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Gemini Information
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Gemini VIII
Pad LC-19
Titan-II (8)
Gemini-VIII capsule |
Altitude: 298.7km (161.3 nm)
Inclination: 28.91 degrees
Orbits: 7
Duration: 0 Days, 10 hours, 41 min, 26 seconds
Distance: km |
Primary objective was to rendezvous and dock with Gemini Agena target vehicle
(GATV-5003) launched on 3/16/1966 from Complex 14 (TLV-5302) and conduct EVA operations.
Secondary objectives included: Rendezvous and dock in 4th revolution. Perform
docked-vehicle maneuvers, Evaluate systems and conduct 10 experiments. Spacecraft
weight: 3788kg. GATV-5003 Weight: 8097.
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March 16, 1966. 11:41:02.389. There was a one day delay in launching the spacecraft due
to minor problems with the spacecraft and launch vehicle hardware.
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March 17, 1966. Landing was at 25deg 13.8min North and 136deg 0min East. Pacific
Ocean. Recovered by the USS Mason (crew onboard in 3 hours).
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Gemini VIII successfully docked with Gemini Agena target vehicle GATV-6 hours 34 min
after liftoff. Because of problems with the spacecraft control system, the crew was forced to
undock after approximately 30 min. The spacecraft-target vehicle combination had begun to
encounter increasing yaw and roll rates. The crew regained control of their spacecraft by
using the reentry control system, which prompted an early landing in a secondary landing
area in the Pacific. No EVA was performed. The failure was caused by an electrical short in control system. Docking and re-rendezvous
secondary objectives were not achieved due to the shortened mission.
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