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LJ5A. (capsule 14.)
Launched MAR 18.1961.
Due to the virtual total failure of LJ5, LJ5A was fitted with a retro pack
that had a single live retro rocket in port three, and the other two retro
motors were dummies, as well as three dummie posi grade motors. 43 seconds
into flight the motor fired causing premature capsule seperation. The single
live motor should have fired if it detected that a capsule seperation hadn't
occured.
The capsule rotated, and the retro pack was thought to have been ripped off
and the tower seperated and caused slight damage to the capsule. 12 seconds
after antenna cone jettison, the landing bag was deployed. If capsule seperation
had occured in the correct sequence the retro rocket and pack would have been
released at capsule seperation without firing.
LJ5A was the only flight to fire the retro motor, and also use and deploy
a landing bag.
As Capsule 14 had slight damage to a collapsed recovery bay and one shingle,
while at McDonnell for three weeks repair, extensive ground tests of the landing
bag were deemed sufficient that it didn't need to be used for the LJ5B flight.
(Capsule 14 was used for flight LJ5A, then re-used for LJ5B after repair)
First capsule to use the new "orbital" style window. Sometimes reffered
to as a "centre-line" window.
As with the LJ5 flight, an all red Marman clamp band between
capsule and transition. No orange paint on transition, or orange panels on booster
body.
The last image shows that there are no black "race-way bands" so it is not LJ5,
and the all red Marman clamp cover between capsule and adapter shows it is not
LJ5B.
Lastly, all the images I have show that the motors that "stradle" the launcher
on LJ5A are white, and on LJ5B are black. The conclusion is that the "UNITED
STATES" lettering is on one side only of LJ5A at this point in time.
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(Top two Images courtesy John Pursley.)
(Colour image courtesy of Bill Spadafora.)
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