Exploring the Unknown: Selected Documents in ... - The Black Vault

346
First Steps into Space: Projects Mercury and Gemini
Dr. Mueller called Mr. Webb (from the Cape) to report on the accident,
giving details of the Agena explosion. He said it would be ten days before the
investigation would be completed. He said it did not affect our actual schedule;
will probably move some of the flights forward. Press conference held; no need
for further information to the press.
October 26, 1965
3:00 p.m.
Mr. Webb called Dr. Mueller about a Herald Tribune article on the
accident. He wanted to know if there were any feeling on the part of Lockheed that
“this thing” was not ready to fly. Dr. Mueller assured him there was no reservation
on the part of either NASA, AF, or Lockheed.
October 27, 1965
5:25 p.m.
Mr. Webb called Dr. Mueller to inquire as to the possibility of scheduling
a rendezvous in December, with a view to announcing that we are looking into the
possibility of doing it. Mr. Webb said that a possible announcement might state that
we re taking down the booster for the Gemini 6 and erecting the one for Gemini
7 because of the experience we have gained in mating the Gemini 6 spacecraft
to the booster, we may be able to re-erect Gemini 6 in time for a rendezvous with
Gemini 7 during its 14-day mission. It would further state that in reporting this to
the President, he has asked us to endeavor to do this rendezvous in December.
Mr. Webb said that Dr. Seamans was a little more conservative than
he was, but Mr. Webb felt it would give the image that we have the
resources to retrieve.
Dr. Mueller said they would have a much better view of the situation
by Monday and could tell whether it was a 20-80 chance or a 80-20
chance of succeeding.
[2]
6:__ p.m.
Dr. Seamans asked if it would place an undue burden on Chris
Kraft, and Mueller said it would not as long as we tell them they
don’t have to do it.
Mr. Webb called Mr. Joseph Laitin at the White House. He explained
to Mr. Laitin that we were taking down the booster set up to fly
Gemini 6 in order to erect the one for Gemini 7. He said we were
going to look very carefully over the next several days at whether
or not it might be possible to launch Gemini 7 the latter part of
November or early December, and if it gets off with no damage to