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posted 06-28-2005 08:43 AM               

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At one stage in 1966, early plans called for GT-XI to be sent circumlunar, but if I recall correctly, the idea was nixed by someone high up because, well frankly, NASA was not confident about going so far away at that time. The mission was called Gemini LEO, and subsequently became the mission boosted to an 850-odd miles (then, a record)by using the docked Gemini-Agena combination.

Does anyone know how serious the LEO mission planning was, or was it just a preliminary idea at the time? I recall that Conrad was all for it.

Henry

(The LEO was an acronym for "Large Earth Orbit", not to be confused with Low Earth Orbit, as that term would become known in the satellite communications game in he 80s/90s.)

[This message has been edited by collectSPACE Admin (edited June 28, 2005).]

Posts: 730
From: Longview, Texas, USA
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 06-30-2005 10:58 PM               

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Information about the circumlunar and lunar Gemini can be found here:
http://www.astronautix.com/craft/gemntaur.htm

and
http://www.astronautix.com/articles/bygemoon.htm

This topic has been raised on this forum in the past and as I recall NASA would have opted for a lunar Gemini flight only if there had been evidence the Soviets could and would try it before Apollo was ready. There were even studies to use Gemini for a lunar landing in which one crew member would climb aboard a small lunar lander and pilot it down to the surface.

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posted 07-03-2005 05:56 PM               

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Thanks for the links!

Henry