Hey everyone,
Gemini X was the third to last manned flight of Project Gemini. John Young would command this flight with Michael Collins as his Pilot. This mission set bold objectives which were supposed to be accomplished in the previous two missions. This mission would include two rendezvous and two EVAs. The first rendezvous and EVA were simple and executed with ease. The crew docked with their Agena craft for their first rendezvous and Collins stood in the open hatch and took pictures during his first EVA. Soon, they undocked from the Agena and set a course for the Gemini VIII Agena. After some difficulty, they found it and floated 3 meters away from it. Collins began his second EVA where he retrieved a Micrometeorite Collector from their Agena, but he also space walked over to the other Agena and collected the Micrometeorite Collector from that craft as well. A gas gun, used for mobility, was also being tested. Collins used it to move around the Gemini X craft, but it would fail after 25 minutes which would end the EVA. It would take eight minutes to finally close the hatch once Collins was inside again showing the difficulties of space walks. A few other experiments were conducted during the mission, and this mission showed that radiation at high altitude was not a problem. No major problems occurred during the flight, and they returned to Earth after three days in space.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Gemini 9A
Hey everyone,
Gemini 9A was the 7th manned flight of Project Gemini. The original crew of Elliot See and Charles Basset were killed in an airplane crash outside of St. Louis, MO in 1966. They were replaced by Thomas Stafford and Eugene Cernan. Again, they would rendezvous with an Agena vehicle and attempt a space walk. The first launch of the Agena failed and another rocket was launched two weeks later. The rendezvous was successful, but Cernan's EVA was another story. Cernan struggled with his tasks and fell behind quickly as his visor fogged. At the rear of the ship was the Astronaut Maneuvering Unit (AMU) which was a rocket pack type device, but a lack of hand and foot holds with the fogged visor soon caused exhaustion. His heart rate soared to 195 beats per minutes which led to the shortening of the EVA. Cernan had been outside the craft for 128 minutes. After conducting a few experiments, they prepared for re-entry and splashed down within 700 meters of their intended landing. The EVA problems would later resolved.
Gemini 9A was the 7th manned flight of Project Gemini. The original crew of Elliot See and Charles Basset were killed in an airplane crash outside of St. Louis, MO in 1966. They were replaced by Thomas Stafford and Eugene Cernan. Again, they would rendezvous with an Agena vehicle and attempt a space walk. The first launch of the Agena failed and another rocket was launched two weeks later. The rendezvous was successful, but Cernan's EVA was another story. Cernan struggled with his tasks and fell behind quickly as his visor fogged. At the rear of the ship was the Astronaut Maneuvering Unit (AMU) which was a rocket pack type device, but a lack of hand and foot holds with the fogged visor soon caused exhaustion. His heart rate soared to 195 beats per minutes which led to the shortening of the EVA. Cernan had been outside the craft for 128 minutes. After conducting a few experiments, they prepared for re-entry and splashed down within 700 meters of their intended landing. The EVA problems would later resolved.
Gemini VIII
Hey everyone,
Gemini VIII was the sixth manned space flight of Project Gemini with Neil Armstrong as the command pilot and David Scott as the pilot. This would be their first spaceflight. There were two primary objectives for this mission: to accomplish an in-orbit rendezvous and docking and to accomplish an extended EVA. The vehicle with which they were to dock was known as the Agena. It was launched the same day as the Gemini VIII crew and would dock the same day. They approached the craft slowly and inspected it once they flew near the craft. After confirming that there was no damage, Armstrong docked with the Agena, and their first objective was complete. The mission would continue with the Agena attached, and the craft would aid in steering. After executing a turn with the Agena, the craft started to roll. Eventually, the roll would be able to be fixed, so they undocked with the Agena. However, the roll began again. The roll would reach one revolution per second putting the lives of the astronauts in danger. Finally, on the verge of blackout, Armstrong used the Re-entry Control System reaction control system (RCS) to stop the spin. It worked, but the mission was now done due to mission parameters that stated a mission had to be aborted once the RCS was activated. They orbited once before they re-entered and landed. The Pacific Ocean near Japan was the landing site. Due to their excellent ability and cool headedness in handling the situation, Armstrong and Scott were given prominent roles in later spaceflights. Of course, these will be discussed in later posts.
Gemini VIII was the sixth manned space flight of Project Gemini with Neil Armstrong as the command pilot and David Scott as the pilot. This would be their first spaceflight. There were two primary objectives for this mission: to accomplish an in-orbit rendezvous and docking and to accomplish an extended EVA. The vehicle with which they were to dock was known as the Agena. It was launched the same day as the Gemini VIII crew and would dock the same day. They approached the craft slowly and inspected it once they flew near the craft. After confirming that there was no damage, Armstrong docked with the Agena, and their first objective was complete. The mission would continue with the Agena attached, and the craft would aid in steering. After executing a turn with the Agena, the craft started to roll. Eventually, the roll would be able to be fixed, so they undocked with the Agena. However, the roll began again. The roll would reach one revolution per second putting the lives of the astronauts in danger. Finally, on the verge of blackout, Armstrong used the Re-entry Control System reaction control system (RCS) to stop the spin. It worked, but the mission was now done due to mission parameters that stated a mission had to be aborted once the RCS was activated. They orbited once before they re-entered and landed. The Pacific Ocean near Japan was the landing site. Due to their excellent ability and cool headedness in handling the situation, Armstrong and Scott were given prominent roles in later spaceflights. Of course, these will be discussed in later posts.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Gemini VIa and VII
Hey everyone,
Gemini VIa and VII were the first spaceships to rendezvous in space. While this would accomplish one of the primary objectives of Project Gemini, many problems would have to be overcome. Gemini VIa was manned by Wally Schirra and Thomas Stafford. However, their first launch attempt failed when a plug fell out of the bottom of the rocket, starting the onboard computer. When no upward motion was detected, the mission was automatically aborted by the computer. However, Schirra and Stafford did not eject from the craft like the mission rules dictated. Schirra made this decision, and the crew walked off of the spacecraft. This was the second major problem for the Gemini VIa crew. The first occurred when an Agena Target Vehicle (see Gemini VIII) failed soon after launch which caused an abort of their first launch. Finally, on the third attempt, they launched into space where they met up with Gemini VII which was manned by Frank Borman and Jim Lovell. They launched before Gemini VIa and were in space for 14 days. Gemini VIa met up with the other craft, and they rendezvoused for a time. Gemini VIa soon left for re-entry and landing which was very accurate. Upon this re-entry and landing, another objective of Project Gemini had been accomplished by the crew of Gemini VIa. Project Gemini would continue with Gemini VIII.
Gemini VIa and VII were the first spaceships to rendezvous in space. While this would accomplish one of the primary objectives of Project Gemini, many problems would have to be overcome. Gemini VIa was manned by Wally Schirra and Thomas Stafford. However, their first launch attempt failed when a plug fell out of the bottom of the rocket, starting the onboard computer. When no upward motion was detected, the mission was automatically aborted by the computer. However, Schirra and Stafford did not eject from the craft like the mission rules dictated. Schirra made this decision, and the crew walked off of the spacecraft. This was the second major problem for the Gemini VIa crew. The first occurred when an Agena Target Vehicle (see Gemini VIII) failed soon after launch which caused an abort of their first launch. Finally, on the third attempt, they launched into space where they met up with Gemini VII which was manned by Frank Borman and Jim Lovell. They launched before Gemini VIa and were in space for 14 days. Gemini VIa met up with the other craft, and they rendezvoused for a time. Gemini VIa soon left for re-entry and landing which was very accurate. Upon this re-entry and landing, another objective of Project Gemini had been accomplished by the crew of Gemini VIa. Project Gemini would continue with Gemini VIII.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Gemini V
Hey everyone,
Project Gemini continued with its third manned spaceflight. L. Gordon Cooper, a Mercury veteran, acted as the Command Pilot for this mission while Charles "Pete" Conrad was the Pilot. The flight lasted 8 days and had a practice space rendezvous which proved unsuccessful. Problems began to develop with fuel cells and several experiments were canceled. The astronauts had some down time in space, and Conrad remarked that he hadn't brought a book. They returned to Earth safely, but Cooper would not fly again after Gemini. Conrad on the other hand would have a storied career in space. Other flights would address the rendezvous problems and continue towards the goal of the moon.
P. S. Sorry for the short length.
Project Gemini continued with its third manned spaceflight. L. Gordon Cooper, a Mercury veteran, acted as the Command Pilot for this mission while Charles "Pete" Conrad was the Pilot. The flight lasted 8 days and had a practice space rendezvous which proved unsuccessful. Problems began to develop with fuel cells and several experiments were canceled. The astronauts had some down time in space, and Conrad remarked that he hadn't brought a book. They returned to Earth safely, but Cooper would not fly again after Gemini. Conrad on the other hand would have a storied career in space. Other flights would address the rendezvous problems and continue towards the goal of the moon.
P. S. Sorry for the short length.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Gemini IV
Hey everyone,
In June 1965, Gemini IV took flight with the crew of James McDivitt and Edward White. McDivitt was the Command Pilot and White the Pilot. This was the first multi-day flight by the United States which showed that people could journey to the moon safely and return. They would also attempt a rendezvous, but this would not be successful. After Leonov's space walk in April, the United States moved up their plans for a spacewalk to Gemini IV. White executed this Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) without a hitch for 22 minutes. He was instructed to come back in at 15 minutes, but, due to a delay in communications, he didn't immediately receive this message which accounts for the last seven minutes. White passed Leonov by a full ten minutes on his walk to history. The rest of the mission continued smoothly and an overall Gemini objective had been met. McDivitt would fly again, but White would not, but that's a later post.
In June 1965, Gemini IV took flight with the crew of James McDivitt and Edward White. McDivitt was the Command Pilot and White the Pilot. This was the first multi-day flight by the United States which showed that people could journey to the moon safely and return. They would also attempt a rendezvous, but this would not be successful. After Leonov's space walk in April, the United States moved up their plans for a spacewalk to Gemini IV. White executed this Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) without a hitch for 22 minutes. He was instructed to come back in at 15 minutes, but, due to a delay in communications, he didn't immediately receive this message which accounts for the last seven minutes. White passed Leonov by a full ten minutes on his walk to history. The rest of the mission continued smoothly and an overall Gemini objective had been met. McDivitt would fly again, but White would not, but that's a later post.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Alexey Leonov and the first space walk
Hey everyone,
On March 18, 1965, Alexey Leonov became the first human being to walk in space. The walk only lasted for 12 minutes and 9 seconds, but he walked into history. Only a 5.35 meter tether attached to him to the spacecraft. The suit soon expanded due to the vacuum of space, and he was not able to re-enter the craft at first. Using a valve, he let off the air which allowed him to re-enter the craft. Leonov was part of the original 20 cosmonauts chosen for space travel. Had the Soviets continued to win the space race, Leonov would probably have been the first man to walk on the moon. These missions would be canceled when the Soviets fell behind in the space race. Leonov would train astronauts until his retirement in 1991.
On March 18, 1965, Alexey Leonov became the first human being to walk in space. The walk only lasted for 12 minutes and 9 seconds, but he walked into history. Only a 5.35 meter tether attached to him to the spacecraft. The suit soon expanded due to the vacuum of space, and he was not able to re-enter the craft at first. Using a valve, he let off the air which allowed him to re-enter the craft. Leonov was part of the original 20 cosmonauts chosen for space travel. Had the Soviets continued to win the space race, Leonov would probably have been the first man to walk on the moon. These missions would be canceled when the Soviets fell behind in the space race. Leonov would train astronauts until his retirement in 1991.
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