Trade.Information

Product Name: Gemini 2

Product Description

This was the second uncrewed Gemini test mission, consisting of a sub-orbital ballistic flight and reentry with the primary objectives being to demonstrate the adequacy of the spacecraft reentry module's heat protection during a maximum heating rate return, the structural integrity of the spacecraft, and the performance of spacecraft systems. Secondary objectives included obtaining test results on communications, cryogenics, fuel cell and reactant supply system, and further qualification of the launch vehicle. Mission Profile The flight was launched successfully from complex 19 at Cape Kennedy at 9:03:59 a.m. EST (14:03:59.861 UT) to a maximum altitude of 171.2 km. The spacecraft was run by an onboard automatic sequencer. At 6 minutes 54 seconds after launch retrorockets were fired and the spacecraft cartwheeled into a reentry attitude. The spacecraft reentered the atmosphere and landed by parachute in the Atlantic Ocean 3419 km southeast of the launch site 18 minutes 16 seconds after launch. The landing was 26 km short of the planned impact point. The spacecraft was successfully recovered by the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Lake Champlain, which was 84 km from the splashdown point, at 15:52 UT (10:52 a.m. EST). All goals were achieved except test results on the fuel cells because the system had failed before liftoff and was turned off. The capsule was in excellent condition and the heat shield and retrorockets functioned as planned. The temperature in the cooling system of the spacecraft was found to be too high