- Beach Abort
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.. The test took place at NASA's Wallops Island, Virginia, test facility onMay 9 ,1960 . In the test, the Mercury spacecraft and its Launch Escape System were fired from the ground level. The flight lasted 1-minute 16 seconds and reached an apogee of 2,465 feet (750 m) and a range of 0.6 mile (0.96 km). A Marine Corps helicopter recovered the spacecraft 17 minutes later. Top speed was a velocity of 976 mph (1,571 km/h). 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. Payload 1,154 kg.Mercury spacecraft # 1 is currently 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. [cite web| url=http://www.nyscience.org/exhibitions/explore_exhibitions/38694| title=New York Hall of Science Rocket Park Exhibit]
ee also
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Boilerplate (rocketry) References
* [http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4201/cover.htm This New Ocean: A History of Project Mercury - NASA SP-4201]
* [http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/sc-query.html NASA NSSDC Master Catalog]
* [http://www.rocket.aero/beachabort.html Video of the May 9, 1960 Beach Abort test]
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