MISSION NAME
Mercury-Atlas 7 7
Status
Success
DATE
24 MAY 1962
LAUNCH PROVIDER
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Launch Pad
Space Launch Complex 14
Description
Mercury-Atlas 7 was the fourth crewed spaceflight for the United States. The spacecraft, named Aurora 7, carried the astronaut Scott Carpenter to orbit where it completed three orbits before returning to Earth. The mission lasted for 4 hours, 56 minutes & 5 seconds. Due to a targeting error during reentry the spacecraft splashed about 400 km off-course delaying the recovery efforts.
Atlas LV-3B
Rocket Description
The Atlas LV-3B, Atlas D Mercury Launch Vehicle or Mercury-Atlas Launch Vehicle, was a human-rated expendable launch system used as part of the United States Project Mercury to send astronauts into low Earth orbit. Manufactured by American aircraft manufacturing company Convair, it was derived from the SM-65D Atlas missile, and was a member of the Atlas family of rockets.