Technicians prepare a full-scale capsule which would be used for the first rocket-launching on March 11, 1959. The purpose of the test would be to simulate a ground-level or beach abort. Joseph Shortal wrote (vol. 3, p. 27): It was a test of the ability of the escape system to rescue the astronaut in case of a malfunction of the launch vehicle prior to flight. This test was carried out by PARD under the direction of W.S. Blanchard, Jr., and was part of the program designated F57 at PARD. For these tests capsule shape C was used.
NASA / Browskie and Taub
1959-04-13
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