The Little Joe 1B was a launch escape system test of the Mercury spacecraft, conducted as part of the U.S. Mercury program. The mission also carried a female rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) named Miss Sam in the Mercury spacecraft. The mission was launched January 21, 1960, from Wallops Island, Virginia. The Little Joe 1B flew to an apogee of 9.3 statute miles (15.0 km) and a range of 11.7 miles (18.9 km) out to sea. Miss Sam survived the 8 minute 35 second flight in good condition. The spacecraft was recovered by a Marine helicopter and returned to Wallops Island within about 45 minutes. Miss Sam was one of many monkeys used in space travel research.

Gallery

  • Miss Sam, the Rhesus Monkey
    Miss Sam, the Rhesus Monkey
  • Miss Sam, with fiberglass couch, being placed in a container for the Little Joe 1B flight
    Miss Sam, with fiberglass couch, being placed in a container for the Little Joe 1B flight

See also

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

  1. ^ a b c d Warnock, Lynda (November 21, 2006). "LJ-1B (6)". NASA. Retrieved January 16, 2010.

External links