Little Joe! Over 60 years ago, on May 13, 1964, the “Little Joe II” booster launched Apollo A-001 on a test of the Apollo Command Module’s Launch Escape System (LES) at White Sands Missile Range. The “Little Joe II” (named after the Project Mercury test vehicle) was able to propel a full-sized Apollo reentry spacecraft to velocities as great as those in the critical portions of the Saturn trajectory. Tests of the LES at maximum dynamic pressure were incredibly important. Except for a parachute failure during the test from this image, the boilerplate spacecraft and LES functioned flawlessly. Image description: The stubby Little Joe II launch vehicle spews flames and brownish smoke as the boilerplate Apollo Command Module and its LES rise into the bright blue sky on May 13, 1964. Credit: NASA #TBT #Throwback #NASA #History #LittleJoe #Mercury #Apollo #LaunchEscape #Launch #STEM #WhiteSands