Mercury-Atlas 3

Mercury-Atlas 3
Launch of MA-3
Mission typeTest flight
OperatorNASA
Mission duration7 minutes, 19 seconds
Failed to orbit
Distance travelled1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi)
Apogee7.2 kilometres (4.5 mi)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftMercury No.8
ManufacturerMcDonnell Aircraft
Launch mass1,179 kilograms (2,599 lb)
Start of mission
Launch dateApril 25, 1961, 16:15 (1961-04-25UTC16:15Z) UTC
RocketAtlas LV-3B 100-D
Launch siteCape Canaveral LC-14
End of mission
Landing dateApril 25, 1961, 16:23 (1961-04-25UTC16:24Z) UTC
Project Mercury
Mercury-Atlas series

Mercury-Atlas 3 (MA-3) was an unmanned spaceflight of the Mercury program. It was launched unmanned on April 25, 1961 at 16:15 UTC, from Launch Complex 14 at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Mercury capsule contained a robotic "mechanical astronaut". Mercury spacecraft No. 8 and Atlas No. 8 100-D were used in the mission.