NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Little Joe | LJ-1

FAILURE Little Joe →
Aug 21, 1959 at 12:00 UTC
Suborbital Test Flight Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA 38% success
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Live Orbit
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Mission Control3D trajectory · Live telemetry · AI narrator · Booster tracking
PADLaunch Area 1
SITEWallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA →
ORBITSuborbital
TYPETest Flight
PROGRAMMercury

Little Joe 1 (LJ-1) was a failed launch of a Little Joe by NASA, a solid fuel rocket that was designed for a Max Q abort and Launch Escape System test for Mercury capsule. The objective was to determine how well the escape rocket would function under the most severe dynamic loading conditions anticipated during a Mercury-Atlas launching.

VEHICLE
Little Joe
MISSION
LJ-1
MISSION TYPE
Test Flight
TARGET ORBIT
Suborbital
LAUNCH PAD
Launch Area 1
PROGRAM
Mercury
COUNTRY
USA
CONFIRMEDPrecision: Minute
LAUNCH LIBRARY 2 PRIMARY
API ID: fdb56feb-e46f-41ba-80c8-c84be17c1888
Reported date: Aug 21, 1959 at 12:00 UTC
Last synced: 17 minutes ago
This launch date and time are confirmed by the launch provider. Countdown is active.
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MANUFACTURER
North American Aviation
FLIGHTS
8
SUCCESSES
3
SUCCESS RATE
37.5%

Little Joe was a solid-fueled booster rocket used by NASA for eight launches from 1959-1960 from Wallops Island, Virginia to test the launch escape system and heat shield for Project Mercury capsules.

When is the Little Joe | LJ-1 launch?
The Little Joe | LJ-1 is scheduled for Friday, August 21, 1959 at 12:00 PM UTC. This is the NET (No Earlier Than) time and may be subject to change. Current status: FAILURE.
What rocket is being used for LJ-1?
The Little Joe | LJ-1 mission uses the Little Joe rocket, manufactured by North American Aviation. The Little Joe has flown 8 times with a 37.5% success rate.
Where is the Little Joe | LJ-1 launching from?
The launch takes place from Launch Area 1 at Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA.
What orbit is LJ-1 going to?
The LJ-1 mission is targeting Suborbital.
Who is launching LJ-1?
The Little Joe | LJ-1 is operated by National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It is part of the Mercury program.
Can I watch the Little Joe | LJ-1 launch live?
Yes. Visit the launch detail page on Space Launch Live for embedded YouTube webcasts, replay videos, and links to live coverage from SpaceX, NASA, NASASpaceflight, and other channels.
Mar 28, 2026 20:12 UTC
Launch added to tracker
Imported from Launch Library 2 API
Mar 28, 2026 20:12 UTC
Launch date set: Aug 21, 1959 at 12:00 UTC
NET (No Earlier Than) confirmed by National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mar 28, 2026 20:12 UTC
Launch failure reported
Updated via Launch Library 2
Last data sync: 17 minutes ago
Launch Library 217 minutes ago
Launch ID: fdb56feb-e46f-41ba-80c8-c84be17c1888
Open-Meteo Weather5 days ago
Pad weather at 37.94, -75.46

Mission Profile

LJ-1 was a Little Joe mission operated by National Aeronautics and Space Administration that lifted off from Launch Area 1, Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA on August 21, 1959. The flight carried its payload on a test flight mission to Suborbital. It was flown as part of the Mercury program. The launch ended in failure.