[MUSIC] The Gemini program is often referred to as a bridge to the Moon, as it served as the program between the Mercury program and the Apollo Program that resulted in a successful moon landing. The Mercury program resulted in NASA officials realizing there were a significant number of milestones that needed to be achieved, between placing a man in orbit and returning him safely, and landing men on the moon and returning them safely. On January 3rd, 1962, the Gemini program with a space craft that would carry two astronauts, was announced. The Gemini program was conceived after it became evident to NASA officials That an intermediate step was required between project Mercury and the Apollo program. The program was officially designated Gemini on January 3rd, 1962. The major objectives were to subject two men and supporting equipment to long duration flights. A requirement for projected later trips to the Moon or deeper space. To rendezvous and dock with other orbiting vehicles, and to maneuver the docked vehicles in space. Using the propulsion system of the target vehicle for such maneuvers. To demonstrate extravehicular activity, or space walks outside the protection of the spacecraft, and to evaluate the astronaut's ability to perform tasks there. To perfect methods of re-entry and landing of the spacecraft at a pre-selected landing point. And to gain additional information concerning the effects of weightlessness on crew members, and to record the physiological reactions of crew members during long duration flights. The Gemini program consisted of 12 total missions. The last ten, carried astronauts into space. The program was a success and paved the way for the Apollo program. On September 17th, 1962, at the University of Houston's Cullen Auditorium, Director Robert R Gilruth of Manned Spacecraft Center, Introduced the nine men who had been selected for the MSC flight crew training program for Gemini and Apollo flights. From the Air Force were Major Frank Borman and Captains James A McDivitt, Edward H White II, and Thomas P Stafford. The Navy volunteers were Lieutenant Commanders James A Lovell, Jr. John W Young and Lieutenant Charles Conrad Jr.. The two civilians were Elliot M See Jr. and Neil A Armstrong. Gemini 3 was the first crude Earth orbiting spacecraft of the Gemini series. And was launched March 3rd, 1965. It was piloted by astronauts Virgil Gus Grissom, and John Young with the primary objective of demonstrating the crude qualifications of the Gemini space craft, including evaluation of the two man Gemini design. The world wide tracking network, the orbit attitude and maneuver system, the control of re-entry flight path and landing point, space craft systems and space craft recovery. The space craft was an enlargement of the familiar Mercury capsule, 5.8 meters long. Three meters in diameter and about 3,810 kilograms or 8,400 pounds in weight. Engineering changes simplified maintenance and made it more maneuverable for the pilots. The Titan II rocket, more powerful than the Redstone, placed the larger spacecraft into orbit. Status check of all elements of his system. He has received a go from the mission director. We are in a go condition at this point. This is Gemini control. >> Four minutes and counting. >> [NOISE] Counting. This is Gemini control. There's a cross conversation going between Gus Grissom and John Young on the various flight position. Everything in a go condition. The count T minus 1 minute and 20 seconds. >> AFB clear to count down. >> Roger. Count down. We. >> For the Gemini program, a few changes were made to the Kennedy mission control flight control area layout. One change was to upgrade the old trend charts on both sides of the world map to rear projection screens. The facility continued to be used as mission control during the first three flights of the Gemini program. Once the mission control function was moved to a new facility in Houston for Gemini 4, the center's function switched to launch control and tracking. >> Five, four, three, two, one. >> This is Gemini Control. This is Gemini control. The count, t minus 26 minutes and proceeding. At this time, Mission Director Chris Craft has just completed a status check of his flight controllers. Or shortly will in a very few minutes. Everything checking out very well so far. You may have noticed the striping around the spacecraft. This is a slightly different pattern than we've seen in earlier Gemini flights. Those black stripes were added to raise the temperature slightly in that equipment adaptor, which houses most of the major. [NOISE] >> Procedure. >> Go ahead. [NOISE] >> I think I have somebody down there tell us what goes on when you miss your voice checks and things like that but. >> I gave you a t minus 30 minute voice check and we're counting. I don't what more you want me to tell you. [NOISE] >> T minus 25 voice check by AMP. T minus 30 I gave you a check when we picked up the count. >> Okay. [NOISE] >> If we miss the count by two minutes don't get too excited. I'm not excited somebody just say or something like that but >> I already sent you the message on internal power and static firing. Okay [INAUDIBLE] 24 hours on [INAUDIBLE] Before we commence. >> Calm down. You'll get acquisition in 50 minutes. >> Seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, zero. >> Zero. Ignition. >> Lift off. >> And we have lift off. >> Liftoff one four. Two four. >> We have lift off at 24 minutes after the hour. >> Zero, zero, lift off. >> And it's a go program. >> All right, Roger >> Flight ten seconds. >> Rising very nicely. >> [CROSSTALK] Complete. There goes the pits. >> Roger pits. You're on your way Molly Brown. >> In a joking nod to the sinking of his Mercury craft, Grissom named the first Gemini spacecraft Molly Brown after the popular Broadway show, The Unsinkable Molly Brown. NASA publicity officials were unhappy with this name. When Grissom and his pilot, John Young, were ordered to come up with a new one, they offered Titanic. NASA executives gave in and allowed the name Molly Brown, did not use it in any official references. Subsequently and much to the agency's chagrin, on launch Capcom, Gordon Copper gave Gemini III its send off, by telling Grissom and Young, you're on your way, Molly Brown. And, ground controllers used this name throughout the flight. After the safe return of Gemini III, NASA officials announced that new spacecraft would not be named. [MUSIC] At a press conference in July 1964 that James A McDivitt and Edward H White II were announced as the primary crew for the Gemini IV flight, Gemini deputy manager Kenneth Kleinknecht had said one of the crew might open the hatch and stick his head outside during the mission. McDivitt was surprised at how little notice newsmen took of Kleinknecht's statement. However, when the prelaunch press kit of May 21st, 1965, included a discussion of the possibility of a space walk, press took great notice. By the launch on June 3rd, 1,068 news agencies had people at the Manned Space Center to cover the event. This flight was to be controlled from the new space center in Houston. In addition to the space walk, one of the mission's goals was to rendezvous with its booster rocket. This maneuver proved more difficult than anticipated as neither the crew nor the ground based personnel understood the dynamics required to rendezvous with an orbiting structure. To catch something on the ground, one simply moves as quickly as possible in a straight line to the place where the object will be at the right time. That approach does not work in orbit. Adding speed also raises altitude, moving the spacecraft into a higher orbit than its target. The paradoxical result is that the faster moving spacecraft has actually slowed relative to the target since its orbitable period, which is a direct function of its distance from the center of gravity, and it's also increased. As the Gemini IV crew observed, the target seemed to gradually pull in front of and away from the spacecraft. The proper technique is for the spacecraft to reduce its speed, dropping to a lower and thus shorter orbit which will allow it to gain on the target. At the correct moment, a burst of speed lifts the spacecraft to the target's orbit close enough to eliminate virtually all relative motion between them. This was an extremely important lesson to learn as it set the stage for all the successful rendezvous to follow. [MUSIC] >> Gemini IV entered orbit with an insertion velocity of 25,745 feet per second, within 11 feet per second of planned velocity. The apogee of the first orbit was 177.6 statute miles. The perigee, 100.8 statute miles. Command pilot McDivitt, started to work at once, attempting to fly an airplane formation with the second stage of the launch vehicle. The full resources of NASA in Houston were on hand to support Gemini IV. From a new three story building, flight controllers at the Manned Spacecraft Center assumed direct control of the mission for the first time in the space program. The mission director now checked the status of a possible rendezvous. >> Ask him about his track with the launch vehicle. >> Roger >> I have it in sight at this time, it's directly below me about four five feet. >> Roger. >> Everything seemed favorable at that time but as the first orbit progressed the second stage of the launch vehicle drew away. >> Roger we still have the booster. We're out quite a ways from it now and it's taken a little more fuel than we had anticipated. >> To really make a major effort to close this [INAUDIBLE] or to save the fuel. >> The answer was almost immediate from the mission director. >> Might tell him, as far as we're concerned we wanna save the fuel. We're concerned about the lifetime more than we are about matching that booster. >> Okay. >> And, that was it, okay. >> May 28, 1965. Astronaut Edward H White II, pilot for the Gemini Titan IV Prime crew, is pictured during an extravehicular exercise in the Building 4 laboratory at the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston. White is controlling about the yaw axis while translating. He stands on a balanced extravehicular training aircraft which is separated from the level steel floor by a thousandth-inch cushion of air. In his right hand White holds a zero-gravity integral propulsion unit, which is a self-maneuvering device used by an astronaut in zero gravity environments. This condition is simulated in this training exercise. White's spacesuit is pressurized to create a realistic training condition. The simulated umbilical line is floated on air with the aid of 11 small air pads. >> That I give the camera a checkout and take a short series of pictures while I was actually standing in the hatch on the seat waiting for the go from the flight director for the EVA outside the spacecraft. >> So I turned the camera on, and actually I dismounted the camera again, turned it back on, and took a short series. Turned it back off and mounted it again, and I was waiting for the go. It came a little earlier than I had expected, I was expecting to get it over Guyamas. I thought maybe I'd lost track of time out there, that it was going faster than I had anticipated, but as we look back on the flight plan, Chris actually felt we were ready to go over Hawaii. And that since we were going to lose a portion of the nighttime on the other end of the EVA due to the late launch, he decided to let us go over Hawaii. So I got my go a little earlier than I had anticipated. At this time I wanted to be sure that camera was going. We thought it was very important. So I dismounted it again, turned it on, looked at it to be sure it was running and mounted it back up there again. I think if we see this part of the film you'll see there, you'll see the efforts that I was making. This is my first of the gun. I'm trying to maneuver over to my left So I would be in front of Jim's window. I maneuvered approximately down the center line of the spacecraft perhaps favoring just a little on the right. But the gun is actually providing the impulse for my maneuvers. I started now a yaw around to the left with the gun. At this time I knew we had something with the gun because it was actually, providing me an opportunity to control myself where I wanted to go out there. The control was actually what we were trying to demonstrate on our EVA operation. We knew a little bit about the tether dynamics, but we wanted to actually find out how well could a man outside a spacecraft. So I tried to use it very sparingly. I just used it enough to satisfy myself and to make maneuvers so that I saw in my own mind that I could control myself in both pitch, yaw, and translation. This is the type of control that you need to move from point A to point B in space. If you can control your pitch and your yaw and translate fore and aft you can actually go from point A to B. Roll really isn't very important. The roll didn't bother me. I wasn't trying to control myself in roll because it's like our reentry. We don't really care about the roll as long as the pointing direction is accurate. [MUSIC] Okay we're giving it go for EVA at this time. >> Okay. >> The crew started their checklist for EVA but command pilot McDavitt decided not to rush things. He elected to go for EVA on the third revolution. >> Hawaii, Gemini IV. >> Go ahead Gemini IV. >> Next pass around, I don't think we want to try it. >> Roger I'm happy on that next pass around. Tell him we're happy with that. >> Most of the world waited 100 miles below. The crew had completed final preparations. The cabin was depressurized and the hatch open. Coming up on Hawaii, McDivitt reported that he was satisfied and ready to begin EVA. >> [INAUDIBLE] Ready to have me get out? Roger flight we're go. He's got some nice elevated rates which we expected. He's really speeded it up, but he looks great. Let's go. >> Hawaii, Houston, flight? >> Flight away CAPCOM go. >> Tell him we're ready to have him get out when he is. >> Gemini IV, Hawaii CAPCOM. We just had word from Houston. We're ready to have you get out whenever you're ready. >> Okay, we better go now. Is that right? >> Affirmative. >> Okay, we're still doing a little work right here. >> Roger, understand. >> Get his status, Hawaii. Gemini IV [INAUDIBLE] CAPCOM. >> Okay, I'm separating from the spacecraft. >> Okay he's separating from the spacecraft at this time O I. >> Okay, my feet are out. >> His feet are out. >> I think I'm dragging a little bit so I don't want to fire the gun yet. Okay, I'm out. >> Okay, he's out. He's floating free. >> Okay, I put a little roll in, took it right out. >> Very good. >> Am I in your view Jimbo? >> Well you know, I can't see it on >> Don't spin, I'll come over to you. >> [SOUND] Okay, I rolled off, and I'm rolling to the right now. Under my own influence, Looks like a Jim. >> It is, Ed. >> All right. Now I've gone across the spacecraft. I'm coming back down now. I'm under my own control. [SOUND] Okay, I'm coming over. >> You look beautiful! >> I feel like a million dollars! >> Coming back to you. >> I got it. The gun works real good, Jim. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Okay, it got me upside down. Okay, don't fire the first one >> Make that side look pretty. Yep. Okay, I'm right by the [INAUDIBLE] center now. >> Okay, let me get your [INAUDIBLE] now. I already got some tremendous pictures out of you. Let me try to get this [INAUDIBLE] >> Okay, I think I've exhausted my air now. >> Okay, stay right there. I have very good control with it, I just needed more air. >> Okay, standby for a couple seconds all right. >> All right. >> So what did you think? >> CAPCOM it was very easy to maneuver with the gun. The only problem I have is I haven't got enough fuel. I've exhaust the fuel now but I was able to manuever myself outside the spacecraft back. I maneuvered right out back on the dock of the adapter. Jim. Came back into his view. This is the greatest experience I remember. Right now I'm standing on my head, and I'm looking right down. Looks like we're coming up on the coast of California. If I go in a slow rotation to the right, there is absolutely no disorientation associated there. >> One thing about it, when Ed gets out there, and starts wiggling around, it sure makes the spacecraft toughh to control >> Okay, I'm drifting down underneath the spacecraft. There's no difficulty with them, contacting the spacecraft. It's all very soft. Particularly as long as you move nice and slow. I feel very thankful to have the experience to be doing this. I'll bring myself in and put myself out into your view. >> [INAUDIBLE] >> Is he taking pictures? >> Okay, do you want me to maneuver for you now, Ed? >> No, I think you're doing fine. What I'd like to do is get all the way out here and get a picture of the whole spacecraft. I don't seem to be doing that. >> Yeah, I noticed that. You're far enough away. >> No. >> Texas remote your air to ground. California go local. >> I'm coming back down on the space station. Listen, it's all the difference in the world with this gun. When that gun was working I was maneuvering all around. >> Can't figure out the [INAUDIBLE] we're only down to 48% on our O 2. >> That's good. >> [INAUDIBLE] open pressure is about 830. Staying right on. >> Let me get a picture of it. >> [INAUDIBLE] >> Yeah. >> Engines? >> No not now, [INAUDIBLE] >> You got about five minutes. >> Yeah, I will let myself go out now. >> Gemini IV, Houston. >> You know that's the thing about the reference you were talking about, looks like it's to your right. >> The >> Gemini IV, Houston CAPCOM. >> This is Jim? >> The flight director says get back in. >> Okay. Where do we open up? >> I don't know. I'd come over to the left. Why don't you come back in >> Back in? >> Back in. Roger we just hadn't talked to you for awhile here. >> You got about four minutes though >> History will record that command pilot opened the hatch at 2:42 Eastern Standard time. And a little after 3:00 along the Eastern Seaboard, Pilot White had opened up a new frontier for Americans to explore. In 21 1/2 minutes, EVA was completed. >> Another important element of the Gemini IV flight was the careful biomedical monitoring of the crew. This mission was to be four days in duration, longer than any previous mission. The Russians indicating some level of physiological problems on their flights, NASA's medical personnel were extremely concerned about the potential for serious physiological consequences of the Gemini IV mission. [MUSIC] Gemini V was a successful eight day mission during which mission patches were worn for the first time. Astronaut Gordon Cooper was the person who suggested that patches be used to designate missions. So from then on the patches were referred to as Cooper patches. The planned launch of Gemini 6 did not occur, as a booster rocket first ignited but immediately shut down on the launch pad. The mission was intended to include a docking with the Agena spacecraft. However, Eugina failed to reach orbit, so it was decided to launch Gemini 7 and have Gemini 6A rendezvous with it. This was successfully accomplished as Commander Walter M. Shira, Jr. maneuvered his craft to within one foot of Gemini 7. >> Project Gemini, two weeks in space. This morning the launch of Gemini 6, now from the CBS news space center in New York. Walter Cronkite. >> Good morning, everyone, this ought to be our most exciting day in space. Perhaps succeeded only by the very first space flight. Well, this is the day when Sharah and Stafford are scheduled to go up with just 53 minutes from now in Gemini VI To pursue and catch and finally rendezvous with Gemini 7. >> To repeat an earlier announcement we will have a ignition at zero and some 3 seconds after ignition the launch vehicle will lift off. this is the start of the Gemini VI flight. Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One, Zero. [NOISE] We have got to shut down No liftoff, the engines have shut down. >> Any malfunction that would have kept the ship from getting into orbit would have caused those engines to shut down on the pad and something did occur. Immediately after ignition, as you saw, the engines, Engines simply burst once and then shut down. An automatic shutdown- >> Elliot See is putting in a call to seven to advise them that we will not have a liftoff. Frank. We're open to this Roger. We saw it. We saw it line up. We saw it shut down. >> By golly, Gemini VII up there above the Cape, saw what we saw here. Of course at 185 miles distance- >> It sure is Frank. We're hoping that everything's still okay on the ground here and we'll keep you advised. [SOUND] Bob, excuse me, but let's go to Paul Raney here for a second. >> You're cleared for take off. >> Roger, scramble. [INAUDIBLE] [NOISE] >> I forgot the last [INAUDIBLE]. >> Roger. Adios,minus 30 seconds. >> Mark 20 seconds. >> [NOISE] Mark. >> Very good. >> 10, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, ignition. [NOISE] Ignition Gemini 6. >> [NOISE] >> Verified program reset. [NOISE] >> Verify fuel pressure is [INAUDIBLE] >> Roger Gemini 6 so monitor tank pressures. >> Pressure's down to about 32. >> Roger. >> Roger [INAUDIBLE] I'm watching it. >> Okay keep an eye on it. [SOUND] >> We are switching over to [INAUDIBLE], [INAUDIBLE] over to [INAUDIBLE] pressure down to 28, >> Roger 76 all [INAUDIBLE] >> Okay no problem on these tanks? >> Negative. Just for read outs give me a readout on all tanks. >> This is the calm voice of the astronauts as they have that ignition fail. >> [NOISE] problems. >> Roger. [NOISE] >> [INAUDIBLE] packs are [INAUDIBLE] >> Roger. >> How's report? >> Looks good. >> Understand. >> There are no fires. >> Looks like we are getting a read out. >> Copy 20. >> Control? >> 60 be advised, it will be approximately 20 minutes before we get out there. >> Roger. >> I know you guys did your best. >> [NOISE] [NOISE] [INAUDIBLE] Just run the [INAUDIBLE] around. >> This is zero one. >> [NOISE] Let’s keep the neck clear. >> [INAUDIBLE] [NOISE] clear. >> It is [INAUDIBLE] >> Okay can we start with these things because I'm perfectly still I need to stand by for receiving. >> Just standby one. >> We're gonna read out. Higher p state. >> Flights in good, you're good to liftoff. >> We've got all the R's we've got the wrong sphere. [CROSSTALK] >> Roger would you? >> [INAUDIBLE] >> Roger what to advise? >> 19 >> [INAUDIBLE] badge >> Say again? >> [INAUDIBLE] say on one, ten, and two, initial evaluation it’s a possibility a [INAUDIBLE] may have fallen off given system indication. >> On liftoff? >> Roger. >> Okay. >> [NOISE] >> Things look okay here. You can go ahead and [INAUDIBLE] >> Agree. >> [INAUDIBLE] C- we'll rushing in [INAUDIBLE] into the primary. >> We can discuss our situation then. >> Roger. We're still monitoring tank pressures. We see no problems right now. But I guess we ought to stay in a position to abort should we have to. [INAUDIBLE] [NOISE] >> [INAUDIBLE] >> How many go ahead and spill your >> Okay >> Thank you. >> One Be advised. We have a small propellant leak at the base of the erector. We see no problem. >> Very good. What's the overall? [INAUDIBLE] >> We'll bring the erector up and bring you down one way. This is a minor leak. It's just one of our drain lines that fell off. >> Good. Any diagnosis yet? >> Say again. >> Is there any diagnosis of a problem yet? >> Oh, Roger. Looks like one of the tail plugs fell out. >> Roger. [INAUDIBLE] Did you get a [INAUDIBLE] back? >> Roger that. What happened. >> Okay. >> I'd appreciate it. >> Those tail plugs are ready. >> [INAUDIBLE] Be advised We will try to maintain two psi on space fuel. I need to get the DCS from And did he get a >> Talking to us. [INAUDIBLE] >> Roger, we'll standby. >> 76 did you call Houston? >> I did but tell Frank and Jim we still would love to see them. >> They're pretty well convinced. I'm still sitting on a edge. >> I can do before. >> You're right. That's for sure, Chris. Okay you're a good there Chris. Thanks for your help. >> [INAUDIBLE] [NOISE] >> [INAUDIBLE] We'd be looking at an 8:43 am Eastern Standard time lift off, that’s 11 18 13 >> [SOUND] On South Bay. [SOUND] 11 18 13 you gave me? >> No, that doesn't make sense of what we got here. Standby. It's 8:43am Eastern Standard Time. >> Roger. [SOUND] >> Okay. >> Okay we have a little bit of a for you. >> Program >> Houston here now we picked up the conversation between seven and the Canary Islands. By this time seven has reached the Canary's. >> But before they be thankful, Tom, we should make this 8:43 AM. That’s Eastern Standard Time. >> Roger did we actually get a light off? >> I don't think so. [INAUDIBLE] >> That's affirmative, they got a light off today. >> They did huh? >> They got ignition and a whole [INAUDIBLE] afterwards. >> [INAUDIBLE] They got ignition and a whole tail [INAUDIBLE] [INAUDIBLE] moving target vehicle, stand by. >> Roger. [SOUND] [INAUDIBLE] >> Say again. >> Did you get that last remark from [INAUDIBLE]? >> Yes, they said the Gemini VII target was standing by. >> All right, you'll probably target there, from standing by. >> That's affirmative. And friendly target vehicle standing by. Tell him we're still tracking him and back on spacecraft seven. >> [INAUDIBLE] to tell you we're still tracking you and we're right back on spacecraft seven. >> Okay [INAUDIBLE] >> That's right. >> [INAUDIBLE] >> Say again. >> Have they got [INAUDIBLE] >> Negative. They're still in, everything is safe. >> Okay, thanks. >> You probably have [INAUDIBLE] >> Roger. How high did you want the hydrogen pressure on the ground? >> 500, oh on the ground? Standby one. Okay, 225 canaries, what do you have? >> We're reading 240 for a temp. >> [CROSSTALK] >> Do you still have your heaters on or the lighters? >> Oh, no, negative, they're off, they've been off for some time. Okay. [INAUDIBLE] >> 530. >> 5-3-0. Okay. Thank you. >> Five, four, three, two, one. Spaceship. >> The rocket engines of Gemini VI ignite, then immediately shut down. An automatic abort command has halted the launch. No one knows why, and no one knows what to do next. >> [SOUND] Well, okay. Breathing. >> We knew that something had happened, of course. We knew that we had not lifted off. Now they're getting interest because we had conversation. The clock's still running. [LAUGH] How are you doing? We're sitting up here just breathing. They thought we said breeding or something, I couldn't believe it. [LAUGH] >> Okay, we're just sitting here breathing. >> If the rocket explodes with the astronauts on board, they'll be killed. If they eject, they could die in the cloud of deadly fuel. Schirra grabs the jettison ring. There's only one right choice, but which is it? John Stafford, basically, decided that they were not going to eject. Okay, and they held their fire. At the same time, i had a controller in mission control who had similar response completely. He had his finger on the abort switch. And he also decided to hold fire. So this was probably one of the most short term, risky, 100% corrupt positions that we had ever made. They did the right thing there. Absolutely, because I think they saved not only the program at that point in time, they saved themselves. Stayed on the pad and it allowed us to keep the program going. >> The problem was traced to a small cover accidentally left in place over an engine intake. With crew and rockets still intact, NASA could try again. Three days later, it all went just right. [MUSIC] Once in orbit, Wally Schirra flew a perfect rendezvous. >> Hey, I think I've got it. Is that Space Craft 7? >> He gradually eased his spacecraft towards Gemini 7. For over five hours the vehicles flew in tight formation, often Within ten feet of each other. >> We saw them come up at night. And they are almost coming up from beneath us. And we can see the luna jets firing as they made their final approach up to us. It was very, very smooth. I guess all the training paid off, all the testing paid off, and all the ideas of what it would be like, turned out to be correct. Because we could manuever the spacecraft within a couple of feet of each other. The reaction control jets worked perfectly to give us good control of the two vehicles. Essentially that was really what I would call a milestone on the way to the moon. To able to rendezvous, that we did. >> I guess the most fun I had with that mission was, Tom Stafford, an Air Force major then, Naval Academy graduate. Jim Lovell, Navy, I think he was probably a lieutenant commander. I'm a lieutenant commander, I'm a commander, I guess, maybe, I forget. Naval Academy graduate. Frank Borman of Eugene Cernan are West Point graduates. So naturally I had to hold up a sign, beat Army. [LAUGH] Borman's never forgiven me for that. Although, Borman is witty enough and he got back at me. He said, oh look at that sign, it says beat Navy. I pulled the sign down and looked at it. [LAUGH] >> Spacecraft seven and six are now about 25 miles apart. As 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. [INAUDIBLE] >> Will be standing by if you have anything for us. >> Okay, I have Stand by to go. Go. >> [INAUDIBLE] [INAUDIBLE] [SOUND] We already >> When did he take over there? >> Ask him what their range is now? >> [INAUDIBLE] Still here. >> Roger. congratulations. Excellent. >> Thank you. >> Most essential to complete the Apollo Lunar mission. On this mission we're of Gemini seven. Shortly after that, Gemini VII maintained station on us as well. Rendezvous and docking are feasible for manned crews. In addition to being part of the first successful rendezvous between US spacecraft, Gemini VII was also successful in demonstrating that crew members, Frank Borman and Jim Lovell, could function effectively for two weeks in space without debilitating health problems. >> 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 the regular medical checkups with the surgeons on the ground. >> Gemini VII is basically a medical mission. It's the culmination of our efforts to increase our double manned exposure to the space flight environment, ending with a 14 day manned space flight. There were three principal problems left following our four and eight day flights. These were the ability to sleep in a spaceflight environment. Secondly, the response of the heart and blood vessels to the readaptation to the ground-based, or one G environment after being weightless. And lastly, the reduction or decrease in the number of red blood cells that is observed following space flight. >> Jim Lovell had comments that he was looking forward to a good long flight. Attending the breakfast, these astronauts Borman and Lovell with Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford, pilots for the Gemini VI mission which will be scheduled some nine days after the Gemini VII liftoff. >> When I first heard of this plan to rendezvous two spacecraft by launching the second spacecraft from the same pad within nine days, I thought it was next to impossible. >> Ignition. Liftoff. [SOUND] [CROSSTALK] >> Roger, booster. >> Roger, clock start. >> Fuel Pressure running a little high. Roger. >> Roger? Stan? >> How's it looking, guys? >> It's looking good flight. >> Roger. >> Go Fido, slightly low, no problem. >> Roger. Fido, how about you? >> Thanks, it's a go for staging. >> Roger, CAPCOM we're go for staging. >> Staging. >> Roger, staging. >> How's that thrust look, booster? >> That thrust is looking a little high, flight. >> Roger. Okay [INAUDIBLE] status check booster? >> Go. >> Retro? >> Go. >> Vital? >> Go. >> Guidance? Guidance you go? >> Stand by one. Surgeon? >> Go. >> Econ? >> Go. >> GNC? >> Go. >> How do you stand guidance? >> I go, flight. >> Roger, CAPCOM, we're go. >> Early shutdown. >> We have a CICO here, flight. >> Roger. >> Shut down. >> Flight Fido, we have cutoff. Standby. >> Roger Fido. >> Standing by for IBIs. >> IBIs counting over 300 feet per second. >> 72, 95. 72 is two [CROSSTALK]. >> CAPCOM, we're no go. >> Roger, you are no go. No go. >> Retro, you got a time here? >> Roger, flight area Charlie, at 9 plus 20. >> Fall angle on the retro, seven degrees recovery. >> That's seven on the retro [CROSSTALK] >> For area Charlie we'll be rectifying at 9 plus 20. >> Roger flight. >> Can you give me some weather and access times in that area please? >> No swells and your call sign rescue one, the destroyer is below. >> Five, four, three, two, one, retrofire. >> Roger fire one. >> Rocket two. >> This flight, with crew members Neil Armstrong and David Scott is memorable for two reasons. First it achieved the first succesful docking between US spacecraft and an Agena craft. The Gemini capsule and the Agena docked on March 16th, 1966. The second the reason this flight was memorable is because within a short while after docking, the two crafts began to slowly tumble in space. Armstrong undocked the craft, assuming it was the Agena that was having control problems. However, upon undocking, the Gemini craft began to tumble even more quickly, eventually reaching one revolution per second. This tumbling resulted in blurred vision and dizziness in the crew. Eventually Armstrong was able to get the craft under control. It was discovered that a thruster had become stuck. This necessitated they move to a backup maneuverability function and cut the mission short. Gemini safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after a 10 hour and 40 minute flight and the crew were recovered shortly thereafter. >> Okay, we've got a visual on the Agena at 76 miles. >> Roger, understand visual Agena 76 miles. >> Hello, Houston, this is Gemini VIII. We're station on the Agena at about 150 feet. >> Way to go partner. You done it boy, you done a good job. [INAUDIBLE] Boy look at that sucker. >> That's beautiful. >> See the dipole? >> Do I ever? I see everything with that fella. >> Man, that's great. >> Man, that's really slick. >> A bit of all right. >> Okay, first thing we really have to do, platform parallelism, 6:50 to 7:10. And they're giving us the SPC loaded yaw maneuver. It looks like that nominal time. >> So they're gonna give you that time. Now check your little status display please. >> I bet those Lockheed guys are just jumping up and down. >> Yes, tap is on. >> Yeah, oh okay. >> We are looking at the left, or command pilot's window, as the station keeping exercise with Agena begins. Gemini VIII had no difficulty in maneuvering in the vicinity of the Agena. After station keeping for 35 minutes, Command Pilot Armstrong begins to move in closer to Agena preparing his final docking approach. Both vehicles are traveling at approximately 17,500 miles per hour. We are looking at the target docking adapter end of the Agena. The command pilot makes a docking approach by applying very small thrust increases to Gemini VIII. The maximum velocity difference between the two vehicles at docking will be about one foot per second. When the command planet is about two feet from the Agena, he will pause until he gets a go from the Lovell's Victor. The double check has been completed. >> Okay 38, we have solid. You're looking good on the ground. Go ahead and Frank, we're gonna hold off on that test [INAUDIBLE] until [INAUDIBLE] gets done. >> Okay go ahead with your memory [INAUDIBLE]. >> Roger. >> [INAUDIBLE] get out of that? [SOUND] >> [INAUDIBLE] >> The flight we are down. That was it. Two vehicles docked for the first time in space shortly after docking the crew was slightly surprised when Jim Lovell, the spacecraft communicator, checked in with this caution. Go ahead. >> Roger, eight, they're reading you loud and clear. I have some information for you ready to copy. >> Stand by. What kind of information is it? >> If you run into trouble and the >> The attitude control system of the Agena goes wild just send in command 400 to turn it off and take control of the spacecraft. Did you copy that? >> [INAUDIBLE] we understand. >> It was a routine check. You punch four zero zero into the onboard computer. This automatically turns off the attitude control system of the Agena. >> If the problem is Agena control that ends it. Minutes later, Gemini VIII passed out of communications range beyond the island of Madagascar. The crew was preparing to begin a series of docking exercises and the Mason was between stations It had left five dash three and was headed for a six dash three recovery zone. Since we were in the fifth revolution, the retro fire experts were routinely updating their retro fire times. These are usually planned for six revolutions ahead and stored in the on board computer. It was about this time that Jim Lovell almost qualified as the space prophet of the year. For seven hours after liftoff and 27 minutes of normal docking, an excessive yaw and roll motion occurred. The crew punched up 400, but the trouble was not in the Agena Unable to find an immediate answer, Mr. Armstrong undocked. The roll rate continued to build up, reaching about one revolution per second. Struggling to regain control, Mr. Armstrong was forced to fire the re-entry thrusters, and gradually re-asserted control over the spacecraft. Neither crewman experienced any loss of orientation. Gemini never approached a critical structural strain. Once the reentry thrusters are fired there is a possibility of fuel leakage in orbit. Leaking of fuel essential for re-entry, the flight had been highly successful through 27 minutes of docking. But final action rests squarely on the shoulders of this man, the flight director. A decision came quickly. Fuel readings were too low. Abort, that was the first decision. Others follow. >> Gemini 9 astronauts Elliot M. See, Jr. and Charles A. Bassett II were killed when their T-38 jet training plane crashed in rain and fog short of the St. Louis Municipal Airport. The jet, which had been cleared for an instrument landing, was left of center in its approach to the runway, when it turned toward the McDonald Complex, 1,000 feet from the landing strip. It hit the roof of the building where spacecraft numbers 9 and 10 were being housed, bounced into an adjacent courtyard And exploded. They died within 500 feet of the very spacecraft that they were to have flown in orbit. Minutes later, the Gemini Nine backup crew, Thomas P. Stafford, and Eugene A. Sernum, landed safely. The four astronauts were in route to McDonald for two weeks training in the simulator. NASA headquarters announced that Standford and Cernan would fly the Gemini 9 mission on schedule and appointed Allen B. Sheppard, Jr. to head a seven man investigative team. [MUSIC] The remaining four Gemini missions were marked by improved docking hardware, procedures, and several successful space walks. Edward Buzz Aldrin flew on the 12th and final Gemini mission and set a record for the longest space walk, 5 hours and 30 minutes. Incidentally, during the space walk, Aldrin took the first selfie photograph in space. >> This is Earth, as two Earth men saw our planet from 850 miles out in deep space >> Astronaut Richard Gordon, riding a space age saddle, and veteran spaceman Charles Conrad took science way ahead with a program of operations, including a perfect docking with the Agena target vehicle, and brought man to the threshold of a moon landing. Landing. [MUSIC] A major success was the linking of the two vehicles by a back-run tow rope, an operation which Gordon accomplished with complete unconcern for the sometimes sickening spin of the Earth below. [MUSIC] Gordon and Conrad have added an especially valuable contribution to the probing of the universe. But for the moment, Richard Gordon summed up for us all when he said, This old world really looks good from the deck of this carrier and I'll tell you something else, it really looks great from 850 miles up. [MUSIC] Gee whiz, look at that. Horizon. Curved a little bit. And the clouds are way down there. Wonder what the pictures are going to look like. I didn't realize I was pioneering the selfies. >> The vehicle properlled the spacecraft as smoothly as it had in eleven previous flights. And Gemini 12 was headed for an orbit. >> We were docked to the other space craft, Agena. There was a experimenter from Northwestern University. And he wanted pictures taken of ultraviolet stars. >> It was devoted to star photography. >> So we could only take pictures at night. >> The pilot took ultraviolet photographs of the sunrise. >> This camera is Fixed. So Jim Lovell's gonna have to get that thing pointed just right at the right star system. Shut off thrusters. And then I go click. I did that for [INAUDIBLE]. Click. And I take a picture. Then the sun comes up. [MUSIC] During the day pass, I'm looking down at the Astrodome, some of the lakes around Houston. >> A beautiful view. >> So what am I gonna do during the daytime? Look at the camera and hit the button. What for? I don't know. I wonder what I look like. Another claim to fame for Buzz. [LAUGH] [SOUND] >> Howdy Buzz. >> Hey dad! >> How is it going? >> [INAUDIBLE] >> Is that for me? >> What's your name? >> Bart. Bart Sibrel. >> Would you give your name to my assistant? >> Yeah, I've got one for you, one for your lawyer to sue me. >> That's all right. >> I hope you do. I 'd love to go to court and show the window shot. >> I know you'd like to get a lot of attention wouldn't you? >> Well, you're the one getting money for something you didn't do. You're giving a lecture for walking on the moon when you didn't, that's called being a thief. >> [INAUDIBLE] Why don't you just [INAUDIBLE]. >> That's called being a thief. Do you think you can get to Heaven without repenting? Why don't you swear on the bible that you walked on the moon? >> Please. >> Turn it off. >> Why don't you swear on the bible that you walked on the moon. >> Come here. [CROSSTALK] >> This is a hotel, so get out of here. >> We will call the police. Come on in here, we'll call the police. >> You cannot solicit on this property. >> Why don't you swear on the bible that you walked on the moon? >> It doesn't, sir, I have nothing to do with this but you cannot solicit on this property. >> We just paid to rent out the penthouse to shoot up there, so. >> You can't solicit like this on this property. >> All right, well then I'd go through my manager. >> Yeah. >> You gotta keep shooting, man. >> Okay. >> Put it on your shoulder. Don't be shy. >> Come with me, Buzz. >> You really like [INAUDIBLE] don't you? You're the one who said you walked on the moon when you didn't. Calling the kettle black, if ever thought of saying I misrepresented myself? >> Will you get him away from me? >> You're a coward and a liar and a thief. >> The Gemini Program was a great success, moving the American Space Program ahead of the Russians and paving the way for the Apollo Program. There were ten, two-crew member missions between March 1965 and November 1966. With each mission expanding the capabilities of NASA to conduct the type of activities required to send a man to the moon. From improved orbital control, extended space walks, and rendezvous and docking, to demonstrating humans could function for up to two weeks in space and return to Earth reasonably healthy, the Gemini program was a critical step in the development of human space flight.
