Mercury-Atlas 3

Mercury-Cape Canaveral, Florida. The mission was terminated by the range safety officer after approximately 43.3 seconds due to failure of the launch vehicle to follow its roll and pitch programs. Although the launch-vehicle was destroyed as a result of a malfunction, considerable benefit was derived from the flight test. The launch escape system saved the Mercury spacecraft from destruction. The capsule flew to an apogee of 7.2 km and downrange only 1.8 km. The flight of the MA-3 capsule lasted 7-minutes and 19-seconds, most of it descending on its parachute. The spacecraft was recovered some 20 minutes after launch and reused on the next flight. Capsule weight: 1,179 kg