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Mercury-Atlas 3

Mercury-Atlas 3 was NASA's uncrewed Mercury spacecraft and Atlas qualification mission. The Atlas 100-D failed to roll and pitch onto its intended trajectory and was destroyed by range safety about 40 seconds after liftoff; the abort system separated the capsule, which parachuted into the Atlantic and was recovered with superficial damage.

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Identity

Aliases
Mercury-Atlas 3MA-3Mercury SC8Atlas 100-D1961-F03
Name
Mercury-Atlas 3
Status
failed

Details

Astronauts
-
Description
Mercury-Atlas 3 was NASA's uncrewed Mercury spacecraft and Atlas qualification mission. The Atlas 100-D failed to roll and pitch onto its intended trajectory and was destroyed by range safety about 40 seconds after liftoff; the abort system separated the capsule, which parachuted into the Atlantic and was recovered with superficial damage.
End Date
1961-04-25
Launch Site
Outcome
Failure
Programs
Start Date
1961-04-25
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Creation Time
August 15, 2026 at 06:29:30 UTC
Updated Time
August 15, 2026 at 06:29:30 UTC

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