In-flight Abort Test

Mission Summary: Much like the pad abort test, the in-flight abort test was designed to test the launch escape tower's ability to propel the capsule away from the vehicle in an emergency during ascent. After the tower's engines burn out it will jettison and the capsule will return down on parachutes. The mission profile was a follows. Much like the pad abort the engines would ignite at T-3, simulating a real launch. At T-0 the vehicle would lift off from the pad and start the ascent. Once the vehicle reached and altitude of 10,000 meters the abort command was given, separating the capsule and the tower would propel the vehicle away. After burnout occurs the tower jettisons and the capsule returns on parachutes.

The vehicle lifts off and begins the ascent

Redstone continues on the planned ascent trajectory, simulating a real launch sequence

At 10,000 meters, the tower escape engines ignite and the vehicle separates

The vehicle then splashes down off the coast of the launch complex

Mission Summary

Mission Outcome: Success

Mission Time: 3 minutes 58 seconds

Maximum Altitude: 12,960 meters

Maximum Speed: 383 meters per second

Highest G-Force: 8.9G

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