Gemini 11
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| Gemini 11 | |||||
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Mission insignia |
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| Mission statistics | |||||
| Mission name | Gemini 11 | ||||
| Spacecraft name | Gemini 11 | ||||
| Spacecraft mass | 3,798.4 kilograms (8,374 lb) | ||||
| Crew size | 2 | ||||
| Call sign | Gemini 11 | ||||
| Launch pad | LC-19 (CCAF) | ||||
| Launch date | September 12, 1966, 14:42:26 UTC | ||||
| Landing | September 15, 1966, 13:59:35 UTC 24°15.4′N 70°0′W / 24.2567°N 70°W |
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| Mission duration | 2d/23:17:09 | ||||
| Number of orbits | 44 | ||||
| Apogee | 279.1 kilometres (150.7 nmi) - before being modified by Agena rocket firings | ||||
| Perigee | 160.5 kilometres (86.7 nmi) (1st orbit) | ||||
| Orbital period | 88.89 min (1st orbit) | ||||
| Orbital inclination | 28.83° | ||||
| Crew photo | |||||
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| (Left to Right) Gordon & Conrad | |||||
| Related missions | |||||
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Gemini 11 (officially Gemini XI) was a 1966 manned spaceflight in NASA's Gemini program. It was the 9th manned Gemini flight, the 17th manned American flight and the 25th spaceflight of all time (includes X-15 flights over 100 km).
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[edit] Crew
| Position | Astronaut | |
|---|---|---|
| Command Pilot | Charles Conrad, Jr Second spaceflight |
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| Pilot | Richard F. Gordon, Jr. First spaceflight |
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[edit] Backup crew
| Position | Astronaut | |
|---|---|---|
| Command Pilot | Neil A. Armstrong | |
| Pilot | William A. Anders | |
[edit] Mission parameters
- Mass: 3,798.4 kg
Highest orbit (followed twice):
- Perigee: 289.7 km
- Apogee: 1374.1 km (a record; apart from the missions to the Moon this has, as of 2009, never been surpassed)
- Inclination: 28.85°
- Period: 101.52 min
[edit] Docking
- Docked: September 12, 1966 - 16:16:00 UTC
- Undocked: September 14, 1966 - 16:55:00 UTC
[edit] Space walk
- Gordon - EVA 1
- Start: September 13, 1966, 14:44:00 UTC
- End: September 13, 1966, 15:17:00 UTC
- Duration: 0 hours, 33 minutes
- Gordon - EVA 2 (stand up)
- Start: September 14, 1966, 12:49:00 UTC
- End: September 14, 1966, 14:57:00 UTC
- Duration: 2 hours, 08 minutes
[edit] Objectives
With Project Apollo looming on the time horizon, the Gemini project managers wanted to accomplish a space rendezvous immediately after reaching orbit, just as it would probably be done in orbit around the Moon. Only 85 minutes after the launch, Conrad and Gordon matched orbits with their Agena target stage and docked several times. Conrad had originally hoped for a Gemini flight around the Moon, but had to settle for the highest Earth orbit ever reached by an American manned spacecraft (1375 kilometer = 860 mile altitude). Astronaut Gordon's first space-walk (EVA) once again proved more difficult than the ground simulations were, and it had to be cut short when he became overtired. A second, two-hour "stand-up" space walk went more smoothly: Gordon even fell asleep while floating halfway out the hatch. An experiment to link the Agena and Gemini vehicles with a 30 meter tether line (which Gordon had attached during his space-walk) and to rotate the joined pair was troublesome. Conrad and Gordon had problems keeping the tether taut, but were able to generate a small modicum of artificial gravity. The mission ended with the first totally automatic, computer-controlled reentry by the U.S., which brought Gemini XI down only 4.5 kilometers from its recovery ship.
| Gemini 11 | Agena info |
|---|---|
| Agena | GATV-5006 |
| NSSDC ID: | 1966-080A |
| Mass | 3,175 kg |
| Launch site | LC-19 |
| Launch date | September 12, 1966 |
| Launch time | 13:05:01 UTC |
| 1st perigee | 289.7 km |
| 1st apogee | 307.1 km |
| Period | 90.56 min |
| Inclination | 28.84 |
| Reentered | December 30, 1966 |
[edit] Experiments
The 12 scientific experiments were (1) synergistic effect of zero-g and radiation on white blood cells, (2) synoptic terrain photography, (3) synoptic weather photography, (4) nuclear emulsions, (5) airglow horizon photography, (6) UV astronomical photography, (7) Gemini ion wake measurement, and (8) dim sky photography.
[edit] Reentry
The reentry was the first computer-controlled reentry in the US space program. They landed only 4.5 km away from the intended landing site and were recovered by USS Guam.
The Gemini 11 mission was supported by the following U.S. Department of Defense resources; 9,054 personnel, 73 aircraft and 13 ships.
[edit] Insignia
On the Gemini 11 crew insigina, stars are used to mark the major milestones of the mission. The first orbit Agena rendezvous is marked by a small gold star just above the earth, to the left. The Agena docking is marked by a large star on the left. The star at the top marks the record high apogee reached by Gemini 11. Note that the scale is greatly exaggerated. Their max altitude of 742 nmi (1374 km) is roughly the distance from St Louis to Cape Canaveral. Finally the star on right marks Dick Gordon's spacewalk. The docking, record apogee and spacewalk are also shown on the patch by the Agena, orbital apogee path and spacewalking astronaut. The patch is done in US Navy colors, blue and gold. Conrad and Gordon were both members of the US Navy.
[edit] Spacecraft location
The spacecraft is on display at the California Science Center in Los Angeles, California.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- NASA Gemini 11 press kit - Sep 2, 1966
- On The Shoulders of Titans: A History of Project Gemini
- Spaceflight Mission Patches
- http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/database/MasterCatalog?sc=1966-081A
- U.S. Space Objects Registry http://usspaceobjectsregistry.state.gov/search/index.cfm
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