| Little Joe 5B | |
| Insignia: | Mercury insignia.png |
| Mission Type: | Abort test |
| Operator: | NASA |
| Mission Duration: | 5 minutes, 25 seconds |
| Distance Travelled: | 9miles |
| Suborbital Apogee: | 2.8miles |
| Spacecraft: | Mercury No.14 |
| Manufacturer: | McDonnell Aircraft |
| Launch Mass: | 1141kg (2,515lb) |
| Launch Date: | UTC |
| Launch Rocket: | Little Joe |
| Launch Site: | Wallops LA-4 |
| Landing Date: | UTC |
| Previous Mission: | Little Joe 5A |
| Programme: | Project Mercury Abort Tests |
Little Joe 5B was an uncrewed launch escape system test of the Mercury spacecraft, conducted as part of the US Mercury program. The mission used production Mercury spacecraft # 14A. The mission was launched April 28, 1961, from Wallops Island, Virginia. The Little Joe 5B flew to an apogee of 2.8 miles (4.5 km) and a range of 9 miles (14 km). The mission lasted 5 minutes 25 seconds. Maximum speed was 1,780 mph (2865 km/h) and acceleration was 10 g (98 m/s²). The mission was a success and Mercury spacecraft # 14A was recovered.[1]
Mercury spacecraft #14A used in the Little Joe 5B mission, is on display at the Virginia Air and Space Center in Hampton, Virginia.[2]