Mercury Atlas 3 Spacecraft: S/C-8 Launch Vehicle: Atlas 100-D Launched: 25 Apr 1961

⇑ Mission List ⇑ Designation: Mercury A S(U)-3 Description: 3rd Mercury Atlas unmanned suborbital

Decay Date: 1961-04-25 COSPAR: F610425A Mercury-Atlas 3 (MA-3) was launched from Cape Canaveral in an attempt to orbit the spacecraft with a 'mechanical astronaut' aboard. After lift-off, the launch vehicle failed to roll to a 70 degree heading and to pitch over into the proper trajectory. The abort-sensing system activated the escape rockets prior to the launch vehicle's destruction by the range safety officer after approximately 40 seconds of flight that had attained an altitude of 16,400 feet. The spacecraft then coasted up to 24,000 feet, deployed its parachutes, and landed in the Atlantic Ocean 2,000 yards north of the launch pad. The spacecraft was recovered and was found to have incurred only superficial damage; it was then shipped to McDonnell for refitting. The program insignia shown above is post factum. References: Grimwood, James M. 1963. Project Mercury: A Chronology. NASA SP-4001. Encyclopedia Astronautica. Wikipedia.