Gemini 12

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Gemini 12
Mission insignia
Mission statistics
Mission name Gemini 12
Spacecraft name Gemini 12
Spacecraft mass 3,762.1 kilograms (8,294 lb)
Crew size 2
Call sign Gemini 12
Launch pad LC-19 (CCAF)
Launch date November 11, 1966, 20:46:33 UTC
Landing November 15, 1966, 19:21:04 UTC
24°35′N, 69°57′W
Mission duration 3d/22:34:31
Number of orbits 59
Apogee 270.6 kilometres (146.1 nmi) (1st orbit)
Perigee 160.8 kilometres (86.8 nmi) (1st orbit)
Orbital period 88.87 min (1st orbit)
Orbital inclination 28.87°
Crew photo
(L-R) Aldrin, Lovell
(L-R) Aldrin, Lovell
Related missions
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Gemini 11 Apollo 1

Gemini 12 (officially Gemini XII) was a 1966 manned spaceflight in NASA's Gemini program. It was the 10th manned Gemini flight, the 18th manned American flight and the 26th spaceflight of all time (includes X-15 flights over 100 km).

Contents

[edit] Crew

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

[edit] Backup crew

[edit] Mission parameters

[edit] Docking

[edit] Space walk

[edit] See also

[edit] Objectives

By the completion of the previous Gemini flight, the program still had not demonstrated that an astronaut could work easily and efficiently outside the spacecraft. In preparation for Gemini XII, new, improved restraints were added to the outside of the capsule, and a new technique—underwater training—was introduced, which would become a staple of all future space-walk simulation. Aldrin's two-hour, 20-minute tethered space-walk, during which he photographed star fields, retrieved a micrometeorite collector and did other chores, at last demonstrated the feasibility of extravehicular activity. Two more stand-up EVAs also went smoothly, as did the by­ now routine rendezvous and docking with an Agena which was done "manually" using the onboard computer and charts when a rendezvous radar failed. The climb to a higher orbit, however, was canceled because of a problem with the Agena booster.

Many documentaries afterward largely credit the spacewalk innovations, including the underwater training, to Aldrin himself.

Gemini 12 was designed to perform rendezvous and docking with the Agena target vehicle, to conduct three Extravehicular Activity (EVA) operations, to conduct a tethered stationkeeping exercise, to perform docked maneuvers using the Agena propulsion system to change orbit, and demonstrate an automatic reentry.

Agena 12 rendezvous target vehicle. (NASA)
Agena 12 rendezvous target vehicle. (NASA)
Agena 12 tethered stationkeeping. (NASA)
Agena 12 tethered stationkeeping. (NASA)
Gemini 12 Agena info
Agena GATV-5001A
NSSDC ID: 1966-103A
Mass 3,175 kg
Launch site LC-14
Launch date November 11, 1966
Launch time 19:07:58 UTC
1st perigee 294.7 km
1st apogee 303.2 km
Period 90.56 m
Inclination 28.86
Reentered December 23, 1966


[edit] Experiments

The 14 scientific experiments were (1) frog egg growth under zero-g, (2) synoptic terrain photography, (3) synoptic weather photography, (4) nuclear emulsions, (5) airglow horizon photography, (6) UV astronomical photography, and (7) dim sky photography. Two micrometeorite collection experiments, as well as three space phenomena photography experiments, were not fully completed.

[edit] Reentry

The capsule was controlled on reentry by computer and splashed down 4.8 kilometers from its target.

The Gemini 12 mission was supported by the following U.S. Department of Defense resources; 9,775 personnel, 65 aircraft and 12 ships.

[edit] Insignia

The patch's unique orange and black colors are a link to the flight's original scheduled date close to Halloween. The Roman numeral XII is located at the 12 o'clock position on the face of a clock, with the Gemini spacecraft pointing to it like the hour hand of a clock. This represents the position of Gemini 12 as the last flight of the Gemini program. With the Apollo project following this last flight of the Gemini program, the ultimate objective -- the moon -- is symbolized by the crescent on the left.

[edit] Trivia

 Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

A blunter symbol of the end of the Gemini program took place on the day of liftoff, as both astronauts wore signs on their backs. Lovell's read "THE," Aldrin's read "END."

[edit] Capsule location

After several years at the Museum of Transport and Technology, in Auckland, New Zealand, the capsule was returned to the United States. It is now on display at the Adler Planetarium, Chicago, Illinois. Jim Lovell and Buzz Aldrin were reunited with the capsule November 9, 2006 during the opening for Adler's "Shoot for the Moon" exhibit, almost 40 years after the mission launched. Lovell and Aldrin's voices are used for the exhibit's recorded narration.

[edit] External links

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Gemini 1 · Gemini 2 · Gemini 3 · Gemini 4 · Gemini 5 · Gemini 7 · Gemini 6A · Gemini 8 · Gemini 9A · Gemini 10 · Gemini 11 · Gemini 12
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