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Little Joe II
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<p>Little Joe II was an American <a href="/facts/Rocket/b6j4keIl">rocket</a> used from 1963 to 1966 for five uncrewed tests of the <a href="/facts/Apollo_spacecraft/gv7k516G">Apollo spacecraft launch escape system (LES)</a>, and to verify the performance of the <a href="/facts/Apollo_command_and_service_module/rfoTgzFx">command module</a> parachute recovery system in <a href="/facts/Apollo_abort_modes/Bw7XS3fN">abort mode</a>. It was named after <a href="/facts/Little_Joe_(rocket)/366kBM8A">a similar rocket designed for the same function</a> in <a href="/facts/Project_Mercury/H8zqFzbC">Project Mercury</a>. Launched from <a href="/facts/White_Sands_Missile_Range/JUsgxDjF">White Sands Missile Range</a> in New Mexico, it was the smallest of four launch rockets used in the <a href="/facts/Apollo_program/IC1Ek1Ao">Apollo program</a>. </p>