Human Spaceflights

International Flight-No. 20

Gemini 10

USA

Patch Gemini 10 Gemini program patch

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Launch, orbit and landing data

Launch date:  18.07.1966
Launch time:  22:20 UT
Launch site:  Cape Canaveral
Launch pad:  LC-19
Altitude:  764 km
Inclination:  28,85°
Landing date:  21.07.1966
Landing time:  21:07 UT
Landing site:  26° 44,7' N, 71° 57' W

walkout photo

Gemini 10 crew

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alternate crew photo

alternate crew photo

Crew

No.   Surname Given names Job Flight No. Duration Orbits
1 USA  Young  John Watts  CDR 2 2d 22h 46m  43 
2 USA  Collins  Michael  PLT 1 2d 22h 46m  43 

Crew seating arrangement

1  Young
2  Collins
Gemini capsule

Backup Crew

No.   Surname Given names Job
1 USA  Bean  Alan LaVern  CDR
2 USA  Williams  Clifton Curtis "CC"  PLT
Crew Gemini 10 (backup)

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Flight

Launch from Cape Canaveral; landing 850 km east of Florida in the Atlantic Ocean.

The main objectives of this mission were again to dock with the Agena target vehicle and to perform a spacewalk.

Docking with the unmanned Agena target vehicle GATV-10 was successfull, even it was need more fuel than planned. So, planned more docking and redocking maneuvers were not performed. During the docking the GATV-10 primary propulsion system was used to raise the dual spacecraft apogee to 764 km (a new record).

Two EVA's by Collins; the first was a standup-EVA (0h 38m) and Collins began photographing stellar UV radiation. After more 44 hours the Gemini spacecraft separated from the GATV-10, the Gemini used its own thrusters to complete the second rendezvous some three hours later with the GATV-8 target vehicle. After a couple more correction burns they were station keeping 3 metres away from the Agena. Then the second EVA (0h 49m) was performed by Collins. First he retrieved a micro meteorite experiment mounted on the Gemini 10 spacecraft, but he lost it, when it floated out of the cabin during the EVA. He then walked from the Gemini spacecraft to the Agena target vehicle to retrieve the second micrometeorite package left in space all those months. While doing this he lost grip in space walk from Gemini to Agena, tumbled head over heels at end of umbilical around Gemini. Collins needed a second attempt using the hand-held gun to turn back to the Agena, save the package and retrieved it. Returning into the capsule was difficult, because Collins had gotten himself tangled in the umbilical. During this EVA he lost his camera.

Crew performed all in all 14 experiments, including experiments to test the radiation, a navigation experiment and others. The reentry was performed without any problems. The recovery ship was the USS Guadalcanal.

Photos / Drawings

Gemini spacecraft Gemini in Orbit
Gemini 10 Rollout Gemini 10 launch
Gemini control panel GATV-10
Gemini 10 landing  

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Last update on December 14, 2009.

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