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National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationLaunch SuccessfulHuman ExplorationAtlas LV-3B
Launched 1963-05-15 13:04:13 UTCSpace Launch Complex 14, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Success
Reached Low Earth Orbit
Worldwide
22nd
orbital launch attempt in 1963
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
2nd
launch this year
Space Launch Complex 14
1st
launch from this pad this year
Pad turnaround
224 d
since the pad's previous launch
Mercury-Atlas 9 was the final manned spaceflight of the United States' Mercury program. It carried the Faith 7 spacecraft with astronaut Gordon Cooper to orbit where it completed 22 orbits seconds before reentry. The mission lasted for, 34 hours, 19 minutes & 49 seconds. This was the last time an American was launched to space on a solo orbital mission. The mission had several technical problems, the biggest which was a short-circuit in the bus bar serving the 250 volt main inverter causing the automatic stabilization and control system to stop working during the 21st orbit. In the end Cooper had to use lines he had drawn on the window and his wristwatch to correctly execute burns to safely re-enter the atmosphere.
Launch Provider
Government · United States of America · Founded 1958 · Administrator Jared Isaacman
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. NASA have many launch facilities but most are inactive. The most commonly used pad will be LC-39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Launches
142
Successful
122
86%
Upcoming
5
scheduled
Height
28.7m
Diameter
3m
To low Earth orbit
1,360kg
Liftoff thrust
1,300kN
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