1960-05-09 USA Mercury Beach Abort Test

A Beach Abort Test launch cover from "Goldcraft", postmarked at Wallops Island with a hand cancel on May 9, 1960.

The Beach Abort test on May 9, 1960, was the first major qualification flight of a production Mercury spacecraft and directly tested the system that was supposed to save an astronaut if a launch vehicle failed while still on the pad.

Using Mercury spacecraft No. 1, McDonnell’s first production Mercury capsule, the test simulated an emergency launch-pad abort by firing the Launch Escape System from the ground. The capsule reached approximately 0.5 mile altitude before descending by parachute and being recovered. The successful test demonstrated the feasibility of the Mercury escape, landing, and recovery systems and provided important data for subsequent modifications to the launch-escape system.