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| Little Joe II Abort Test (A-001) launch cover with "Swanson" illustrated cachet, postmarked White Sands Missile Range, May 13, 1964. |
A-001 was the second abort test of the Apollo spacecraft. Its mission was to demonstrate the launch escape system could safely remove the command module under critical abort conditions. Unlike Pad Abort Test 1, in which the launch escape system was ignited at ground level, this mission was flown to demonstrate the capability of the escape system to propel the command module safely away from a launch vehicle while in the high-dynamic-pressure (transonic) region of the Saturn trajectory.
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| Photo: Launch of Little Joe II. |
The launch vehicle was the second in the series of Little Joe II vehicles, which had been developed to accomplish early and economical testing of the launch escape system. The Little Joe II was propelled by seven solid-propellant rocket motors - one Algol sustainer motor, which provided thrust for about 42 seconds, and six Recruit motors, which burned out approximately 1.5 seconds after ignition. The spacecraft consisted of a launch escape system and a boilerplate command and service module (BP-12).
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| Little Joe II Abort Test (A-001) launch cover with "Sokolsky" cachet, postmarked White Sands Missile Range, May 13, 1964. |
