Little Joe 5

**Little Joe 5**
Mission Insignia

Mission Statistics
Mission Name:	Little Joe 5
Call Sign:	LJ-5
Number of Crew Members:	0
Launch:	November 8, 1960 Wallops Island
Landing:	November 8, 1960
Duration:	2 min 22 s
Number of Orbits:	suborbital
Apogee:	10.1 mi 16.2 km
Distance Traveled:	14 mi 22.5 km
Maximum velocity:	1,785 mph 2,873 km/h
Peak acceleration:	6 g (58.8 m/s²)
Mass:	1,141 kg
LJ-5

Little Joe 5 was an unmanned Launch Escape System test of the Mercury spacecraft, conducted as part of the U.S. Mercury program. The mission used a production Mercury spacecraft # 3. The mission was launched November 8, 1960, from Wallops Island, Virginia. The Little Joe 5 flew to an apogee of 10.1 miles (16.2 km) and a range of 13 miles (20.9 km). The mission lasted 2 minutes 22 seconds. Maximum speed was 1,785 mph (798 m/s) and acceleration was 6 g (58.8 m/s²). The mission was a failure and Mercury spacecraft # 3 was destroyed. Payload 1,141 kg.

See also