Mercury-Scout 1, or MS-1, was a United States spacecraft intended to test tracking stations for Project Mercury flights. The launch of Mercury-Scout 1 on November 1, 1961 was unsuccessful, and the satellite failed to achieve orbit. November 1, 1961 at 15:32 UTC · Launch Failure Blue Scout II — National Aeronautics and Space Administration, to Low Earth Orbit Launch Complex 18B, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA The world's 132nd orbital launch attempt, and 39th of 1961. Program: Mercury Data: Launch Library 2, The Space Devs. Image by NASA (NASA Image and Media Guidelines) via The Space Devs.