Little Joe 1B launch. This launch of the Little Joe 1B test mission took place from Wallops Flight Facility,Wallops Island,Virginia,USA,on 21 January 1960. It was a suborbital test flight for Project Mercury,lasting just over eight minutes and reaching an altitude of 14 kilometres. On board was a female rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta,named Miss Sam),who was recovered in good condition. This flight also tested the escape system (Launch Escape System,tower seen on top of the rocket). This test flight,and several others,were later followed by Alan Shepard's first manned space mission by the USA (5 May 1961) |