LIFTOFF - MERCURY-ATLAS (MR)-3- FLIGHT ATTEMPT - MECHANICAL ASTRONAUT - CAPE

S61-01925 (25 April 1961) --- View of the Mercury-Atlas 3 (MA-3) liftoff from Cape Canaveral, Florida on April 25, 1961. The orbital test flight of the Mercury capsule did not achieve orbit and was destroyed after 40 seconds by Range Safety Officer when the inertial guidance system failed to pitch the vehicle over toward the horizon. Photo credit: NASA