Gemini 11

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Gemini 11
Mission insignia
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
Mission duration	2d/23:17:09
Number of orbits	44
Apogee	279.1 kilometres (150.7 nmi) (1st orbit)
Perigee	160.5 kilometres (86.7 nmi) (1st orbit)
Orbital period	88.89 min (1st orbit)
Orbital inclination	28.83°
Crew photo (L-R) Gordon, Conrad
Related missions
Previous mission Next mission Gemini 10 Gemini 12

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).

Contents 1 Crew 1.1 Backup crew 2 Mission parameters 2.1 Docking 2.2 Space walk 2.3 See also 3 Objectives 3.1 Experiments 3.2 Reentry 4 Insignia 5 Capsule location 6 External links

[edit] Crew

Number in parentheses indicates number of spaceflights by each individual prior to and including this mission.

• Charles Conrad, Jr (2) - Command Pilot
• Richard F. Gordon, Jr. (1) - Pilot

[edit] Backup crew

• Neil A. Armstrong (1) - Command Pilot
• William A. Anders - Pilot

[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 2008, 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] See also

• Agena Target Vehicle
• Extra-vehicular activity
• List of spacewalks
• Splashdown

[edit] Objectives

With Apollo looming on the horizon, Gemini project managers wanted to accomplish a rendezvous immediately after reaching orbit, just as it would have to be done around the Moon. Only 85 minutes after 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 (1374 kilometer altitude). Gordon's first space-walk once again proved more difficult than ground simulations, and 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 (which Gordon had attached during his space-walk) and rotate the joined pair was troublesome. Conrad had problems keeping the tether taut, but was able to generate a 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 (1,374 km) reached by Gemini 11. 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] Capsule location

The capsule is on display at the California Science Center in Los Angeles, California.

[edit] External links

• 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

v • d • e Gemini program Main articles Project Gemini Missions Gemini 1 · Gemini 2 · Gemini 3 · Gemini 4 · Gemini 5 · Gemini 7 · Gemini 6A · Gemini 8 · Gemini 9A · Gemini 10 · Gemini 11 · Gemini 12 Components Gemini spacecraft · Orbit attitude and maneuvering system · Titan rocket · Agena target vehicle Launch sites Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 19 · Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14 Developments Blue Gemini & Manned Orbital Development System  · Manned Orbital Laboratory & Gemini B  · Big Gemini