NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Failure

Mercury-Atlas 3 (MA-3)

Launch Time
Tue Apr 25, 1961 16:15 UTC

First attempted orbital Mercury launch. Pitch and roll sequence failed to initiate due to short or open circuit in missile programmer. RSO T+43 seconds. Capsule successfully recovered.

Rocket

Atlas-D Mercury
Image Credit: USAF or NASA
NASA
Status: Retired
Liftoff Thrust: 1,880 kN
Payload to LEO: 1,360 kg
Stages: 2
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 28.7 m

Mission Details

Mercury-Atlas 3

Mercury-Atlas 3 (MA-3) was an unmanned spaceflight of the Mercury program. It was launched unmanned on April 25, 1961 at 16:15 UTC, from Launch Complex 14 at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Mercury capsule contained a robotic "mechanical astronaut". Mercury spacecraft No. 8 and Atlas No. 8 100-D were used in the mission.

Payloads: 1
Low Earth Orbit

Location

LC-14, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA

Stats

1961

15th orbital launch attempt

Atlas LV-3B

4th mission
2nd mission of 1961
2nd failed mission