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Author
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Topic: Which Gemini Flight was...
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Aztecdoug
Member Posts: 1405
From: Huntington Beach
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 11-12-2003 06:54 PM
   
Which Gemini flight was the most important? Or, should I even just ask which is your personal favorite? Just curious what people thought? I have been pondering this the previous week myself and never really came to a conclusion.GT-3 First flight
GT-4 First US Spacewalk
GT-5 First long duration flight
GT-6 First Rendevous
GT-7 Long duration record
GT-8 First docking and on and on... just curious what people's thoughts are on this subject? ------------------
Warm Regards Douglas Henry Enjoy yourself and have fun.... it is only a hobby! |
Richard
New Member Posts: 5
From: Morrisonville, New York USA
Registered: Apr 2009
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posted 11-12-2003 07:43 PM
The answer to your question would have to definitely be Gemini 5. (However, this may be because I just recently purchased a flown checklist page from that mission.) |
Tom
Member Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 11-12-2003 08:45 PM
I would have to say Gemini 10.* Rendezvous and docking
* Rendezvous with second Agena target vehicle
* 2 space walks (inc.1 Stand-up EVA)
* Altitude record of 475 miles
* Near pinpoint landing
* Not to mention...flown by 2 of the finest astronauts...Young and Collins |
Rob Sumowski
Member Posts: 466
From: Macon, Georgia
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 11-12-2003 09:42 PM
I'd say Gemini 6, because none of the rest of Gemini's remaining goals or Apollo could have happened if Schirra couldn't prove it could be done. At that point, actual hard-docking (while still plenty dangerous) became more or less a formality. With a feather touch on the controls and fuel to spare, ol' Wally nailed it. |
Aztecdoug
Member Posts: 1405
From: Huntington Beach
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 11-12-2003 10:04 PM
I like the points being made.Gemini 6 for the points mentioned above. Also the photographs taken of the two ships in formation, Santa Claus and Jingle Bells… the no nonsense 1 day long mission that just went up and got the job done then come back right away… I have always been fascinated by Gemini 8 too. First hard dock, the in-flight emergency handled extremely well, two moonwalkers, the alternate landing zone which demonstrated the well coordinated back up recovery plans… Keep your comments coming!
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Warm Regards Douglas Henry Enjoy yourself and have fun.... it is only a hobby! |
spacecraft films
Member Posts: 802
From: Columbus, OH USA
Registered: Jun 2002
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posted 11-12-2003 10:25 PM
This is a very, very difficult question, since so much was accomplished during the entire project, with each mission contributing something worthwhile.I don't think you can exclude the effect that Gemini 12 had on setting the stage for Apollo. Here was a mission on which the rendezvous computer failed, yet Lovell and Aldrin pulled it off, EVA was understood much better (leading to a very ambitious next spacewalk mission - Apollo 9). To have a mission like this setting the stage for Apollo, even with the Apollo 1 fire interupting, gave the team significant confidence and experience moving into some very ambitious missions. I've always felt Lovell and Aldrin pulled that one off with real professionalism. Of course... there are lots of other favorite moments as well... but many have been touched upon. Part of me wishes we were still flying Gemini spacecraft as utility vehicles in space. Something about it was just lovely. Mark |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1512
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 11-12-2003 11:03 PM
I'd have to agree with Tom about Gemini 10. Always my fave.Although the most important to the US may have been Gemini 5 - first time we "bested" the Russians. And they never bested us again in the moon race. Kind of like a D-Day... |
STEVE SMITH
unregistered
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posted 11-12-2003 11:06 PM
Doug, an excellent well thought out list . And kudos to everybody for your points. The Gemini really set the table didn't it?This was very timely to me as I've led several tours lately at Cosmosphere which now feature G10, and G6 (being restored before going to Kirkpatrick in OKC, then to OK Museum of History).The importance of both,and their fine crews is well described in other posts. My favorite-Gemini 4 and the first American EVA by the late Col. Ed White Jr. and well Commanded by Gen James McDivitt.
This is an emotional choice. I was driving cross country from Springfield, MO to Houston TX for my first job out of college-a start of a new, and what has been a wonderful career. As I drove toward Houston, I listended to the radio transmission and reporting of Ed White's EVA (I believe it was just a "spacewalk" and not an EVA then.) I had to pull off of I45 and listen, I was so excited! I was terrified for him, confident he, and we, could do it, and so full of pride. It really crystallized for me what was alredy a keen interest in space, and which would become a life long love. Heers to you Ed Whie, and all like you. |
chet
Member Posts: 1506
From: Beverly Hills, Calif.
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 11-13-2003 02:44 AM
I'd give my nod to Gemini 7; two weeks in
a floating telephone booth - - gotta count for something!-chet |
mark plas
Member Posts: 385
From: the Netherlands
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 11-13-2003 05:52 AM
I have to agree with chet on Gemini 7 .
It proved man could handle 2 weeks in zero-gravity the time needed for a lunar mission.Mark |
John K. Rochester
Member Posts: 1292
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 11-13-2003 07:55 AM
Another vote for Gemini 6.. Ol' Wally keeping his cool with ignition, then shutdown! Pad crews getting GT6 ready to fly so soon after GT7 liftoff. As someone else already said..get up, do the job, come home!!..AHHHH those were the days........Plus it was ALL on TV from beginning to end.. |
spaceuk
Member Posts: 2113
From: Staffs, UK
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 11-13-2003 03:25 PM
GT-4 because of Ed White and his space walk - which was hurriedly brought forward after Leonov hsd 'beaten' US to the first space walk just a few weeks earlier.GT-4's EVAa restored belief in the US manned space program and its 'openness' - especially when the colour photos of Ed's EVA were released - which contrasted markedly with the very blurry images and secrecy that surrounded (at the time) of Voskhod-2 It also demonstrated that a space suit could function in the 'total' environment of space (previously - apart from Leonov walk -suits had only been inside the spacecraft). A function that would be called for on the lunar surface. |
Jake
Member Posts: 464
From: Issaquah, WA U.S.A.
Registered: Jun 2002
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posted 11-17-2003 01:38 PM
I'd have to say that Gemini 11 was the most significant beacuse I have Dick Gordon's post-flight jumpsuit on my wall...!------------------
Jake Schultz - curator,
Newport Way Air Museum (OK, it's just my home) |
BLACKARROW
unregistered
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posted 11-18-2003 08:45 PM
The most important of the 10 Gemini flights? Let me put it this way: in a chain of 10 links, which link is the most important? And which link could you do without? |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1512
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 11-18-2003 09:46 PM
Kudos Blackarrow! You are absolutely right!! |
RichieB16
Member Posts: 552
From: Oregon
Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 11-18-2003 09:51 PM
I have always felt that Gemini 5 was the most important because that was when the USA passed the USSR in flight duration and in a way finally began to take the lead in the space race. Not that much happened on the flight itself, but the US took the lead in the race and thats what really counts. |
#204
Member Posts: 41
From:
Registered: Nov 2003
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posted 11-19-2003 09:25 AM
It was a great program. My favourite flight was Gemini 4. It pushed the envelope with the first American EVA. Also, 4 days in space was unthought of back then. This flight really captured the attention & the imagination of the world. Most important flight; they were all important and necessary steps to the moon, but I think 7/6A were particularly significant(first rendezvous). |
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