The Explorers' Club Special: Gemini X

Operation AXIOM: The Space Race—The 60th Anniversary of Gemini X
18-21 July 1966: Gemini X lifted off from Florida's Cape Kennedy Air Force Station, with Command Pilot John Young & Pilot Michael Collins aboard a Gemini spacecraft atop a Titan II G.L.V. rocket; they docked with their Agena & used its engine to set a new altitude record, & rendezvoused with Gemini VIII's derelict Agena; they splashed down in the Atlantic & were recovered by the U.S.S. Guadalcanal.

Commentary: Although Mike Collins's E.V.A. weren't trouble-free (E.V.A. difficuties would continue with Dick Gordon on Gemini XI & the code wouldn't be cracked until Buzz Aldrin on Gemini XII), Gemini X was a successful mission & a boost in the arm for N.A.S.A. after the emergency that ended Gemini VIII & the myriad struggles of Gemini IX-A.

On a personal note, Gemini X is my greatest regret of "The Explorers' Club's" exploration of Project Gemini. Yes, July 2021 was a busy time (including the fiftieth anniversary of Apollo 15, 26 July-7 August), but I still ought to have dedicated a second episode to Gemini X.

The Wayback Machine Tour of Gemini X
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCCXXX: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini X
Space Race Song o' the Day

Semper exploro.

The Stars My Destination: Gemini XII

Gemini XII (11-15 November 1966)
James Lovell, Command Pilot
Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, Pilot

Capsule: SC12

The Wayback Machine Tour of Gemini XII
"The Explorers' Club," № : The 55th Anniversary of Gemini XII, Part I
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
"The Explorers' Club," № : The 55th Anniversary of Gemini XII, Part II

The Stars My Destination: Gemini XI

Gemini XI (12-15 September 1966)
Charles "Pete" Conrad, Command Pilot
Richard Gordon, Pilot

Capsule: SC11

The Wayback Machine Tour of Gemini XI
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCCXXXIX: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini XI, Part I
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCCXL: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini XI, Part II

Commentary: In total, Gemini XI was only about half an hour longer than Gemini X (2 days, 23:17:09 versus 2 days, 22:46:39). This is the same coverage I ought to have given to Gemini X. Drat!

The Stars My Destination: Gemini X

Gemini X (18-21 July 1966)
John Young, Command Pilot
Michael Collins, Pilot

Capsule: SC10

The Wayback Machine Tour of Gemini X
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCCXXX: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini X
Space Race Song o' the Day

Commentary: Five years ago, I erred in reporting Gemini X as last from 18-19 July 1966; in actuality, the flight lasted just under three days (two days, twenty-two hours, forty-six minutes, thirty-nine seconds), from 18-21 July. I cannot explain how such an elementary error happened. I doubt there could have been a second episode of "The Explorers' Club," but there ought to have been one more "Space Race Song o' the Day."

The Stars My Destination: Gemini IX-A

Gemini IX-A (3-6 June 1966)
Thomas Stafford, Command Pilot
Eugene Cernan, Pilot

Capsule: SC9

The Wayback Machine Tour of Gemini IX-A
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCCXVI: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini IX, Prelude
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCCXXI: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini IX-A, Part I
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCCXXII: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini IX-A, Part II
The Stars My Destination: Gemini IX-A

The Stars My Destination: Gemini VIII

Gemini VIII (16-17 March 1966)
Neil Armstrong, Command Pilot
David Scott, Pilot

Capsule: SC8

The Wayback Machine Tour of Gemini VIII
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCCIV: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini VIII

The Stars My Destination: Gemini VI-A

Gemini VI-A (15-16 December 1965)
Walter Schirra, Command Pilot
Thomas Stafford, Pilot

Capsule: SC6

The Wayback Machine Tour of Gemini VI-A
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCLXXIX: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini VI, Prelude
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCLXXXVIII: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini VI-A, Part I
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCLXXXIX: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini VI-A, Part II
Space Race Song o' the Day

The Stars My Destination: Gemini VII

Gemini VII (4-18 December 1965)
Frank Borman, Command Pilot
James Lovell, Pilot

Capsule: SC7

The Wayback Machine Tour of Gemini VII
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCLXXXVII: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini VII, Part I
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCXC: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini VII, Part II

The Stars My Destination: Gemini V

Gemini V (21-29 August 1965)
Gordon Cooper, Command Pilot
Charles "Pete" Conrad, Pilot

Capsule: SC5

The Wayback Machine Tour of Gemini V
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCLXVI: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini V, Part I
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCLXVIII: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini V, Part II

Commentary: Gemini V had the first official mission patch. For the flight, the words "8 Days or Bust" were covered up & only unveiled once Cooper & Conrad were safely on the recovery ship.

The Stars My Destination: Gemini IV

Gemini IV (3-7 June 1965)
James McDivitt, Command Pilot
Edward White, Pilot

Capsule: SC4

The Wayback Machine Tour of Gemini IV
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCLIII: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini IV

Commentary: The Gemini IV mission patch is unofficial; it was devised after the flight & was not worn on McDivitt's & White's spacesuits. McDivitt & White were the first astronauts to wear American flags on their spacesuits.

The Stars My Destination: Gemini 3

Gemini 3 (23 March 1965)
Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Command Pilot
John Young, Pilot

Capsule: SC3, Molly Brown

The Wayback Machine Tour of Gemini 3
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCXXXIX: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini 3

Commentary: The Molly Brown was the only named Gemini capsule. The Gemini 3 mission patch is unofficial; it was devised after the flight & was not worn on Grissom's & Young's spacesuits.

The Explorers' Club Special: Gemini IX-A

Operation AXIOM: The Space Race—The 60th Anniversary of Gemini IX-A
3 June 1966: Gemini IX-A lifted off from Florida's Cape Kennedy Air Force Station, with Command Pilot Tom Stafford & Pilot Gene Cernan aboard a Gemini spacecraft atop a Titan II G.L.V. rocket; they rendezvoused with the A.T.D.A. but were unable to dock because the A.T.D.A.'s ascent shroud failed to separate; this "angry alligator" was caused by miscommunication & rivalry between contractors.

6 June 1966: Cernan conducted America's second E.V.A., the first intended to accomplish useful work, including flying the U.S.A.F.'s Astronaut Maneuvering Unit; there were inadequate handholds & footholds for the tasks required & Cernan's pulse soared; his visor fogged over, a genuine peril, & the E.V.A. was ended early; they splashed down in the Atlantic & were recovered by the U.S.S. Wasp.

Commentary: Gemini IX-A exemplified the motto Ad astra per aspera ("To the stars through asperities;" or, "A rough road leads to the stars;" also rendered as Per aspera ad astra, I'm not a Latinist & cannot say which construction is to be preferred): for the second time in three flights, the Agena Target Vehicle failed to make it to orbit (that's how Gemini IX became Gemini IX-A); the Augmented Target Docking Adaptor, a backup spacecraft created for just such an eventuality, suffered a failure that prevented docking; & America's second Extravehicular Activity ("spacewalk"), & the first meant to accomplish useful work, demonstrated that E.V.A. was much more difficult than anticipated & would require new techniques, tools, & training. Everything about Gemini IX-A was a struggle, thus our musical theme.

The Wayback Machine Tour of Gemini IX-A
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCCXVI: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini IX, Prelude
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCCXXI: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini IX-A, Part I
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCCXXII: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini IX-A, Part II
The Stars My Destination: Gemini IX-A

Semper exploro.

The Explorers' Club, № MCXLVII

The Space Race: The 60th Anniversaries of Project Gemini
The Agena Target Vehicle (A.T.V.)—A rocket, a modification of the RM-81 Agena-D upper stage fitted with a docking adaptor, the Agena Target Vehicle was used to develop & practice orbital rendezvous & docking maneuvers; Gemini VIII, Gemini X, Gemini XI, & Gemini XII rendezvoused & docked with A.T.V.; Gemini X & Gemini XI were boosted by their respective Agenas to successive altitude records.

Commentary: The A.T.V. for Gemini VI exploded during ascent not long after separating from its Atlas booster, prompting the revision of Gemini VI as Gemini VI-A, which rendezvoused, but obviously could not dock, with Gemini VII. The A.T.V. for Gemini IX was destroyed when its Atlas booster failed during ascent, prompting the revision of Gemini IX as Gemini IX-A, which rendezvoused with the Augmented Target Docking Adapter (a device devised for precisely this contingency), but was unable to dock due to a comedy of errors by the ground crews prior to launch.

Tom Stafford flew on both Gemini VI-A (Pilot) & Gemini IX-A (Command Pilot). Due to the above described Altas-Agena failures & a pair of scrubs caused by the primary Titan II Gemini Launch Vehicle, Stafford was strapped into his Gemini capsules six times for only two launches, earning him the nickname, the "Mayor of Pad 19."

Semper exploro.

The Explorers' Club Special: Gemini VIII

Operation AXIOM: The Space Race—The 60th Anniversary of Gemini VIII
16-17 March 1966: Gemini VIII lifted off from Florida's Cape Kennedy Air Force Station, carrying Command Pilot Neil Armstrong & Pilot Dave Scott aboard a Gemini spacecraft atop a Titan II G.L.V. rocket; they achieved the first docking in space, with an Agena; a thruster malfunction caused the spacecraft to tumble rapidly & triggered an emergency reentry; they splashed down in the Pacific.

Commentary: Gemini VIII was originally scheduled to splash down in the Atlantic on 20 March. The emergency reentry necessitated a splash down in the Pacific. U.S. Air Force Pararescue Jumpers were the first to reach the capsule, which was later recovered by the U.S.S. Leonard F. Mason.

The Wayback Machine Tour of Gemini VIII
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCCIV: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini VIII

Semper exploro.

The Explorers' Club Special: Gemini VI-A

Operation AXIOM: The Space Race—The 60th Anniversary of Gemini VI-A
25 October 1965: Command Pilot Wally Schirra & Pilot Tom Stafford aimed to achieve rendezvous & docking with an Agena Target Vehicle; the Atlas-Agena rocket lifted off from Cape Kennedy Air Force Station, but the Agena exploded shortly after separation from the Atlas; the Gemini-Titan launch was scrubbed, the astronauts disembarked, & N.A.S.A. pondered how to salvage Gemini VI's mission.

12 December 1965: Schirra & Stafford boarded their Gemini capsule atop a Titan II G.L.V. for the second time, their revised mission to rendezvous with Gemini VII redesignated Gemini VI-A; the rockets fired, but cut off seconds later; launch abort mission rules called for the crew to use their ejection seats, a risky manuever, but the pilots knew they hadn't lifted off, stood by, & disembarked.

15-16 December 1965: Gemini VI-A lifted off from Florida's Cape Kennedy Air Force Station, with Command Pilot Wally Schirra & Pilot Tom Stafford aboard a Gemini spacecraft atop a Titan II G.L.V. rocket; they achieved the first rendezvous in space with Gemini VII, the two capsules maneuvering to within one foot; next day, they splashed down in the Atlantic & were recovered by the U.S.S. Wasp.

The Wayback Machine Tour of Gemini VI-A
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCLXXIX: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini VI, Prelude
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCLXXXVIII: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini VI-A, Part I
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCLXXXIX: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini VI-A, Part II
Space Race Song o' the Day

Commentary: Whereas Gemini VII was the last of the Gemini endurance missions, Gemini VI-A was the first of the Gemini rendezvous & docking missions. These shorter duration missions would typify the remainder of Project Gemini. The rendezvous of Gemini VI-A with Gemini VII was the first time two spacecraft rendezvoused on orbit & produced some of the most striking images from Gemini.

Trouble with the Agena Target Vehicle &/or the Atlas rocket would later plague Gemini IX-A.

Semper exploro.

The Explorers Club Special: Gemini VII

Operation AXIOM: The Space Race—The 60th Anniversary of Gemini VII
4 December 1965: Gemini VII lifted off from Florida's Cape Kennedy Air Force Station, with Command Pilot Frank Borman & Pilot Jim Lovell aboard a Gemini spacecraft atop a Titan II G.L.V. rocket; this was the third & last Gemini endurance mission, aiming for fourteen days on orbit; Lovell became the first astronaut to doff his pressure suit; Borman & Lovell each brought along a book.

18 December 1965: Borman & Lovell spent a fortnight in orbit, demonstrating that a crew could live & operate in space long enough to conduct a lunar landing mission, & setting an orbital endurance record that would stand for five years; the capsule suffered malfunctions similar to those on Gemini V; they splashed down in the Atlantic & were recovered by the U.S.S. Wasp, alongside Gemini VI-A.

The Wayback Machine Tour of Gemini VII
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCLXXXVII: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini VII, Part I
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCXC: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini VII, Part II

Commentary: Gemini VII was a "marathon" mission, thus the Olympic torch on the mission patch. Borman & Lovell wore unique G5C spacesuits, which were meant to be adjustable for astronaut comfort, & even removeable, but which ultimately proved to be uncomfortable when worn for long periods; this type of spacesuit never flew again. After some haggling, Mission Control allowed both astronauts to doff their suits, greatly increasing their comfort & overall health.

Gemini VI was originally intended to fly prior to Gemini VII, but when problems were encountered with Gemini VI's rendezvous & docking target vehicle, it was decided to proceed with Gemini VII on schedule.

Semper exploro.

The Explorers' Club Special: Gemini V

Operation AXIOM: The Space Race—The 60th Anniversary of Gemini V
21 August 1965: Gemini V lifted off from Florida's Cape Kennedy Air Force Station, with Command Pilot Gordon Cooper & Pilot Pete Conrad aboard a Gemini spacecraft atop a Titan II G.L.V. rocket, the first capsule powered by fuel cells instead of batteries; the primary mission was to double Gemini IV's then-record four days spent on orbit, simulating the eight days needed to fly to & from the Moon.

29 August 1965: Problems with the new fuel cells threatened to cut short the mission on day one, but Cooper & Conrad pressed on, setting a new endurance record for manned spaceflight, simulating orbital rendezvous, & gathering a wealth of physiological data; Conrad quipped that he wished he'd brought a book; they splashed down in the Atlantic & were recovered by the U.S.S. Lake Champlain.

The Wayback Machine Tour of Gemini V
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCLXVI: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini V, Part I
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCLXVIII: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini V, Part II

Commentary: Gemini V demonstrated two important aspects of Project Apollo, that astronauts could live & work in space long enough to fly to & from the Moon (eight days) & that the new fuel-cell technology worked (though not without bugs), since batteries would not last long enough for Lunar voyages. Gemini V set a new space endurance record, one of the first times the United States had pulled ahead of the Soviet Union in the Space Race.

Gemini IV had established the tradition as astronuats wearing American flags on the space suits; Gemini V established the tradition of the mission patch, though N.A.S.A. management had the "8 Days or Bust" slogan covered up until the eight-day record had been achieved.

Semper exploro.

The Explorers' Club Special: Gemini IV

Operation AXIOM: The Space Race—The 60th Anniversary of Gemini IV
3-7 June 1965: Gemini IV lifted off from Florida's Cape Kennedy Air Force Station, carrying Command Pilot Jim McDivitt & Pilot Ed White aboard a Gemini spacecraft atop a Titan II G.L.V. rocket; White became the first American to conduct an extravehicular activity (E.V.A., or "spacewalk"); after a N.A.S.A. record four days in orbit, they landed in the Atlantic & were recovered by the U.S.S. Wasp.

The Wayback Machine Tour of Gemini IV
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCLIII: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini IV
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day
Space Race Song o' the Day

Commentary: The headlines about Gemini IV are all about Ed White's first American E.V.A. (& second overall spacewalk, almost twice as long as Alexei Leonov's first human spacewalk in March 1965), & that is a laudable achievement, but lost in the shuffle is the new American endurance record set. Gemini IV more than quadrupled the duration of the previous longest American spaceflight, Mercury-Atlas 9 (Faith 7, 1963), & exceeded the duration of the previous seven American missions combined (the six Mercury flights & Gemini 3). Gemini IV's attempt to rendezvous with its own Titan rocket stage failed because N.A.S.A., neither the astronuats in the unnamed Gemini capsule nor the mission controllers in Houston, had yet grasped the counterintuitive nature of orbital mechanics. Obrital rendezvous would be achieved at the end of 1965 when Gemini VI-A met up with Gemini VII; docking would be achieved by Gemini VIII early in 1966.

At the time, June 2020, I'd established the three-episode format for Apollo missions, but all the previous Mercury & Gemini missions had lasted one day or less. If I had it to do over again, I would dedicate two episodes to Gemini IV (one on 3 June, the other on 7 June), as I would with the remaining longer Gemini missions. The American space program learned in real time as it conducted Project Gemini; I learned as I blogged about Project Gemini fifty-five years later.

Semper exploro.

The Explorers' Club Special: Gemini 3

Operation AXIOM: The Space Race—The 60th Anniversary of Gemini 3
23 March 1965: Gemini 3 lifted off from Florida's Cape Kennedy Air Force Station, carrying Command Pilot Virgil "Gus" Grissom & Pilot John Young aboard the Gemini spacecraft Molly Brown atop a Titan II G.L.V. rocket; during three orbits, they were the first crew to maneuver their spacecraft in orbit & ate a contraband corned beef sandwich smuggled by Young; they were recovered by the U.S.S. Intrepid.

Wayback Machine: № DCCCXXXIX, "The Space Race—The 55th Anniversary of Gemini 3"

Commentary: The two-man Gemini capsule was affectionately known as the "Gusmobile" because Grissom—the shortest member of the "Mercury Seven," Astronaut Group 1—had played a role in its development & its dimensions well suited his small stature. Project Gemini began development long after the Apollo Program, when it was realized that the limits of the Mercury capsule had been met & that new flight techniques & mission control methods needed to be developed in order for Apollo to achieve its lofty goals. Gemini is very much the forgogtten middle child between the pioneering Mercury & the historic Apollo, but Gemini on its own merits is also when the United States took over the lead of the Space Race from the Soviet Union, achieving new endurance records & perfecting orbital rendezvous & docking.

At the time, March 2020, "The Explorers' Club" was in the midst of the fiftieth anniversaries of the Apollo Moon landings, plus catching up on the fifty-somethingth anniversaries of the pre-Moon landing Apollo missions. We'd missed the fiftieth anniversaries of Project Gemini (2015-2016, when the Great War all but wholly consumed "The Explorers' Club") & I was unwilling to wait for the sixtieth anniversaries tocome around (right now-2026); so, we settled in the fifty-fifth anniverary compromise. I'm looking forward to revisiting the ten Gemini missions over this year & next, & I hope you'll join me.

The Explorers' Club, № MLXIX

Operation AXIOM: The Space Race—The 60th Anniversary of Gemini 2
19 January 1965: Gemini 2 lifted off from Florida's Cape Kennedy Air Force Station, with an unnamed Gemini spacecraft atop a Titan II G.L.V. rocket; pallets of flight instrumentation were installed in place of the crew couches; the mission objective was to evaluate & certify the Gemini capsule's heat shield; the suborbital flight was successful & the capsule was recovered by the U.S.S. Lake Champlain.

Commentary: The Gemini capsule, SC-2, was reflown during OPS 0855 (3 November 1966), the only flight of the U.S. Air Force's Manned Orbiting Laboratory project.

The Wayback Machine Tour of Project Gemini
№ MXXI: The 60th Anniversary of Gemini 1
№ DCCXXXIX: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini 3 — Gus Grissom & John Young
№ DCCLIII: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini IV — Jim McDivitt & Ed White
№ DCCLXVI: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini V, Part I — Gordon Cooper & Pete Conrad
№ DCCLXVIII: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini V, Part II
№ DCCLXXIX: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini VI, Prelude
№ DCCLXXXVII: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini VII, Part I — Frank Borman & Jim Lovell
№ DCCLXXXVIII: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini VI-A, Part I
№ DCCLXXXIX: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini VI-A, Part II — Wally Schirra & Tom Stafford
№ DCCXC: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini VII, Part II
№ DCCCIV: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini VIII — Neil Armstrong & Dave Scott
№ DCCCXVI: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini IX, Prelude
№ DCCCXXI: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini IX-A, Part I — Tom Stafford & Gene Cernan
№ DCCCXXII: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini IX-A, Part II
№ DCCCXXX: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini X — John Young & Michael Collins
№ DCCCXXXIX: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini XI, Part I — Pete Conrad & Dick Gordon
№ DCCCXL: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini XI, Part II
№ DCCCXLVIII: The 55th Anniversary of OPS 0855
№ DCCCL: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini XII, Part I — Jim Lovell & "Buzz" Aldrin
№ DCCCLI: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini XII, Part II

Semper exploro.