Gemini 12
Final crewed Gemini flight demonstrated effective extravehicular activity.
Gemini 12, also known as Gemini XII, was the final crewed mission of NASA's Project Gemini, launching in 1966. It was the tenth crewed Gemini flight (the first two were uncrewed) and the 18th American crewed spaceflight. The mission was led by James A. Lovell, a veteran of Gemini VII, and included rookie astronaut Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, who performed three spacewalks totaling 5 hours and 30 minutes. The crew also completed the program's fifth rendezvous and fourth docking with an Agena target vehicle.
The mission successfully wrapped up the Gemini program by proving that astronauts could work effectively outside their spacecraft, a crucial step for the Apollo program's goal of landing on the Moon by the end of the 1960s. The backup crew consisted of two astronauts, while the support crew included Stuart A. Roosa as Cape CAPCOM and Charles "Pete" Conrad Jr. and William A. Anders as Houston CAPCOMs.
The spacecraft weighed 3,762.1 kilograms, with a perigee of 160.8 kilometers and an apogee of 270.6 kilometers. Its orbit had an inclination of 28.87° and a period of 88.87 minutes. Docking with the Agena occurred on November 12, 1966, at 01:06 UTC, and undocking followed on November 13 at 20:18 UTC. Aldrin's first EVA, a stand-up exercise, began on November 12 at 16:15 UTC and lasted 2 hours and 29 minutes. His second EVA started the next day at 15:34 UTC, running 2 hours and 6 minutes. The third, another stand-up, took place on November 14 from 14:52 to 15:47 UTC, lasting 55 minutes.
The Atlas/Agena target vehicle launched at 2:07:59 p.m. EST on November 11, followed by the Gemini/Titan spacecraft at 3:46:33 p.m. EST—a record 1 hour and 39 minutes between two U.S. orbital launches. All launch systems worked normally during powered flight, but at staging, the first stage oxidizer tank ruptured, similar to an issue on Gemini 10. On Gemini 12, the fuel tank also appeared to rupture, with a white cloud and orange nitrogen tetroxide seen from the spent stage. Another "Green Man" event occurred at SECO, caused by pressure buildup in the second stage's protective skirt.
Earlier Gemini missions had struggled to show that astronauts could work easily outside the spacecraft, due to poor restraints and techniques. For Gemini 12, new restraints were added to the capsule, and underwater t
- Mission
- Gemini 12
- Launch date
- November 11, 1966
- Crew
- James A. Lovell (commander), Edwin 'Buzz' Aldrin (pilot)
- Duration
- 3 days, 22 hours, 34 minutes
- Orbits
- 59
- Mass
- 3,762.1 kilograms
- Splashdown
- November 15, 1966
Lore & Background
Gemini 12 marked a successful conclusion of the Gemini program, achieving the last of its goals by successfully demonstrating that astronauts can effectively work outside of spacecraft. This was instrumental in paving the way for the Apollo program to achieve its goal of landing a man on the Moon by the end of the 1960s. The main purpose of the mission was to find and test new ways to work outside of a spacecraft safely and effectively. Aldrin's two-hour, 20-minute tethered space-walk, during which he photographed star fields, retrieved a micrometeorite collector and did other chores, at last demonstrated the feasibility of extravehicular activity. Two more stand-up EVAs also went smoothly, as did the by-now routine rendezvous and docking with an Agena which was done 'manually' using a sextant as a contingency, as the rendezvous radar remained functional throughout the mission.
Reader's Guide
Gemini 12 was the final flight of the Gemini program and a critical stepping stone to the Apollo Moon landings. Its primary achievement was proving that astronauts could work efficiently outside the spacecraft, a capability essential for lunar surface operations. The mission introduced new restraints and underwater training techniques for spacewalk simulation, which became standard practice. Despite a problem with the Agena booster that canceled a planned orbital boost, the mission successfully completed all other objectives, including rendezvous, docking, and three EVAs. The spacecraft is now on display at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, Illinois.
Did You Know?
- Gemini 12 holds the record for the quickest turnaround between two orbital launches from the United States, at one hour and 39 minutes.
- Aldrin, who had written his PhD on rendezvous, used a sextant to measure the angle between the spacecraft and the Agena when the rendezvous radar failed.
- The mission's patch uses orange and black colors as a link to the flight's original scheduled date close to Halloween.
- Postflight medical examination disclosed no unusual conditions in either astronaut, though both were slightly exhausted and dehydrated.
More in Successful space missions 1-24
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