MS-1 launch, postmarked PAFB, November 1, 1961. |
The Space Race was a technological competition between the United States and the Soviet Union in demonstrating superiority in aerospace capabilities, including artificial satellites launches, robotic space probes to the Moon, Venus, and Mars, and human spaceflight in low Earth orbit and ultimately landing on the Moon. This blog features my collection of US and Soviet Union space events on covers and press photos.
1961-11-01 USA Mercury Scout MS-1
Mercury Scout 1 (MS-1) launch on November 1, 1961, was intended to test tracking stations for Project Mercury flights, using Scout rockets to launch small satellites to evaluate the worldwide Mercury Tracking Network in preparation for manned orbital missions. However the launch failed shortly after lift-off and was terminated by the Range Safety Officer, due to erratic booster oscillations.
(Reference from Mercury-Scout 1)