|
Author
|
Topic: Highest Altitude Pre-Apollo 8?
|
Scott
Member Posts: 3307
From: Houston, TX
Registered: May 2001
|
posted 08-03-2007 09:31 AM
   
There's a question I have (to which I tried in vain to find the answer when searching on the Internet last week). I knew I could spend a couple of hours going through each mission's info, or I could ask the collective expertise here on cS. I chose the latter. 
What is the highest altitude obtained pre-Apollo 8? (either by astronauts or cosmonauts)
Thanks in advance! |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3165
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 08-03-2007 09:34 AM
It was Gemini 11, I believe. Around 850 miles (exact number should be available online). |
Scott
Member Posts: 3307
From: Houston, TX
Registered: May 2001
|
posted 08-03-2007 10:18 AM
Thanks Francis. |
Steve Procter
Member Posts: 1031
From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Oct 2000
|
posted 08-03-2007 11:29 AM
I believe Jim Lovell said something after Apollo 8 TLI something along the lines of 'Tell Conrad he's lost his record'Steve |
Obviousman
Member Posts: 438
From: NSW, Australia
Registered: May 2005
|
posted 08-04-2007 08:50 AM
853 miles, IIRC.
|
Obviousman
Member Posts: 438
From: NSW, Australia
Registered: May 2005
|
posted 08-04-2007 08:54 AM
quote:
At a mission elapsed time of 40 hr 30 min. the GATV multiple-start engine thrusters were fired to raise the orbit of the mated spacecraft to a maximum altitude of 1,372 km for two orbits, setting a manned altitude record that was not broken until Apollo 8 headed for the Moon. The two high-altitude orbits were completed in 3 hr 23 min. after which time the GATV thrusters were fired to return the mated spacecraft to their normal orbital altitude.
http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/G/Gemini_Project.html
|
Obviousman
Member Posts: 438
From: NSW, Australia
Registered: May 2005
|
posted 08-04-2007 09:01 AM
History of Astronautic World RecordsClass : K (Spacecraft)
Category of mission: K-2 (Orbital missions)
Category of spacecraft: Spacecraft with more than one astronaut
General category History of the 'Altitude in elliptical orbit' Record. quote:
Altitude in elliptical orbit : 1 369 kmDate of flight: 15/09/1966
Astronaut(s): Charles CONRAD (USA), Richard F. GORDON
Course/place: Cape Kennedy, FL (USA) Spacecraft:
Gemini 11
|
Scott
Member Posts: 3307
From: Houston, TX
Registered: May 2001
|
posted 08-04-2007 09:02 AM
Great info and links. Thanks everyone. |
advertisement