

[bassbob42]

only two were suborbital. 5 were orbital flights

[don312000]

As a teacher of mine said after we watched a shuttle launch abort on TV: "At least they know that works!"