The prime crew for the Gemini-X mission, John Young and Mike Collins.
The prime crew for the Gemini-X mission, John Young and Mike Collins.
The two crews that would made up the Gemini-X mission were selected on January 25, 1966. Prime crew would be: John W. Young and Michael collins. And back-up crew: James A. Lovell and Edwin E. Aldrin. After the death of the prime crew for the Gemini-IX mission, the back-up crew for the Gemini-X mission changed to, Alan Bean and Clifton C. Williams.
The major objectives of the Gemini-X flight were:
-To rendezvous and dock with an Agena target vehicle.
-To use large propulsion systems in space.
-To conduct an EVA.
On July 18, 1966 the Agena target was launched at 03:39:46 pm EST. This was followed by the Gemini-X launch at 05:20:27 pm. This followd the flight plan exactly and allowed the Gemini-X spacecraft to rendezvous with its target five hours and 21 minutes later. The docking of the two craft was accomplished 31 minutes later, and the two vehicles operated in the docked configuration for 38 hours and 47 minutes.
During the time of docked operations the crew performed six major maneuvers, three of wich used the Agena's primary propulsion system and three wich used the Agena'S secondary propulsion system. The first of the major maneuvers placed the Gemini-X - Agena-X in an elliptical orbit with an apogee of 412.2 miles and a perigee of 158.5 miles.
During the docked period, the Gemini-X crw participated in the first of two major extravehicular activities. This occurred after 23 hours and 24 minutes MET. The hatch of the Gemini-X spacecraft was open for 49 minutes during wich astronaut Collins performed tasks assigned to that phase of the mission. The standing EVA was terminated when both crew members experienced eye irritation.
The crew un-docked from the Agena-X target after 44 hours and 40 minutes MET, and prepared to rendezvous with the Agena-VIII target vehicle which had been in parking orbit since March 16. The second EVA period started 48 hours and 41 minutes MET. This was an umbilical EVA with Collins emerging from the spacecraft and it lasted 39 minutes. During this time Collins retrieved an experiment package which had been attached to the Agena-VIII since march.
The highest apogee reached during the flight was 412.2 miles and the lowest perigee, 86.3 miles. The Gemini-X spacecraft touched down in the Atlantic Ocean at 04:07:06 pm EST July 21, at an estimated 3.4 miles from the planned impact point. The crew chose to be recovered by helicopter and they were landed aboard the USS Guadalcanal 27 minutes after landing. Another 27 minutes passed before the Gemini-X spacecraft was picked up.
The prime crew of the Gemini-X mission during a press conference