The Beach Abort was an unmanned test in NASA's Project Mercury, of the Mercury spacecraft Launch Escape System. Objectives of the test were a performance evaluation of the escape system, the parachute and landing system, and recovery operations in an off-the-pad abort situation.[1] The test took place at NASA's Wallops Island, Virginia, test facility on May 9, 1960. In the test, the Mercury spacecraft and its Launch Escape System were fired from ground level. The flight lasted a total of 1 minute, 16 seconds. The spacecraft reached an apogee of 0.751 kilometres (2,465 ft) and splashed down in the ocean with a range of 0.97 kilometres (0.6 mi).Top speed was a velocity of 436 metres per second (976 mph).[2][3] A Marine Corps helicopter recovered the spacecraft 17 minutes after launch. The test was considered a success, although there was insufficient separation distance when the tower jettisoned. Mercury Spacecraft #1, the first spacecraft off McDonnell's production line, was used in this test. Total payload weight was 1,154 kilograms (2,544 lb).[3]
Beach Abort
Boilerplate Mercury spacecraft with launch escape system on the ground before July 22, 1959 test flight
Mercury Spacecraft #1 is displayed at the New York Hall of Science, Corona Park, NY. It is displayed indoors, suspended from the ceiling, with an escape tower of unknown provenance attached.[3][4]
Flight of the spacecraft and launch escape system. In frame 6 the two separate and the spacecraft lands by parachute in frame 10.
Technicians prepare a full-scale capsule which would be used for the test.
This New Ocean: A History of Project Mercury - NASA SP-4201
Video of Mercury Beach Abort Test
Additional Images of the Spacecraft
January 26, 2023
beach, abort, unmanned, test, nasa, project, mercury, mercury, spacecraft, launch, escape, system, objectives, test, were, performance, evaluation, escape, system, parachute, landing, system, recovery, operations, abort, situation, test, took, place, nasa, wal. The Beach Abort was an unmanned test in NASA s Project Mercury of the Mercury spacecraft Launch Escape System Objectives of the test were a performance evaluation of the escape system the parachute and landing system and recovery operations in an off the pad abort situation 1 The test took place at NASA s Wallops Island Virginia test facility on May 9 1960 In the test the Mercury spacecraft and its Launch Escape System were fired from ground level The flight lasted a total of 1 minute 16 seconds The spacecraft reached an apogee of 0 751 kilometres 2 465 ft and splashed down in the ocean with a range of 0 97 kilometres 0 6 mi Top speed was a velocity of 436 metres per second 976 mph 2 3 A Marine Corps helicopter recovered the spacecraft 17 minutes after launch The test was considered a success although there was insufficient separation distance when the tower jettisoned Mercury Spacecraft 1 the first spacecraft off McDonnell s production line was used in this test Total payload weight was 1 154 kilograms 2 544 lb 3 Beach AbortBoilerplate Mercury spacecraft with launch escape system on the ground before July 22 1959 test flightMission typeAbort testOperatorNASAMission duration1 minutes 16 secondsDistance travelled1 6 kilometres 1 mi 1 Apogee0 80 kilometres 0 5 mi 1 Spacecraft propertiesSpacecraftMercury No 1ManufacturerMcDonnell AircraftLaunch mass1 007 kilograms 2 220 lb Start of missionLaunch dateMay 9 1960 1960 05 09 RocketMercury LESLaunch siteWallopsEnd of missionLanding dateMay 9 1960 1960 05 10 Project MercuryAbort Tests Little Joe 1BLittle Joe 5 Mercury Spacecraft 1 is displayed at the New York Hall of Science Corona Park NY It is displayed indoors suspended from the ceiling with an escape tower of unknown provenance attached 3 4 Flight of the spacecraft and launch escape system In frame 6 the two separate and the spacecraft lands by parachute in frame 10 Technicians prepare a full scale capsule which would be used for the test See also EditBoilerplate spaceflight References Edit This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration a b c Dumoulin Jim Beach Abort 7 NASA Kennedy Space Center Science Retrieved 27 June 2018 Pearlman Robert NASA s Launch Abort Test Builds on 50 Years of Astronaut Escape Systems Space com Retrieved 27 June 2018 a b c Bauduin Pierre McDowell Johnathan Mercury BA 1 WEEBAU SPACE ENCYCLOPEDIA Retrieved 27 June 2018 New York Hall of Science Rocket Park Exhibit Archived from the original on 2008 03 03 External links EditThis New Ocean A History of Project Mercury NASA SP 4201 Video of Mercury Beach Abort Test Additional Images of the Spacecraft Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Beach Abort amp oldid 1028266270, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
