posted 04-23-2010 08:31 PM               

If so, which flights... and which manuals? And where might such information be found? Also, any idea why flying duplicate manuals may have happened?

Thanks for any answers or suggestions.

posted 04-26-2010 03:02 PM               

The flight data file document configuration was never really standardized.

Each mission flew a single copy of the Flight Plan - the detailed timeline on 4 through 9 and a summary version on 11 and 12. They were 8" by 10.5"

There was also a Systems Book, a multi-tabbed standard procedures (i.e. PWRDN) and malfunction procedures checklist. 8" by 10.5"

Gemini 6 and 8 through 12 had a Rendezvous Book that contained about 50 pages of charts and tabulation pages. 8" by 10.5"

The EVA checklists were published in several formats from cue cards to a 5" by 8" book. The source of these were edited versions of of the Flight Plan (Section 2) which wasn't flown on the mission.

Gemini 5 and 7 flew a 5" by 8" Crew Log book but this was later flown as a tabbed section of the Procedures Book.

The Procedures Book contained procedures for all the special tests, Experiments, Water Gun Readings, Planned Landing Area Updates. It is synonymous in some cases with the "Experiments Book". They were generally 5" by 8". The source of these was also Section 2 of the ground copy of the flight plan.

Numerous loose cue cards were also flown, often for EVA and Agena activities.

The Flown Flight Plans for Gemini 3 (Spool-type), 9, and 11 were all sold at auctions in recent years.

• Gemini 3 Ascent/Entry Cards
  
• Gemini 4 EVA Checklist
  
• Gemini 7 Crew Log
  
• Gemini 10 Rendezvous Book
  
• Gemini 11 Procedures Book

I have checked what is in the National Archives (NARA records group #255) and these are not the flown copies (or even copies of the flown copy). There are some "flight ready" backup copies of some material from Gemini 9 and 12.

posted 04-27-2010 03:20 PM               

I didn't quite understand the concern you mentioned about forgeries of such documents however, since, unlike with forged autographed material, any fakes/copies of checklists or manuals wouldn't be worth much without accompanying paperwork to document originality/chain-of-ownership.

posted 04-28-2010 03:12 PM               

The launch and reentry checklists were always duplicated.

I'm not sure if there is a "master parts list" in which one might find all the Gemini part numbers. If we could find that all flown documentation that I have ever seen has a part # CF550XX where the X's are the changing variable depending on the document.

posted 04-29-2010 11:04 AM               

I finally located my Gemini 12 stowage list. It includes a purportedly comprehensive list of all Government Furnished Aerospace Equipment (GFAE) stowed in the spacecraft. I had thought that only one copy of any manual or checklist was carried on the Gemini flights. And at first glance it appears that multiple copies of manuals are listed. But see further remarks below.

Here are the documents listed by Quantity, Part Number, Title, and Package Number (location in the spacecraft):

2/CF 55019-20/Flight Booklet/
2/CF 55019-20/Flight Booklet/28
1 set/CF 55047-9/Flight Data Cards/27
5 sets/CF 55047-9/Flight Data Cards/
3/CF55069-1/Flight Data Book/27,28
/(CF55107-1/Systems Data Book) (Ref.)/

Package numbers 27 and 28 are left-hand and right-hand sidewall stowage pouches. The list offers no explanation for the empty or parenthetical entries. Perhaps these were not stowed but in their operational positions (attached to the panel or sidewall, for example). The referenced Systems Data Book may have been transferred to an astronaut's suit pouch. This would make sense for the stowage list document, which is meant to be a quality control checklist for the spacecraft installation crew.

The quantities shown would not necessarily indicate identical items. I have additional information indicating that the "CF55019 Flight Booklet" and "CF55069 Flight Data Book" define the booklet configurations. Their contents would be determined by Flight Planning. The "-20" simply indicates a Flight Booklet for Spacecraft 12. The "-1" of the Flight Data Book indicated its maximum thickness (0.75"). Different booklets would be distinguished by a letter suffix (A, B, C,...). The Flight Data Cards are similarly configured by CF55047 as a set, with "-9" indicating Gemini 12. Multiple sets would be marked A, B, C, etc.

Some of the Flight Booklets may have been configured as the rendezvous book and the flight plan. Others must have been carried by the astronauts in their suit pouches. So this list only tells part of the story.

posted 04-29-2010 04:46 PM               

This isn't meant as a criticism at all, but the info provided seems to make clear that these questions would have to go into the "we'll never know for sure" category, since what info there is seems both confusing and incomplete, especially since it doesn't answer questions about other Gemini flights or even where such info might definitively be found. And after so many years have passed I doubt even asking those involved in the actual configuration planning would yield accurate information on the subject.