Mercury Redstone 1 Spacecraft: S/C-2 Launch Vehicle: Redstone MR-1 Launched: 21 Nov 1960	⇑ Mission List ⇑ Designation: Mercury R S(U)-1 Description: 1st Mercury Redstone unmanned suborbital

This unmanned mission was unsuccessful because premature cut-off of the launch vehicle engines activated the emergency escape system when the vehicle was only about 1 inch off the pad. Engine cut-off was caused by premature loss of electrical ground power to the booster. The launch vehicle settled back on the pad with only slight damage. Since the spacecraft received a cut-off signal, the escape tower and recovery sequence was initiated. The undamaged spacecraft was recovered for reuse. The program insignia shown above is post factum. References: Grimwood, James M. 1963. Project Mercury: A Chronology. NASA SP-4001. Encyclopedia Astronautica. Wikipedia.