North American Aviation

Little Joe

Little Joe
Retired

Overview

/01

Little Joe was a solid-fueled booster rocket used by NASA for eight launches from 1959-1960 from Wallops Island, Virginia to test the launch escape system and heat shield for Project Mercury capsules.

Manufacturer

North American Aviation

Variant

N/A

Alias

N/A

Maiden Flight

August 21, 1959

Technical Specifications

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17 m

Length

—

Diameter

—

Launch Mass

—

Liftoff Thrust

—

LEO Capacity

—

GTO Capacity

Launch Record

/03
8

Total Launches

3

Successful

5

Failed

37.5%

Success Rate

0

Attempted Landings

0

Successful Landings

0

Failed Landings

0

Consecutive Successes

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