Gemini VI-A

Gemini VI-A

Mission Number: GT-06

15-16 December 1965

Crew:
Walter Schirra [2], Commander
Thomas Stafford [1], Pilot

Backup Crew:
Virgil Grissom, Commander
John Young, Pilot

Launch:
    Location: Cape Kennedy Air Force Station
    Pad: LC-19
    Date: 15 December 1965
    Time: 13:37:26 UTC

Flight:
Mission Duration: 1 days, 1 hours, 51 minutes, 54 seconds
Orbits: 16

Landing:
Date: 16 December 1965
Time: 15:29:20 UTC

Recovery:
Location: Atlantic Ocean (23° 35' N, 67° 50' W)
Vessel: USS Wasp (CVS-18)

Scheduled for 25 October 1965, this mission was originally supposed to rendezvous with an Agena, but when the Agena failed to reach orbit, the mission objective was changed to rendezvous with Gemini VII. Launch was scheduled for December 12. When launch time arrived, the Titan II briefly fired, then abruptly shut down. As the craft settled back onto the pad, Schirra was ready to eject the occupants. In a split second decision, Schirra did not eject, but waited it out. The rocket was safed, and the mission was saved. After a minor repair, launch proceeded on the 15th. The two craft eventually closed to within 1.5 feet of each other.

Gemini VI-A is now located at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City, OK.

Crew

Archived NASA page for Gemini VI-A

Page last modified: 08 April 2024 10:17:38.