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Gemini 6A
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==Objective== [[File:Gemini VI Stafford capsule.jpg|thumb|left|Stafford and Schirra before the pre-launch countdown]] [[File:Atlas-Agena 6 Launch.jpg|thumb|right|135px|The Atlas-Agena launches the Agena Target Vehicle for the intended Gemini 6 rendezvous mission, attempted October 25, 1965 but fails.]] The original Gemini 6 mission, scheduled for launch on October 25, 1965 at 12:41 pm EDT, had a planned mission duration of 46 hours 47 minutes, completing a total of 29 orbits. It was to land in the western Atlantic Ocean south of Bermuda. The mission was to include four dockings with the [[Agena Target Vehicle]]. The first docking was scheduled for five hours and forty minutes into the mission. The second was scheduled for seven hours and forty-five minutes, the third at nine hours and forty minutes, and the fourth and final docking at ten hours and five minutes into the mission. The final undocking would take place at 18 hours and 20 minutes into the mission. At 23 hours and 55 minutes into the mission, while the spacecraft passed over White Sands, New Mexico, the crew was to attempt to observe a laser beam originating from the ground. The retrorockets were scheduled to be fired at 46 hours and 10 minutes into the mission over the Pacific Ocean on the 29th orbit.<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FBVEAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zLAMAAAAIBAJ&dq=orbits%20gemini-6&pg=2041%2C1887474 "Here Is The Condensed Flight Plan For Gemini 6"], ''Williamson, WV Daily News'', Oct 25, 1965</ref> Original mission plans also included the first live television coverage of the recovery of a US spacecraft at sea from the recovery ship, the US aircraft carrier ''Wasp''. The ''Wasp'' was fitted with ground station equipment by [[ITT Corporation|ITT]] to relay live television, via the [[Intelsat I]] (nicknamed the "Early Bird") satellite.<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7J1RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kWwDAAAAIBAJ&dq=carrier%20gemini-6&pg=5351%2C3817722 "Live TV From Wasp For Gemini-6 Flight,"], ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'', Oct 22, 1965</ref> ===Original mission cancelled=== On October 25, 1965, Schirra and Stafford boarded their Gemini 6 craft to prepare for launch. Fifteen minutes later, the unmanned [[Atlas-Agena]] [[Agena target vehicle|target vehicle]] was launched. After a successful burn of the Atlas booster, the Agena's secondary engines fired to separate it from the Atlas. But immediately after the Agena's primary engine fired at the six minute mark in its flight, [[telemetry]] was lost. A catastrophic failure apparently caused the vehicle to explode, as Range Safety was tracking multiple pieces of debris falling into the Atlantic Ocean. After 50 minutes, the Gemini launch was canceled.<ref name=astronautix>[http://www.astronautix.com/flights/gemini6.htm Astronautix]</ref><ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4uE9AAAAIBAJ&sjid=VUgMAAAAIBAJ&dq=gemini-6&pg=6642%2C4220986 "Gemini 6 Space Shot Fails"], ''Glasgow Herald'', Oct 26, 1965</ref> {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+ Gemini 6 Target Vehicle Info |- ! scope="row" | Agena | GATV-5002 |- ! scope="row" | Mass | {{convert|3,261|kg}}, 7800 lbs. |- ! scope="row" | Launch site | LC-14 |- ! scope="row" | Launch date | October 25, 1965 |- ! scope="row" | Launch time | 15:00:04 UTC |- ! scope="row" | Exploded | 15:06:20 UTC |} ===Revised mission=== After reviewing the situation, NASA decided to launch an alternate ''Gemini 6A'' mission, eight days after the launch of [[Gemini 7]], which was scheduled as a 14-day ultra long duration mission in December. Gemini 6A would perform the first rendezvous of two spacecraft in orbit, using 7 as the target, though they would not dock. The crews also discussed the possibility of Stafford performing an EVA from 6A to 7, swapping places with Gemini 7 pilot [[Jim Lovell]], but the commander of Gemini 7, [[Frank Borman]], objected, pointing out that it would require Lovell to wear an uncomfortable EVA suit on a long-duration mission.<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VpAUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-QQEAAAAIBAJ&dq=gemini-6&pg=2131%2C3114713 "Toughest Space Assignment Yet By Gemini, They'll Try It Twice"], ''Ocala Star-Banner'', Oct 29, 1965</ref>
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