High altitude abort.

Launched Rhesus monkey "SAM" on Friday 4.December.59, at 11.15am.

"SAM" probably comes from the abbreviation "The School of Aviation Medicine" that was reffered to as "SAM". (They supplied the primates.)

Recovered and lifted on to U.S.S. Borie, capsule dismantled and monkey removed on board.

4 Castor motors(50,00lbs thrust each, two, stage ingnited at T+ 22.8 secs),and 4 Recruits. Powered booster flight ended at T+59 secs at 96,000ft when escape motor fired, and capsule release occured, MACH 5.25,(3780mph). At 130,00ft tower jettisoned at MACH 4.95(3564mph), and the capsule coasted on upto 280,000ft(53 miles) at T+ 170 secs. Max altitude not acheived due to a 0.5 degree launcher angle error, which could cause an error of + or - 25,000ft. Lift off "G" 5.5. Max in flight "G" reached 6.9. Under escape motor firing a roll of the capsule reached 1.5 RAD/SEC. This thought to be due to the exhaust acting on the sloping tower support elements. Max capsule speed was MACH 5.67(4062 mph) during escape motor boost, which lasted 1 second.
Quote. "The escape assembly with the exception of the flow sensor was identical to the Mercury project escape assembly. The flow sensor was part of the instrumentation required for the Little Joe No.2 test and replaced the Mercury aerodynamic spike."
No orange on transition or lower section of capsule below corrugations, No lettering.
(Image courtesy of Tom Beach and Todd.)

This is "reputed "to be LJ2 today, at the Air and Power Park, Hampton Virginia. There are a few errors on the Joe Body, and the capsule doesn't appear to have retained it's camera pods. The tower is an Original Grand central version, but that type wasn't used on this flight. Also, the Aero spike, and the tri nozzle jettison motor were not used till LJ5 onwards.
Note! The aero "wedge" was used for the first time on LJ1B flight with the last McDonnell type tower.

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