Atlas LV-3B — mission imagery
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Failure

Mercury-Atlas 1

Atlas LV-3BNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationSpace Launch Complex 14
Friday, July 29, 1960 · 01:13 PM UTCAdd to Calendar

This mission is complete.

Vehicle

Atlas LV-3B

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Atlas V is an expendable launch system in the Atlas rocket family. It was formerly operated by Lockheed Martin and is now operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture with...

Height59.7 m
LEO Payload18,850 kg
Launches147
Successes122

Provider

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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USA • Founded 1958

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and...

Mission Brief

Mercury-Atlas 1 (MA-1) was the first attempt to launch a Mercury capsule and occurred on July 29, 1960 at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The spacecraft was unmanned and carried no launch escape system. The Atlas rocket suffered a structural failure 58 seconds after launch at an altitude of approximately 30,000 feet (9.1 km) and 11,000 feet (3.4 km) down range.

PayloadMercury-Atlas 1
OrbitSuborbital
CustomerMercury
Stages2
PadSpace Launch Complex 14, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Mission Timeline

14 / 14100%

Ground vector

Launch site

Site locked

Space Launch Complex 14

Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Global range
SITE LOCK
Latitude
28.491°N
Longitude
80.547°W

Range Weather

Launch commit criteria

Clear
Watch
TrackingNo active constraints
Weather Rules

Tracking no weather issues at this time.

Primary concern
No weather issues
Rule count
0
Temperature
Not reported
Surface wind
Not reported
Window

01:13 PM UTC - 01:13 PM UTC

Delay History

1
Jul 29Jul 29Failure → Failure

Schedule updated