Dec 15 1965
From The Space Library
December 15-16: Gemini VI, piloted by Walter M. Schirra, Jr. (Capt., USN), command pilot, and Thomas P. Stafford (Maj. USAF), pilot, was successfully launched from ETR with two-stage Titan II booster on NASA's fifth manned spaceflight in the Gemini series and first rendezvous mission. It achieved an elliptical orbit: apogee, 161 mi. (259.7 km.) ; perigee, 100 mi. (161.1 km.) ; inclination, 28.9° ; period, 88.7 min. Toward the end of the first revolution, Gemini VI was trailing Gemini VII by 1,200 mi. (1,935 km.), Schirra began series of posigrade maneuvers in preparation for rendezvous in the fourth revolution by firing thruster rockets 18 sec, to shorten the distance between the two spacecraft to 730 mi. (1,177 km,). Schirra fired rear thruster rockets 77 sec, during the second revolution and Gemini VI drew within 300 mi. (483 km,) of Gemini VII; 30 min, later he fired another brief burn to move Gemini VI 7/1000ths of a degree south to the same plane as Gemini VII. With the spacecraft 431 mi. (695 km.) apart, Schirra fired the thrusters one second to shift Gemini VI into a somewhat higher orbit-the only maneuver not prearranged by the flight plan.
To shorten the 230-mi. (371-km.) distance between its third revolution. Schirra fired his thrusters 53 sec. to shift into near-circular orbit: apogee, 170 mi. (274 km,) ; perigee, 165.5 mi. (267 km.) ; inclination, 89.9°. Schirra initiated terminal phase of the rendezvous maneuver with a 32 fps posigrade burn as Gemini VI entered its fourth revolution. Gemini VI and VII were then flying nose to nose about 25,000 ft. apart. Schirra applied a posigrade velocity of 43 fps and Gemini VI approached within six feet-later determined to be one foot-of Gemini VII, VI then performed an in-plane fly-around maneuver around VII, and later VII maneuvered beside VI. Flight plans had specified four hours of station keeping, but the two Geminis flew in formation, keeping within 20 to 100 ft, of each other, for 5 hrs, 19 min., during which time the astronauts photographed each others' crafts, sighted a fire in Madagascar, and conversed. All crewmen took turns in the formation flying activities, to obtain rendezvous maneuvering experience. After 15 hrs., 19 min, Schirra fired Gemini VI's thruster rockets to separate the two spacecraft about 15 mi, for drifting flight during the sleep period. On Dec. 16, Gemini VI Astronaut Schirra reported to Mission Control that an unidentified satellite in a low trajectory in polar orbit was trying to contact him. Before ground officials could respond, he and Stafford played Jingle Bells with a harmonica and bells, Gemini VI began reentry northeast of Canton Island in the Pacific during its 15th revolution; four retrorockets fired automatically in the correct sequence, each providing 2,500 lbs, thrust. Reentry was normal and was the first controlled reentry to a predetermined landing point in the U.S. manned spaceflight program, Gemini VI splashed down in the Atlantic at 10:29 a.m. EST, 700 mi. south of Bermuda-only 14 mi. off target-after a 26-hr., 1-min, flight. Assisted from the spacecraft by Navy frogmen, the astronauts arrived by helicopter at the carrier Wasp at 11:20 a.m. for medical debriefing. Recovery and rendezvous section of the Gemini VI spacecraft splashed down near the spacecraft itself and was retrieved by another team of swimmers. This was first time the service section-complete with rendezvous radar equipment-had been recovered. Main parachute also was retrieved. (NASA Release 65-362; NASA Proj, Off.; Transcript; NYT, 12/16/65, 1, 28, 29, 30; 12/17/65, 1, 28; 12/18/65, 1, 16; 12/19/65, 1, 68, 69; WSJ, 12/17/65, 1; 12/20/65, 1; Wash. Post, 12/16/65, Al, A14, A15; 12/17/65, Al, A8, A17; 12/18/65, Al, A7; 12/19/65, Al, A16, A17; 12/20/65, Al, A3; Wash, Eve. Star, 12/16/65, Al, A14; 12/18/65, Al, A3; 12/19/65, Al, A8, A9; Time, 12/24/65, 32-36; MSC Gemini VII/Gemini VI Fact Sheet)
Gemini Titan 6 Composite flight transcript
Success of the Gemini VII-VI mission received worldwide acclaim: newspapers in France, Great Britain, Switzerland, Italy, and Cuba were among those which gave the flight front-page coverage and radio stations throughout the world interrupted regular programs to broadcast minute-by-minute accounts of the historic rendezvous. The Soviet newspaper Izvestia printed a detailed description of the rendezvous which it described as "a great success." Communist China remained silent. (Reuters, Wash. Post, 12/16/65, A14; UPI, NYT, 12/16/65, 29; Reuters, Wash. Post, 12/19/65, A17; AP, NYT, 12/17/65, 29)
Dr. Edward C. Welsh, Executive Secretary of the NASC, after watching the successful Gemini VII-VI rendezvous on television, told reporters that the accomplishment would lead to: (1) operation of manned space stations with crews replaced and supplies renewed by rendezvous methods; (2) assembly of large observatories and spacecraft hundreds of miles above earth; (3) ability to inspect foreign spacecraft; and (4) techniques for visiting and rescuing astronauts stalled in orbit. (UPI, Wash, Post, 12/16/65, A14)
In a telegram of congratulations to NASA Administrator James E. Webb on the rendezvous of Gemini VI and Gemini VII, President Johnson said: "You have all moved us one step higher on the stairway to the moon, By conducting this adventure for all the world to see, you have reaffirmed our faith in a free and open society, We invite those throughout the world who have shared our suspense and suffered with us during our temporary failures to share with us this triumph, for it belongs not just to the United States but to all mankind." (Pres, Doc, 12/20/65, 593)
Brazil successfully launched the first Nike-Apache sounding rocket from its Natal Range in a joint program with NASA to investigate the lower regions of the ionosphere with emphasis on the effects of cosmic rays. Launching was conducted by the Brazilian Space Activities Commission (CNAE), Instrumentation for the rocket payload and the telemetry ground support equipment was constructed by Brazilian technicians at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. (Wallops Release 6580; NASA Release 65-328)
Nike-Apache sounding rocket launched by NASA from Wallops Station, boosted 51-lb. payload with ionosphere experiment for the Univ. of Illinois and the GCA Corp, to 113-mi. (182-km,) peak altitude, Payload carried instrumentation to measure electron and ion density and solar radiation in D and E layers of the ionosphere, No recovery was required since data from the experiments were radioed to ground stations during the seven-minute flight. Experiment was last NASA 1964-65, IQSY project. (Wallops Release 65-79; AP, Wash, Post, 12/17/65, A8)
Bodies of NASA Director of Space Medicine Dr. W. Randolph Lovelace II, his wife, and pilot were found near the wreckage of their two-engine aircraft about 40 mi. southeast of Aspen, Colo. Aircraft had been missing since Dec. 12. Coroner's report later said that the cold and not injuries had apparently caused the deaths. A space medicine pioneer, Dr. Lovelace had parachuted from record 44,000-ft, altitude in 1944, had helped determine criteria for selection of Mercury astronauts, and had founded the famous Lovelace Clinic. (Wash, Eve. Star, 12/16/65, A18; Wash. Post, 12/16/65, A3; NYT, 12/16/65, 50; AP, NYT, 12/18/65, 16)
AP quoted informed sources as saying that negotiations were in the final stages to allow the U.S. to fire Redstone rockets in Australia as part of the development of an antimissile missile. Agreement would call for about 12 of the rockets to be fired at the joint British-Australian Woomera Weapons Research Range. (AP, NYT, 12/16/65, 12)
Ralph E. Cushman had been named Director of the new NASA Facilities Management Office, reporting to the Deputy Associate Administrator for Industry Affairs. Cushman had been Director of Management Coordination in the Hq. Office of Administration. Appointment was effective immediately. (NASA Ann,)
New NASA Space Radiation Effects Laboratory, Oyster Point, Va., was dedicated in ceremonies attended by Gov. Albertis S. Harrison, Jr. LaRC facility would provide LaRC the means to test and study the effect on spacecraft and their systems of particle radiation from the sun or in the earth's magnetic field; scientists would be able to simulate space radiation and conduct studies to increase reliability and safety of spacecraft and space missions. (LaRC Release)
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