Status
Launch was a Partial Failure
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.
Description
Suborbital flight with the objective of testing the Mercury spacecraft ablative heat shield. The Atlas booster section failed to jettison, leading to a lower apogee. It was nonetheless sufficient to satisfy the Mercury spacecraft team.
Details
Type
Test Flight
Orbit
Suborbital (Sub)
Location
Unknown
Date
Wed, Sep 9, 1959, 08:19
Weather
Pro