The LES then had to gain enough altitude to allow the command module's parachutes to open, preferably with the spacecraft over water and not land.

On November 7, 1963, an abort signal was sent to the LES at 09:00:01 local time.

This began a sequence in which the main solid rockets fired to lift the spacecraft and smaller altitude rockets fired to move it laterally toward the ocean.

The LES separated after 15 seconds, allowing the spacecraft to take a ballistic trajectory.

The parachute system worked perfectly: the drogue chute stabilized the spacecraft, then the three main parachutes slowed the descent to a leisurely 26 kilometers per hour.