Gemini 11

Gemini XI
Gemini XI conducting a tether experiment using the Agena Target Vehicle
Mission type
OperatorNASA
COSPAR ID1966-081A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.02415Edit this on Wikidata
Mission duration2 days, 23 hours, 17 minutes and 9 seconds
Orbits completed44
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftGemini SC11
ManufacturerMcDonnell Aircraft
Launch mass3,798 kg (8,374 lb)
Landing mass1,920 kg (4,230 lb)
Crew
Crew size2
Members
EVAs2
EVA duration2 hours and 41 minutes
Start of mission
Launch dateSeptember 12, 1966, 14:42:26 (1966-09-12UTC14:42:26Z) UTC (9:42:26 am EST)
RocketTitan II GLV
Launch siteCape Kennedy, LC-19
End of mission
Recovered byUSS Guam
Landing dateSeptember 15, 1966, 13:59:35 (1966-09-15UTC13:59:36Z) UTC
Landing siteAtlantic Ocean (24°15′N 70°0′W / 24.250°N 70.000°W / 24.250; -70.000 (Gemini 11 splashdown))
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Perigee altitude298 km (185 mi; 161 nmi)
Apogee altitude1,374 km (854 mi; 742 nmi)
Inclination28.8°
Period101.57 minutes
EpochSeptember 14, 1966[1]
Docking with GATV-5006
Docking dateSeptember 12, 1966, 16:16:00 UTC
Undocking dateSeptember 14, 1966, 16:55:00 UTC
Time docked2 days and 39 minutes

Mission patch

Gordon and Conrad

Gemini 11 (officially Gemini XI)[2] was the ninth crewed spaceflight mission of NASA's Project Gemini, which flew from September 12 to 15, 1966. It was the 17th crewed American flight and the 25th spaceflight to that time (includes X-15 flights over 100 kilometers (54 nmi)). Astronauts Pete Conrad and Dick Gordon performed the first direct-ascent (first orbit) rendezvous with an Agena Target Vehicle, docking with it 1 hour 34 minutes after launch; used the Agena rocket engine to achieve a record high-apogee Earth orbit; and created a small amount of artificial gravity by spinning the two spacecraft connected by a tether. Gordon also performed two extra-vehicular activities for a total of 2 hours 41 minutes.

  1. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "SATCAT". Jonathan's Space Pages. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
  2. ^ Hacker, Barton C.; Grimwood, James M. (September 1974). "Chapter 11 Pillars of Confidence". On the Shoulders of Titans: A History of Project Gemini. NASA History Series. Vol. SP-4203. NASA. p. 239. Archived from the original on 2010-01-13. Retrieved 2013-09-26. With Gemini IV, NASA changed to Roman numerals for Gemini mission designations.