Wallops Island in Accomack County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Little Joe

Wallops’ Role in the Space Race

— NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center —

Little Joe Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, August 27, 2022

1. Little Joe Marker

Inscription. Little Joe rockets paved the way for Project Mercury, NASA's first manned spaceflight program. Seven unmanned Little Joe rockets were launched from Wallops from 1959-1961 to test an escape system for the Mercury capsule. The tests done at Wallops for Project Mercury helped demonstrate that humans could be safely flown into space.

(sidebar)
During the Little Joe-2 launch, on December 4, 1959, the capsule had one passenger, a Rhesus Monkey named "Sam.” Sam experienced 3 minutes and 13 seconds of weightlessness before the escape capsule separated as planned and was successfully recovered from the Atlantic Ocean.

(captions)
A Little Joe launched from Wallops
Mercury capsule with Little Joe in the background
Sam the monkey is loaded into his flight capsule
Successful water landing of the ejected Mercury capsule

Erected by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Animals • Exploration • Science & Medicine. A significant historical date for this entry is December 4, 1959.

Location. 37° 56.292′ N, 75° 27.463′ W. Marker is on Wallops Island, Virginia, in Accomack County. It can be reached

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

from Chincoteague Road (Virginia Route 175) 2.3 miles north of Atlantic Road, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located near Launchpad Viewing Area 1 at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Wallops Island VA 23337, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Eastern Shore.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

on the Delmarva Peninsula,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Dr. Robert L. Krieger (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to the NASA Visitor Center (within shouting distance of this marker); Black Brant IX (within shouting distance of this marker); Nike-Orion (within shouting distance of this marker); Nike-Cajun (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Astrobee + Aerobee 150 (about 400 feet away); An Island of Research and Exploration (about 500 feet away); NASA Wallops Flight Facility (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wallops Island.

Also see . . .
1. Little Joe (rocket). (Submitted on August 30, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center. (Submitted on August 30, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, August 27, 2022

2. Little Joe Marker

Little Joe (rocket) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, August 27, 2022

3. Little Joe (rocket)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 11, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 546 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 30, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.