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| Little Joe 6 launch cover with Goldcraft cachet, postmarked Wallops Island, March 18, 1961. |
The Little Joe 6 mission (also known as Little Joe 5A) aimed to demonstrate the spacecraft's performance and the escape system under the most challenging loading conditions anticipated during an Atlas launch. However, after executing the maneuver, both the main and reserve parachutes deployed prematurely. Upon landing, the parachute remained attached to the spacecraft, making helicopter recovery impossible. The USS Recovery successfully retrieved the spacecraft using the Shepard's Crook method one hour and nine minutes after launch, but the escape tower was not located.
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| Photo:Launch of Little Joe 6 rocket. |
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| Little Joe 6 launch cover with a machine cancel, Wallops Island, March 18, 1961. Signed by William B. Hudson. |
