Proud conquest : Gemini VI and VII (1966)

7 and 7 and 6 would you continue with the description of your station keeping? Right now 6 is about 10 ft above and to the left of 7. We're just flying a nose to nose, approximately 50 ft apart. Roger. We can now very clearly see the horizon scanners operating. Roger, Jim. We loaded the propellant aboard the Titan II launch vehicle. This starting about 10:00 p.m. last evening. This was operation took a little less than 4 hours. In the white room at launch complex 19, astronauts Edward White and Mike Collins, the backup pilots for the Gemini 7 mission, are in the spacecraft checking out various systems. Earlier this afternoon, they will be ready to report to the prime pilots Frank Borman and Jim Lovell on the status of the Gemini 7 spacecraft. Jim Lovell had this comment, that he was looking forward to a good long flight. Attending the breakfast with astronauts Borman and Lovell with Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford, pilots for the Gemini 6 mission, which will be scheduled for 9 days after the Gemini 7 lift-off. When I first heard of this plan to rendezvous two spacecraft by launching a second spacecraft from the same pad within 9 days, I thought it was next to impossible. The prime pilots for the Gemini 7 mission, Frank Borman and Jim Lovell, have arrived at launch complex 19. They're in their lightweight suits. They have their helmets attached. Basically, this lightweight suit offers greater mobility and comfort for the crew which will fly 14 days in space. However, it offers the same protection in any emergency as the standard suit. During the flight of Gemini 7, the crew will remove their lightweight space suit and fly in their underwear. T-minus 1 minute and counting. The launch vehicle first stage engines will ignite and build up some 430,000 lb of thrust. T-minus 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, ignition. Engine start. We have a liftoff. We're on our way. Roger that. Coming up on 2 minutes. Mark 2 minutes. Our velocity is 3,600 mph. The crew reports they're go for staging, which should occur in a very few seconds. Okay, stand by for staging. Roger staging. You see that staging? We're standing by for .8, which is the achievement of 80% of the desired velocity to put this 8,000 lb spacecraft into orbit. .8 T over VR. Right down the slot, Gemini 7. Uh I was in the control center at Cape Kennedy watching the launch of 7. And as the spacecraft was inserted into orbit, I glanced over at another TV monitor which showed the sixth launch vehicle being wheeled out of the hangar. So, that's how fast the reaction was taking place. Borman reports he has the booster in sight. Our initial orbit was 87 by 177 nautical miles. This was very close to what we'd hoped for. As a matter of fact, I think that our launch vehicle was closer to nominal than any other one that's been fired. After insertion, we turned around and thrusted back toward our second stage. And then we station kept or remained with the booster. Actually, we were about 60 ft away from it for around 20 minutes. About 22 minutes into the flight, we thrusted away from our second stage and then got down to business of a 14-day long duration flight. We had about 20 experiments to perform in the two weeks ahead. But we, of course, had to check our new suits out. And we did regular medical checkups with the surgeons on the ground. Gemini 7 is basically a medical mission. It's the culmination of our efforts to increase or double man's exposure to the space flight environment ending with a 14-day man space flight. There were three principal problems left following our four- and eight-day flight, these were the ability to sleep in a space flight environment. Secondly, the response of the heart and blood vessels to the readaptation to the ground-based or 1-G environment after being weightless. And lastly, the reduction or decrease in the number of red blood cells that is observed following space flight. We were continually interested in the status of Gemini 6 and I must say that Elliot See and the people at MCC kept us very well informed. Uh you can tell him that the pad preparation schedule is going very well. Okay. So wait a pad preparation schedule for Gemini 6 is going real well. Thank you. It's only taken about 9 weeks or 63 days of actual work to clean up the pad, erect the booster, mate the spacecraft, and check out the systems. We studied the problems, we found solutions, we streamlined the work effort, and within a couple of days the whole atmosphere improved. With the planned 14-day flight, this gave us some margin and the whole plan now appears practical. Gemini 7, Houston Capcom. Roger, this is Gemini 7, we're coming out of the clip. Good morning, flight. How's breakfast going? Excellent. My compliments to the chef. How's the suit configuration working out? We heard some comments over Carnarvon. The suit configuration is working out very well. I'm out of the suit now. I got slightly cool last night while I was sleeping, however, I'm fine right now. Gemini control here. During the next pass across the United States, the Gemini 7 crew will be given a go for a 61-1 flight. The 61 would be the start of the 61st revolution. The one refers to the western Atlantic landing area, which is the prime landing area. The spacecraft is over the Caribbean and Lovell is talking to Dr. Berry. Let's cut in there. Okay, could we have your sleep report? Roger. Both of us slept 6 to 7 hours last night. Probably woke up two or three times during the night. Do you think you're sleeping better now than you were the last couple of nights? The first night was pretty poor as you can probably guess. But we both needed a good sleep the second night and we've been sleeping that way every time. Very good. Gemini 7, this is Houston. Go ahead Houston, this is Gemini 7. This is Houston flight. How long have you been up there now? Let's say it's 139 hours, 5 minutes, 14 and 1/2 seconds. Okay, that's the Latin. I feel like I was born up here. Uh be advised that the count's going very well at the Cape on Gemini 6. The crew is up and healthy and well, ready to go. Gemini 7. You're go for 119-1. Thank you, man. The word from the Cape is we are go. They are go aboard Gemini 7 as they make their silent sweeps around the world on their 111 revolution. The prime pilots for the Gemini 6 flight, Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford, and are now on their way to launch complex 19 to board their spacecraft. The launch of Gemini 6 is scheduled at the beginning of the 118th revolution of Gemini 7. T minus 48 and all still going well with our Gemini 6 countdown here at launch complex 19. We are on to a complete checklist once again and we are counting. 4 to go. Go at 5. We will have ignition at zero and some 3 seconds after ignition the launch vehicle will lift off on the start of the Gemini 6 flight. You're cleared for take off. Roger audio's minus 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Ignition. Shut down Gemini 6. Fuel pressure's low and slowly. Roger Gemini 6, monitor tank pressures. Roger pressure's down to about 32. All tanks are venting. Okay, no problem on these tanks. Negative. Okay, we're just sitting here breathing. This was a rough one for us. We'd been trained sufficiently but this was different than any simulation we ever had. It did prove that man is still better programmed than any computer. Gemini 7 Houston, we were wondering if you saw the ignition at the Cape. We were in perfect position but we never saw the ignition. We were waiting for the lift off. Roger, apparently it was on and off very quickly. We'll keep you informed. It was a great disappointment. We'd made two attempts to launch and still no lift off. Let us know about the recycle as soon as you know. Will you please, Chris? Roger, they're talking Wednesday at the moment but nothing final yet. Very good. Gemini 7 Houston, do you still read us? Sorry to disturb your lunch but we have a message here we think you'd be interested in. We're coming up on a special time here, about 5 seconds. Mark. You have just exceeded the world's man space flight endurance record. 77 Canarvon Cape Town, the thruster firings went very good on GT-6. Roger, that sounds good. Roger, looks like you have company before long. Roger, I hope the booster firing do the same. Yeah, Roger. Mr. Kraft wants to launch at 8:27 Eastern Standard Time. So, some 4 seconds before that, we'll be looking for ignition. The spacecraft battery is on internal power. All quiet on the communications at the present time. How's my mark? 20 seconds. Mark. Go. 5 4 3 2 1 Ignition. Engine start. 47 seconds after the hour. Flight dynamics says the trajectory looks very good. Roger, go. Roll complete. Roger, roll. 70 seconds 5 20 60 seconds 2 minutes our velocity now 3,700 mph. Steering looks good from here, Gemini 6. Right down the line. Looks like a game. All the meters are all zero. Gemini 6, you are go. Go. You heard the man. Go. All right, Kennedy, it's Gemini 7. Roger, we're only getting it. Roger, we saw them coming up. Okay, their orbit is 87 by 140. At Cape Kennedy, the American spacecraft, Gemini 6, has finally succeeded in starting her journey towards a space rendezvous with Gemini 7, whose two astronauts have now been in space since December the 4th. They were actually able to watch the launch while they orbited. We're switching over to 6, flight. Gemini 6, Gemini Capcom, how do you read over? Loud and clear from here. How are the 7 boys doing? Did they go over a while ago? They sure did. They're about 5 minutes ahead of you. Roger. Tell them we'll see them at the next station. All right, Roger. Read you. Landing site. Uh we have a Bermuda vector for you. You're 87 by 140. Uh we're requiring an out-of-plane maneuver and a height adjust. The first maneuver will be a height adjustment required due to a 7 ft per second under speed at insertion. Gemini 6's actual apogee altitude is 140 nautical miles. The required apogee altitude is 146 nautical miles. To correct this condition, the The pilot will perform a height adjustment maneuver at the end of the first orbit using his after firing thrusters. Gemini 6, Houston, you're coming up on 1 minute to the burn. Mark. Starting the burn. We're showing the burn on the ground. Mark, burn complete. Gemini 7 is now here in a 161 nautical mile circular orbit. Gemini 6 is now here 560 miles behind Gemini 7 in an orbit having an apogee of 146 nautical miles and a perigee of 87 nautical miles. In this present orbit, Gemini 6 would catch up with Gemini 7 in approximately 2 hours. To allow the rendezvous to occur as planned, the catch-up rate will be slowed by two maneuvers. The first maneuver will be at second apogee applied in a positive grade direction to raise the perigee to 117 nautical miles. Gemini 7, Houston, the sixth burn is in approximately 10 minutes. I'll be switching to six now and I probably won't be calling you back. All right, I understand, 7 here. We cannot expect both spacecraft to be in the same exactly the same orbital plane. Therefore, at 2 hours and 42 minutes after liftoff, Gemini 6 command pilot Wally Schirra will yaw his spacecraft to the south and execute a plane change maneuver that will place his spacecraft exactly in the same orbit with Gemini 7. Gemini 6, Hawaii Capcom, how you doing up there? Very good. We did the plane change burn, no residuals. The fuel remaining is 75%. Okay. Both spacecraft are now in the same orbital plane. Gemini 6, for the second time, will apply thrust at apogee to circularize his orbit at 140 six nautical miles and to also slow his catch-up rate. At this point in time, Gemini 6 will be 15 miles below Gemini 7 and 140 miles behind. By this point in time, Gemini 6 should be within radar contact of Gemini 7. Uh 6, Hawaii, do you need anything else? Negative. We're just watching the 7 now. Uh Roger, your cohort is doing real fine, also. We can hear him quite well now. I'll give him a call, stand by. 7, Hawaii, Capcom. 7, Hawaii. Your cohort there would like to know if you've heard him call you. We're already talking to Houston, but we can't hear him calling us. Let me have you give it one shout. Hello, Gemini 6, this is 7. How do you read? Roger, we can hear you. Okay, probably in next time around, you'll probably be reading them loud and clear. We're 3 hours 52 minutes into this rendezvous mission. And at the present time, we show the spacecraft moving across the Indian Ocean. There's just over an hour to go now before America's two spacecraft, with our four astronauts on board, can actually meet 180 miles up in darkness over the Pacific Ocean. At 11:25 local time, Gemini 6 spacecraft began its circularization burn. That burn was completed on schedule. The crews also have completed successfully a radar lock-on test. And say again the range. Range was 115.58. All systems are looking good, flight. How are you flat flying that thing? He's just as steady as can be. When the slant range distance between Gemini 6 and Gemini 7 has been reduced to approximately 32 nautical miles, Gemini 6 will initiate the first of a series of terminal phase maneuvers. These maneuvers are accomplished by the command pilot placing the nose of his spacecraft at his target, Gemini 7, and thrusting along the line of sight. There will be two midcourse correction maneuvers, probably here and here. These maneuvers will place him on a trajectory that will be slightly below and in front of Gemini 7. At this point, he will perform a velocity match or braking maneuver that will bring about rendezvous. When he has completely matched the velocity of Gemini 7, he will station keep for several orbits. However, he will not dock. Spacecrafts 7 and 6 are now about 25 miles apart. And as Mr. Kraft just observed, we here on the ground have done all we can in the way of computations. It's up to the crew now. They're on their own. Hey, I think I've got it. Is that spacecraft seven? Negative. The computer says for Gemini seven. Six and seven alive. We'll be standing by if you have anything for us. Okay. I have 4.54 nautical miles. Stand by the break. Break. I have 4.48 nautical miles. 6,863 300 ft directly below them. 190 ft. 120 ft. Holding 120 ft. Ask him what their range is now. About 40 ft. Yeah, we're sitting up here playing big brother. The formation is seven. Everything is go here. Uh roger. Congratulations. That's affirmative. Thank you. It was a lot of fun. Rendezvous and docking are most essential to complete the Apollo lunar mission. Now, on this mission with Gemini seven, we in six came within about a foot of Gemini seven. Shortly after that, Gemini seven maintained station on us as well. The rendezvous and docking are feasible for manned crews. Gemini seven and Gemini six You can hold them where you are for just a little while. We're going to go in real close and try to get all those close-up shots. We're still Gemini six, Joe. Roger. We'd like to you to observe 7 on this roll procedure and let us know if you see any water coming out of 7. Well, I see something now. Could that be the water boiler and that would be the water boiler for me? Right. You know you guys are becoming famous. For rendezvous and doing all those good things. After we completed the rendezvous maneuver, we maintained formation. Actually, we were station keeping for a period of about 5 and 1/2 hours. Now, this included an in-plane fly-around maneuver and an out-of-plane fly-around maneuver. During this period of time, each of us controlled spacecraft 6 for approximately 50% of the maneuvers. We separated from Gemini 7 at 6:00 p.m. Cape time. This was performed by a 9 ft/s retrograde maneuver. We separated to a distance of approximately 20 mi and performed experiments for the next two orbits. The Gemini 6 R and D got cut. All right, Jim. How is your separation going? All right, it's going good. All right. Uh Wally says he's out to about 0.68 mi uh before the first burn, 9 ft/s. The purging is going real well, flight. Finally, we collapsed to where I should say went into a deep sleep at 9:00 p.m. Cape time, having been up since 4:00 a.m. that morning. Good morning, Captain Shirra. Good morning, Chris. You're doing great. Let's put it down on the elevator. Good show down there. Before long we'll be on the boat. All right, we're in coast mode and then we enter the attitude mode. Uh, roger. Give me the drift off Frank again. We'll see you on the beam. Okay, Wally. Let's go to the recovery. It was an excellent splashdown and half an hour later millions of television viewers watched as the captain brought his Gemini ship gently alongside. It was really a treat to come back aboard in style on number three elevator. To have the realization that to accomplish a lunar mission we had to prove endurance and we're still proving it now. And to affect rendezvous. Rendezvous is so important to bring our men back from the surface of the moon and back to the earth and I hope also to number three elevator. Meanwhile, Gemini 7 goes on round and round the earth slowly clocking up its required 206 orbits. Frank, we're moving right along in this suit situation. I would like to get some more specific comments from you at this time. Roger, there's no question in my mind it's the only way to fly these things without pressure suits. Do you have any additional comments regarding use of the suits during the full duration? I'm convinced we can run the whole works without suits. All we need is a suit for re-entry and emergency stored on board somewhere. Uh, roger, we copy. We're 317 hours into the mission, only 13 hours and 35 minutes from retro fire tomorrow morning. The mission is drawing to an end. The uh 76 series of missions was a very fitting climax to a successful year of Gemini flight. Gemini 4 explored extravehicular activity. It also was a start of our build-up of long-duration missions and went 4 days. Gemini 5 in turn went 8 days. We'd been in the water about 10 minutes when we saw a Navy frogman's face in the right window. He plugged in his intercom and his first words were Merry Christmas. The recovery forces were quite fast and I believe in about 26 minutes from splashdown uh we were on board the helicopter. The chief symptom, in fact the only symptom which we noticed was a heaviness of the legs. That's all. The 14-day mission has shown us that man indeed adapts to the space flight environment and his body does not show changes which increase with his increasing exposure to that environment. The additional data allows us to medically commit man to a lunar mission. As we go through these things, the year does sound to be uh quite easy. Actually, there are a number of difficult problems that were encountered and were overcome. Uh some of these required considerable ingenuity. The best example of this was actually the reaction to the difficulty we had in the October launch attempt of Gemini 6. We were able to come up with a new mission. We were able to cycle back into our operation faster than ever before and conducted this very rapid turnaround. This effort on the 76 mission is an example of the American spirit as it exists through the years and is ample evidence that it exists today. Their voyage will be a continuous reminder that the peaceful conquest of space is the only conquest in which modern man can probably and profitably engage. In this struggle, all men are allies, and the only enemy is the hostile environment. The victory over the final enemy will belong not just to Americans, but to the whole world.