-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 ohT04rTbwJZlp4OuHJpkQA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-06-062556.txt : 20061108
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-06-062556.hdr.sgml : 20061108
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20061108192723
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-06-062556
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20061106
FILED AS OF DATE:		20061108
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20061108

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MERCURY INTERACTIVE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000867058
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				770224776
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		379 N. WHISMAN ROAD
		CITY:			MOUNTAIN VIEW
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94043-3969
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6506035300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		379 N. WHISMAN ROAD
		CITY:			MOUNTAIN VIEW
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94043-3969

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MERCURY INTERACTIVE CORPORATION
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930910

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COSTELLO JOSEPH BALL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001079599
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22350
		FILM NUMBER:		061199140

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ZAMBA CORP
		STREET 2:		18061 BUBB RD STE A
		CITY:			CUPERTINO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95014
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4089737785
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd135436.xml
<DESCRIPTION>COSTELLO FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-11-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000867058</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MERCURY INTERACTIVE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MERQ</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001079599</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COSTELLO JOSEPH BALL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MERCURY INTERACTIVE CORP.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>379 N. WHISMAN RD.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MOUNTAIN VIEW</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94043</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>34.68</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-11-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.32</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This option was cancelled in the merger in exchange for a cash payment of $866,000, representing the amount equal to the number of shares of Mercury Interactive Corp. common stock underlying the option multiplied by the difference between the per share exercise price and the per share merger consideration of $52.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Expires 10 years from grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Joseph Costello</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-11-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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