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

372
First Steps into Space: Projects Mercury and Gemini
PROJECT GEMINI SUMMARY
FOR INTERNAL NASA USE AND OFFICAL GUIDANCE
With the splashdown of Gemini 12 with astronauts Lovell and Aldrin aboard
on November 15, 1966, the Gemini Project came to a successful conclusion. All
Gemini Project objectives, including Extravehicular Activity and combined vehicle
maneuvers, which were added after the project began, were fully accomplished
many times over.
Rendezvous: Ten separate rendezvous were accomplished, using seven
different techniques ranging from visual/manual control to ground/computer
controlled rendezvous.
Docking: Nine dockings with four different Agenas were performed.
Docked Vehicle Maneuvers: Both Gemini X and Gemini XI demonstrated
extensive maneuvers and a new altitude record was set on Gemini XI when the
Agena Target carried astronauts Conrad and Gordon 851 miles above the earth.
Extra-vehicular Activity: EVA was conducted on five separate Gemini Missions and
during ten separate periods. Total EVA time during the Gemini Project was 12 hrs,
22 min. of which a record time of 5 hours and 37 minutes of EVA was performed
by Aldrin on Gemini XII.
Long Duration Flight: Gemini VII demonstrated man’s ability to stay in space
continuously for up to 14 days; Gemini V for 8 days, and two other missions for
4 days.
Controlled Reentry: Landing accuracies of a few miles from the aim point were
demonstrated on every Gemini manned mission except Gemini V.
Conduct Scientific and Technological Experiments: Every manned Gemini mission
(Gemini III through XII) conducted many experiments. In total 43 experiments
were conducted successfully.
Prior to each Gemini mission, individual primary mission objectives were
selected which, if accomplished, would provide full advancement of the project.
Accomplishment of these primary objectives were mandatory for stating the
mission to be successful. To retain the flexibility to capitalize on success, secondary
objectives were also assigned*-- as many as appeared feasible within the capability
of the equipment and the time and experience of the astronauts.
[2]
Of the 14 Gemini mission attempts, 10 missions accomplished all of the primary
mission objectives specified before the launch. The four unsuccessful missions and
the reasons why they could not accomplish all of their primary objectives follows: