Mercury-Beach-Abort 1

Beach Abort 1 (BA-1) was an unmanned test of the Mercury capsule’s Launch Escape System.

The objectives of the test were to evaluate the performance of the escape system, the parachute and landing systems, and recovery operations in an abort situation outside the launch site. The test took place on May 9, 1960 at NASA’s Wallops Island Test Facility, Virginia. During the test, the Mercury capsule with the mounted rescue rocket (Launch Escape System) was fired from the ground. The flight lasted a total of 1 minute and 16 seconds. The spacecraft reached an altitude of 0.8 kilometers and crashed into the ocean 1.6 kilometers away. The top speed was 436 meters per second. A Marine Corps helicopter recovered the spacecraft 17 minutes after launch. The test was considered a success, although there was not enough distance when the turret was dropped. This test used Mercury capsule #1, the first spacecraft from McDonnell’s production line. The total payload weight was 1.154 kg.