Gemini 11

Gemini 11 (officially Gemini XI) was a 1966 manned spaceflight in NASA's Gemini program. It was the 9th manned Gemini flight, the 17th manned American flight and the 25th spaceflight of all time (includes X-15 flights over 100 km).

Mission Insignia
Mission Statistics
Mission:	Gemini XI
Number of Crew Members:	2
Launch:	September 12, 1966 14:42:26.546 UTC Cape Canaveral LC19
Landing:	September 15, 1966 13:59:35 UTC 24.25 N, 70.00 W
Duration:	2 days, 23 hours 17 minutes, 8 seconds
Orbits:	44
Distance:	1,983,565 km

Crew

The crew of Gemini 11 were Charles "Pete" Conrad and Richard Gordon. Conrad had flown once before on Gemini 5 flight; Gordon was on his first flight.

Objectives

Gemini 11 was designed to achieve a first orbit rendezvous and docking with the Agena target vehicle, to accomplish two ExtraVehicular Activity (EVA) tests, to perform docking practice, docked configuration maneuvers, tethered operations, parking of the Agena target vehicle and demonstrate an automatic reentry.

Experiments

The 12 scientific experiments were (1) synergistic effect of zero-g and radiation on white blood cells, (2) synoptic terrain photography, (3) synoptic weather photography, (4) nuclear emulsions, (5) airglow horizon photography, (6) UV astronomical photography, (7) Gemini ion wake measurement, and (8) dim sky photography.

Reentry

The reentry was the first computer-controlled reentry in the US space program. They landed only 4.9 km away from the intended landing site and were recovered by the USS Guam.

Insignia

Capsule Location

The capsule is on display at the California Science Center in Los Angeles, California.

External links

• On The Shoulders of Titans: A History of Project Gemini: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4203/cover.htm
• Spaceflight Mission Patches: http://www.genedorr.com/patches/Intro.html
• " class="external">http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/database/MasterCatalog?sc=1966-081A

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