2026-244Latest orbital launch: Falcon 9 · Starlink Group 15-16 · Oct 27, 2026 · VandenbergLaunch record →
sci-techmaventhe history of spaceflight, in data
  1. Home
  2. Spacecraft
  3. Mercury-Atlas 5
// human spaceflight · 1961

Mercury-Atlas 5

Test flight of the Atlas rocket and Mercury spacecraft. Mercury-Atlas 5 was launched on November 29, 1961 aboard a Atlas D from Cape Canaveral & Kennedy. Latest status in GCAT: landed (Nov 29, 1961).

COSPAR 1961 A IOT 1NORAD 208United States

Identity

Name in GCAT
Mercury MA-5
Common name
Mercury-Atlas 5
Payload designation
Mercury SC9
International designator
1961 A IOT 1
NORAD catalog number
208
GCAT identifier
S00208

Mission

Mission type
Human spaceflight
Use
Civil government
Program
Mercury MA
Owner
NASA
Country
United States
Builder
McDonnell Aircraft
Platform (bus)
Mercury

Launch

Date
November 29, 1961 · 15:07 UTC
Launch record
1961 A IOTSuccess
Rocket
Atlas D
Spaceport
Cape Canaveral & Kennedy · pad LC14

Orbit and fate

Orbit class (GCAT)
LLEO/I
Perigee
158 km
Apogee
237 km
Inclination
32.58°
Status
Landed
Status date
November 29, 1961
Last known active
Nov 29, 1961
End of operations
Nov 29, 1961

Size

Mass
1,100 kg
Dry mass
1,100 kg
Total mass with attached objects
1,303 kg
Length
2.9 m
Diameter
1.80 m
Span
2.9 m

Source: GCAT payload, deep-space and lander catalogs, Jonathan C. McDowell (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata Q605092 (CC0).