Mercury Spacecraft 8/8A MA-3 and MA-4
Mercury Spacecraft 8 first launched on MA-3 on April 25, 1961. When the Atlas failed to follow its guidance program, range safety destroyed the booster and the escape system carried the capsule to a safe recovery. NASA refitted it as Spacecraft 8A; on MA-4 on September 13 it completed the first successful uncrewed orbital Mercury mission and was recovered again.
Identity
- Aliases
- Mercury spacecraft No. 8Mercury spacecraft No. 8AMA-3 spacecraftMA-4 spacecraftMercury-Atlas 3 capsuleMercury-Atlas 4 capsule
- Name
- Mercury Spacecraft 8/8A MA-3 and MA-4
- Status
- retired
Details
- Description
- Mercury Spacecraft 8 first launched on MA-3 on April 25, 1961. When the Atlas failed to follow its guidance program, range safety destroyed the booster and the escape system carried the capsule to a safe recovery. NASA refitted it as Spacecraft 8A; on MA-4 on September 13 it completed the first successful uncrewed orbital Mercury mission and was recovered again.
- First Flight Date
- 1961-04-25
- Manufacturer
- Operator
- Vehicle Family
Links
- Official Url
- https://www.nasa.gov/history/SP-4001/app4.htm
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- July 14, 2026 at 19:00:50 UTC
- Updated Time
- July 14, 2026 at 19:00:50 UTC
Other
- Last Flight Date
- 1961-09-13
- Search Name
- Mercury Spacecraft 8/8A MA-3 and MA-4 Mercury spacecraft No. 8 Mercury spacecraft No. 8A MA-3 spacecraft MA-4 spacecraft Mercury-Atlas 3 capsule Mercury-Atlas 4 capsule
- Serial Number
- 8 / 8A
- Vehicle Code
- Spacecraft No. 8/8A