Mercury Redstone LV

Here’s a little something for our cousins across the pond, happy thanksgiving!

Space. Mankind’s greatest endeavour. I have been enthralled since childhood of documentaries about NASA and the lunar programme and really would like to make a Saturn V, but this bucket wouldn’t be up to it. Hence why I thought it appropriate to start somewhat smaller. The Mercury-Redstone Launch Vehicle.

As alluded to in the name the Redstone LV provided the means for a Mercury capsule to reach low earth orbit and was essentially a converted ballistic missile. First launched in 21 Nov 1960 the type was retired soon after in Jul 1961 in favour of the Atlas booster having achieved the milestone of delivered the first and second Americans into space. Alan Shepherd followed by Gus Grissom.

Build and flight characteristics

It’s 85ft tall compared with the real thing which is 83.38ft. My bad.
Roll and pitch are limited
Speed doesn’t increase past 450 due to the cleaver missile providing the exhaust plume.
Cleaver motor has been taken from a MilesTPrower build, all credit for the functionality goes to him!

Instructions
Throttle up and AG1 for launch
AG2 releases Mercury Capsule (it’s recommended you throttle back and/or begin roll ‘programme’ to facilitate the detaching of the capsule as there is always gravity)
AG3 clears the escape tower
AG4 activates descent parachutes.