Why did Gemini 7 launch before Gemini 6?

Gemini 7 was originally intended to fly after Gemini 6, but the original Gemini 6 mission was cancelled after the failure during launch of the Agena Target Vehicle with which it was meant to rendezvous and dock.

How close did Gemini 6 and 7 get?

The radar on Gemini 6A first made contact with Gemini 7 at three hours and fifteen minutes when they were 434 kilometers (270 mi) away. A third burn put them into a 168-by-170-mile (270 by 274 km) orbit.

Why did Gemini 6 abort?

Gemini 6A was scheduled to launch on 12 December 1965, but the launch was aborted one second after engine ignition because an electrical umbilical separated prematurely. This was the first time an astronaut mission was aborted after ignition start.

What was the point of Gemini 7?

Its mission priorities were (1) to demonstrate a 2-week flight, (2) to perform stationkeeping with the Gemini launch vehicle stage 2, (3) to evaluate the 'shirt sleeve' environment and the lightweight pressure suit, (4) to act as a rendezvous target for Gemini 6, and (5) to demonstrate controlled reentry close to the ...

When did Gemini 6 and 7 happen?

Fifty years ago, on December 15, 1965, Gemini VI and VII met for the first rendezvous in space.

Gemini 6 - Launch and Rendezvous with Gemini 7

Did Gemini 8 lose control?

Spacecraft communicator Jim Lovell, foreground, and fellow astronaut Bill Anders, follow reports from Gemini VIII during the in-space emergency. A spacecraft maneuvering thruster malfunctioned causing Neil Armstrong and David Scott's capsule to tumble out of control.

What happened to Gemini 8?

It was then discovered that one of the 25-pound OAMS roll thrusters (roll thruster no. 8) on Gemini 8 had been firing continuously, causing the tumbling. Apparently it had short-circuited while being used to maneuver the Gemini-GATV combination and had stuck open.

How did Gemini 8 get back to Earth?

The Gemini 8 capsule returned to Earth safely in a designated emergency splashdown area in the Pacific Ocean. Splashdown occurred just three miles from the recovery ship, and was the only Gemini splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. A planned spacewalk by astronaut Scott was canceled.

Why was Gemini 9 a failure?

Gemini 9's Agena Target Vehicle (ATV) was launched on May 17, 1966, on an Atlas launch vehicle. The Atlas malfunctioned in flight and the ATV failed to reach orbit. This forced the cancellation ("scrubbing") of the Gemini 9 launch scheduled for later that morning.

Which Gemini blew up?

Gemini 6 was to have been the first flight involving docking with an Agena target/propulsion stage. However the Agena blew up on the way to orbit, and the spacecraft was replaced by Gemini 7 in the launch order.

What are some fun facts about Gemini 7?

Each Gemini mission carried two astronauts into space. In 1965, Gemini 7 spent 14 days in space, orbiting around Earth. This set a record for a manned craft in space. The current record is held by the International Space Station, which has been occupied by people since 2 November 2000.

What happened to Gemini 11?

The circular motion at the end of the tether imparted a slight artificial "gravitational acceleration" within Gemini 11, the first time such artificial gravity was demonstrated in space. After about three hours the tether was released and the spacecraft moved apart.

What happened to Gemini 10?

The first rendezvous and docking maneuvers were successfully accomplished. All experiments obtained data except for the Gemini 10 micrometeorite collector, which was lost by floating out of the spacecraft.

What happened to Gemini 12?

Splashdown occurred at 2:21:04 p.m. in the western Atlantic at 24.58 N, 69.95 W, 4.8 km from target point. The crew was picked up by helicopter and brought aboard the U.S.S. Wasp at 2:49 p.m., the spacecraft was picked up at 3:28 p.m. Total mission elapsed time was 94:34:31.

What was the major problem with Gemini VIII?

Away from the target vehicle, Gemini VIII began to roll even more violently. It became obvious that the problem was a stuck thruster in the Orbital Attitude and Maneuvering System (OAMS) on the white adapter module of the Armstrong and Scott's spacecraft.

Why was the mission of Gemini 8 cut short?

On March 16, 1966, Gemini 8 lifted off on the sixth spaceflight of the Gemini program, a planned three-day flight that accomplished the first successful docking of two spacecraft in Earth orbit. The flight was cut short due to a thruster malfunction, and the two astronauts returned to Earth safely.

How long did Gemini 9 last?

Gemini 9 launched on 3 June 1966, piloted by Lieutenant Commander Eugene A. Cernan, USN. Gemini 9 completed 45 orbits over 3 days. Rendezvous with the unmanned Augmented Target Docking Adapter (ATDA) was a success; however, docking was not possible due to the condition of the nose cone.

What happened to Gemini 5?

The main parachute was deployed at 10,600 feet. After a flight of 190 hours and 55 minutes Gemini 5 splashed down about 98 miles short of the planned target, the error due to an incorrect parameter programmed into the guidance computer before the mission.

How long did Gemini 1 last?

The Gemini missions lasted for periods ranging from 5 hours to 14 days.

How long did Gemini 4 last?

Gemini 4 was the second crewed mission of the Gemini series and carried James McDivitt and Edward White on a 4-day, 62-orbit, 98-hr flight from June 3 to June 7, 1965. The mission included the first American spacewalk.