NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION WO 1-4155

WASt-lINGTON. D C 20546 TELS W O 3-6915

FOR RELEASE: Wednesday AMs

March 17. 1965
RELEASE NO: 65-81

R PROJECT: GEMINI-TITAN 3

............................. 1-4
E
GENERAL NEWS RELEASE

Primary Objectives.............................
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
5
Secondary Objectives ........................... 6
Mission Description ............................ 7
Flight Data ....................................

S Weather Requirements ...........................

8
8
Countdown...................................... 10
Summary Flight Plan ............................
I;il.unch.........................................
11a
12
In-Flight......................................14
Reentry. Landing. Recovery .....................15

S Abort Modes ....................................

Spacecraft Landing Sequence....................
Manned Space Flight Tracking Network ...........20
Network Responsibility.........................
Network Configuration. Capability,.............25A
Experiments ....................................
1gA
19B
23
26
Reentry Communications........................ 26
Sea Urchin Egg ................................ 28
White Blood Cells ............................. 29
Cardiovascular Effects ........................ 30
Medical Checks ................................ 32
Photography................................... 32
Food Evaluation ............................... 32
Meals ......................................... 34
Gemini Survival Package ........................ 35
Gemini Spacecraft.............................. 37
Gemini Launch Vehicle ..........................39
Gemini Space Suit .............................. 41
Crew Biographies ...............................43
Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom ....................... 43
John W . Young ................................. 45
Walter M . Schirra. Jr .........................
Thomas P . Stafford ............................
46
48
project Officials ..............................5 0
GT-3 Information Mission Organization.. ........~ O A
Launch scheduled no e a r l i e r than March 22. 1965
NEWS WASHINGTON,
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS ANDD.C. 20546
SPACE ADMINISTRATION TELS' W O 2-41
3-6925 55

FOR RELEASE: WEDNESDAY A M ' S

March 17, 1965
RELEASE NO: 65-81

NASA SCHEDULES FIRST

MANNED GEMINI FLIGHT
FROM CAPE KENNEDY

The f i r s t United S t a t e s two-man space f l i g h t i n a

Gemini Spacecraft i s scheduled t o be launched from Cape
Kennedy no e a r l i e r than March 22, t h e National Aeronautics
and Space Administration announced today.

Astronauts V i r g i l I. (Gus) G r i s s o m and John Young make

up t h e crew f o r t h e t h r e e - o r b i t f l i g h t . Astronauts Walter
M. S c h i r r a , Jr., and Thomas P. S t a f f o r d a r e t h e backup crew.
They w i l l r e p l a c e t h e prime crew should e i t h e r member o f t h a t
team become i n e l i g i b l e f o r medical o r o t h e r reasons.

T h i s f i r s t manned f l i g h t i n a Gemini s p a c e c r a f t i s
designated Gemini-Titan 3 o r GT-3 - Gemini f o r the s p a c e c r a f t ,
T i t a n I1 f o r t h e launch v e h i c l e .

A s u c c e s s f u l GT-3 f l i g h t w i l l achieve many s i g n i f i c a n t

f i r s t s f o r United S t a t e s manned space f l i g h t program:

-- The f i r s t maneuvering o r change of o r b i t a l plane by

t h e crew.

-- U s e of a v a r i a b l e l i f t c a p a b i l i t y by t h e crew during
r e e n t r y t o " f l y " t o a s e l e c t e d landing area.
.*
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The s p a c e c r a f t w i l l be launched by a two-stage T i t a n 11,

*
a m o d i f i e d U.S. A i r Force ICBM, i n t o a 100-150 mile o r b i t .
I t ' s o r b i t w i l l t a k e about 90 minutes ( o r b i t a l p e r i o d ) and
range between 33 degrees n o r t h and south of t h e equator.
T o t a l f l i g h t t i m e i s expected t o be about f o u r hours and
50 minutes -- from l i f t - o f f t o landing i n t h e A t l a n t i c Ocean
n e a r Grand Turk I s l a n d i n t h e West I n d i e s .

The f i r s t maneuver w i l l take p l a c e n e a r completion of

t h e f i r s t o r b i t as t h e s p a c e c r a f t passes over Texas. Small
r o c k e t s , c a l l e d t h r u s t e r s , w i l l be f i r e d t o change t h e o r b i t
to n e a r c i r c u l a q a b o u t 100-107 miles. On t h e second o r b i t
t h e t h r u s t e r s w i l l be f i r e d i n a l a t e r a l d i r e c t i o n causing
a s l i g h t s h i f t I n o r b i t a l plane angle. They w i l l be f i r e d i n
a r e t r o d i r e c t i o n a g a i n on t h e t h i r d o r b i t r e s u l t i n g i n an
e l l i p t i c a l o r b i t w i t h a low p o i n t of about 52 miles.

A f t e r f i r i n g t h e r e t r o r o c k e t s i n t h e f r i n g e s of Earth's
atmosphere, t h e a s t r o n a u t s begin t h e i r c o n t r o l l e d r e e n t r y t o
t h e p r e s c r i b e d landing p o i n t and recovery by U.S. Naval f o r c e s .

Three i n - f l i g h t s c i e n t i f i c experiments are planned for

the GT-3 mission. One experiment w i l l t e s t e f f e c t s o f
weightlessness on l i v i n g c e l l s . Another w i l l measure t h e
e f f e c t of weightlessness and r a d i a t i o n on human white blood
cells.
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* A l l miles given are s t a t u t e
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I n a t h i r d experiment, t h e s p a c e c r a f t w i l l e j e c t water
i n t o t h e plasma s h e a t h t h a t surrounds i t during r e - e n t r y
and r a d i o s i g n a l s w i l l be d i r e c t e d through t h e sheath.
Normally, t h i s plasma sheath, an ionized l a y e r o f a i r , causes
r a d i o blackout ,

The study of c a r d i o v a s c u l a r e f f e c t s of space f l i g h t

which began i n P r o j e c t Mercury w i l l be continued.

Space food experiments, a l s o begun i n P r o J e c t Mercury,

w i l l be c a r r i e d o u t on t h e second o r b i t . Two meals, each

c o n t a i n i n g freeze-dry foods and two b i t e - s i z e d items, w i l l

be c a r r i e d on t h e f l i g h t . A water gun device w i l l be used

f o r r e h y d r a t i n g t h e food and drinking.

Gemini i s t h e second phase of America's manned space

f l i g h t program, It w i l l provide experience i n o r b i t a l
maneuvers, permit long d u r a t i o n f l i g h t s l a s t i n g up t o 14 days
and be a v e h i c l e f o r manned s c i e n t i f i c i n v e s t i g a t i o n s i n space,

Gemini i s named a f t e r t h e c o n s t e l l a t i o n containing t h e

twin s t a r s C a s t o r and P o l l u x .

GT-3 f o l l o w s two s u c c e s s f u l unmanned Gemini Launches.

GT-1 was launched i n t o o r b i t Apr, 8, 1964, i n a te,st of
booster and guidance systems and proved s t r u c t u r a l i n t e g r i t y
of the s p a c e c r a f t and booster. GT-2, a s u b - o r b i t a l f l i g h t
Jan. 29, 1965, t e s t e d t h e s p a c e c r a f t a t maximum h e a t i n g rates
and demonstrated structural integrity and systems performance
throughout f l i g h t , r e e n t r y and parachute water landing.
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 -4-

Gemini i s under the d i r e c t i o n of the O f f i c e o f Manned

Space F l i g h t , NASA Headquarters, Washington, Do C , and i s
managed by NASA's Manned Spacecraft Center i n Houston.

Gemini i s a n a t i o n a l space e f f o r t . The p r o j e c t i s

supported by t h e Department of Defense i n such areas as
b o o s t e r development, launch operations, t r a c k i n g and recovery.
(Background information follows)

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GT-3
PRIlvlARY OBTECTIVES
1. Demonstrate manned orbital flight in the Gemini
spacecraft and further qualify spacecraft and launch vehicle
systems f o r future manned missions.

2. Demonstrate and evaluate operations of the world-

wide tracking network with a spacecraft and crew.

3. Evaluate Gemini design and its effects on crew

performance.

4. Demonstrate and evaluate capability to maneuver

the spacecraft in orbit using the Orbital Attitude and
Maneuver System (OAMS) .
5. Demonstrate capability to control the reentry
flight path and the landing point.

6. Evaluate performance of the following spacecraft

systems:
a. Crew station controls and displays
b. Environmental control
C. Gemini space suits
d. Guidance and control
e. Electrical power and sequential
f. Propulsion
Communications and tracking
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h. Pyrotechnics
i. Instrumentation
j. Food, water and waste management
k. Landing and recovery

7. Demonstrate systems checkout, prelaunch and launch

procedures for manned spacecraft.
8. Recover the spacecraft and evaluate recovery systems,
GT-3
SECONDARY ORJECTIVES
1. Evaluate the following spacecraft systems:
a. Astronaut equipment
b. Biomedical instrumentation
C. Personal hygiene

2. Execute the following experiments:

a. Sea urchin egg growth
b. Radiation and zero-g effects on blood
c. Reentry communications

3. Obtain general photographic coverage in orbit,

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M I S S I O N DESCRIPTION

The s p a c e c r a f t w i l l be launched from Pad 19 on a

t r u e azimuth heading of 72 degrees e a s t o f n o r t h ,

Second s t a g e engine c u t o f f w i l l occur about 533 s t a t u t e

m i l e s from Cape Kennedy a t a v e l o c i t y o f about 17,400 m i l e s
p e r hour. Twenty seconds l a t e r , engine t a i l o f f will i n c r e a s e
t h e v e l o c i t y t o about 17,500 mph, a t which time the crew
w i l l s e p a r a t e t h e s p a c e c r a f t from t h e launch v e h i c l e by
f i r i n g t h e OAMS thrusters. This w i l l add 10 f't/sec t o the
v e l o c i t y and w i l l i n s e r t t h e s p a c e c r a f t i n t o a 100-150-mile
elliptical orbit.

A f t e r one o r b i t , a t about one hour, 30 minutes a f t e r

lift-off, t h e forward-firing OAMS thrusters w i l l be f i r e d t o
provide a 66 f t / s e c (45 mph) v e l o c i t y change i n a n in-plane
r e t r o g r a d e a t t i t u d e t o p u t the s p a c e c r a f t i n t o a 100-107-
mile o r b i t .

A t two hours, 20 minutes a f t e r l i f t - o f f , during t h e

second o r b i t , south and n o r t h out-of-plane burns t o t a l l i n g
14 f t / s e c w i l l be performed. Forward-firing t h r u s t e r s w i l l
be used for t h e 12 f t / s e c burn, f o l l o w e d by a 2 f t / s e c burn
of t h e a f t - f i r i n g thrusters.

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FLIGHT DATA
Launch Azimuth -- 72 degrees
Flight Duration -- Approximately 4:50 hours
Initial Orbital Parameters -- 100-150 and 100-107 miles
Reentry Velocity -- About 24,000 ft/sec, 16,450 mph
Reentry Temperature -- Approximately 3000 degrees Fahrenheit
on surface of heat shield
Oxygen -- Primary 15.3 pounds, Secondary 13 pounds
OAMS Fuel -- Approximately 300 pounds
Cabin Environment -- 100 percent oxygen pressurized at 5 psi
Retrorockets -- Each of the four retrorockets produces
approximately 2500 pounds of thrust for
5.5 seconds. Will fire separately
Landing Point -- Atlantic Ocean, about 60 miles from
Grand Turk Island
WEATHER REQUIREMENTS
Recovery capability is based primarily on reports
from recovery force commanders to the recovery task force
commander at the Mission Control Center.

A weather condition which results in an unsatisfactory

recovery condition in a planned landing area will be
considered as the basis for a hold or a scrub. The following
are guidelines only, and conditions along the ground track
will be further evaluated prior to and during the mission.

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Launch Area:
Surface winds - 18 knots with gusts to 25 knots.

Ceiling - 5,000 feet cloud base minimum.

Visibility - 6 miles minimum.

Wave height - 5 feet maximum,

Planned Landing Areas:

Surface winds - 30 knots maximum.
Ceiling - 1,500 feet cloud base minimum.
Visibility - 6 miles minimwn.
Wave height - 8 feet maximum.

Contingency Landing Areas:

Weather and status of contingency recovery forces will
be continually monitored during the countdown and orbital
phases of the mission. Recommendations will be made to the
Mission Director who will make the go-no-go decision based
upon conditions at the time.

Pararescue:
The decision to use pararescue personnel depends upon
weather conditions, surface vessel locations, and the ability
to provide air dropped supplies until the arrival of a surface
vessel. The final decision to jump will be made by the jump-
master. Weather guidelines for pararescue operations are:

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Surface winds - 25 knots maximum.
Ceiling - 1,000 f e e t cloud base minimum.

Visibility - target visible.

Waves - 5 f e e t maximwn, s w e l l s 10 o r 11 f e e t m a x i m u m .

Near t h e end of t h e t h i r d o r b i t , a p r e - r e t r o burn o f 93

ft/sec (63 mph) w i l l be performed w i t h t h e a f t - f i r i n g
t h r u s t e r s t o put the spacecraft i n t o a r e e n t r y e l l i p t i c a l
o r b i t with a p e r i g e e o f 52 miles. This maneuver w i l l be
performed west o f H a w a i i , 1 2 minutes p r i o r t o t h e time t h e
r e t r o r o c k e t s f i r e f o r r e e n t r y i n t o t h e primary landing a r e a
n e a r Grand Turk I s l a n d .

R e t r o f i r e i s planned a t f o u r hours, 33 minutes and

30 seconds a f t e r l i f t - o f f . The s p a c e c r a f t w i l l land about
20 minutes a f t e r r e t r o f i r e .

COUNTDOWN
T minus one day S p a c e c r a f t and launch
v e h i c l e prelaunch s e r v i c i n g
and checks
T minus 420 minutes Begin countdown
T minus 400 minutes S p a c e c r a f t power on
T minus 380 minutes Gemini launch v e h i c l e (GLV)
and s p a c e c r a f t systems Check
T minus 330 minutes s p a c e c r a f t command checks
w i t h Mission Control Center
T minus 258 minutes Awaken crew
T minus 220 minutes Spacecraft/computer memory
loading
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T minus 190 minutes Pad clear for GLV ordnance
and range command checks
T minus 173 minutes Begin sensor placement
and suiting of crew
T minus 160 minutes GLV tanks to launch
pressure
T minus 145 minutes Ground test of launch
program
T minus 100 minutes Crew enters spacecraft
T minus 75 minutes Spacecraft hatch closure.
Dismantle White Room
T minus 35 minutes Erector lowering
T minus 30 minutes Activate all spacecraft
communication links
T minus 20 minutes Spacecraft to internal power
T minus 6 minutes GLV-spacecraft final status
check
T minus 3 minutes Update GLV launch azimuth
and spacecraft computer
T minus 0 Engine start signal
T plus 1.8 seconds Thrust chamber pressure
switch -- calibrated for
77 per cent of rated engine
thrust -- is activated,
starting a two-second timer.
T plus 3.8 seconds Spacecraft umbilicals
release, GLV tiedown bolts
fire
T plus 4 seconds Lift-off
Lift-off plus 2 minutes 36 seconds Staging
LO plus 3 minutes 15 seconds Fairing jettison

LO plus 5 minutes 38 seconds SECO (Second stage engine

cutoff)
Lo plus 5 minutes 58 seconds Separation maneuver. Confirm
orbit.
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GT- 3
SUMMARY FLIGHT PLAN

P I LOT I
Launch

I n s e r t i o n Checklist
Align Platform
Unstow Equipment
T r a j e c t o r y Update
Communications Check
Blood P r e s s u r e
Empty Launch Day Urine Bag
S u i t I n t e g r i t y Check

Blood P r e s s u r e Oral Temp

T/M CalYb

S/C GMT T i m e Hack

T r a j e c t o r y Update
Human Blood I r r a d i a t i o n Exp
Start

RCS Plume Observation

Catch-up Mode Check

Sea Urchin Egg Exp - Once Iuman Blood I r r a d i a t i o n . Exp

stop

GO/NO GO
Update f o r T r a n s l a t i o n No. 1

L
30
 GT- 3
SUMMARY FLIGHT PLAN

u-
c P I LOT
- C o n t r oCOMMAND
i= I
l S/C t o oO,
P I LOT
oO, 0'
:'-
-Translation NO. 1
T r a j e c t o r y Update
-ORBIT 2 Tape Plybk Blood P r e s s u r e
- 1

P l a t f o m Alignment
and Caging Check
- 1 Blood p r e s s u r e
- 50
1 C o n t r o l S/C t o O o , 180°, 0'
-
- 2

---
LOO

---

-
I Horizon Scanner Check

2 C o n t r o l S/C t o 90' Yaw

Y T s l a t i o n a l Systems Check
-- GO NO GO Decision
: T r a j e c t o r y Update

Hor Scan C o n t r o l Mode

C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s Check
Suit Integrity
- 2 Check
-:40
Align Platform 0 High R a t e Check
1 2

-2
:xGO/NO GO D e c i s i o n
. t g e Correlation
1 Report

Oral Temp
2 f Tracking Task Blood P r e s s u r e
00
 - llc -
GT- 3

!
SUMMARY FLIGHT PLAN

U
E- COMMAND P I LOT P I LOT
Tracking Task
SEC Coolant Pump, B Check
C o n t r o l S/C t o oO, o O , 0' PRI Coolant Pump B Check
Oral Temp
Blood P r e s s u r e T r a j e c t o r y Update

1
~O-ORDIT 3
Landing Area-Conditions Update Tape Plybk

o; Platform S t a b i l i z a t i o n
Check

-
-3
30 Backup C 0 2 Sensor Check
T
b
3

3 Sea Urchin Egg Exp

io P r e r e t r o Checklist
- Once
1. C o n t r o l Mode
Characteristics
Check

C o n t r o l S/C t o Oo,

Preretro Checklist
180°, '0

T r a j e c t o r y Update i f
4 required
10

6
b Align Platform Update f o r T r a n s l a t i o n No. 2
i f required
E T r a n s l a t i o n No. 2
Align P l a t f o r m
6
1
0

TR-5 C h e c k l i s t
1
0
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GT- 3
SUMMARY FLIGHT PLAN

COMMAND P I LOT P I LOT

bo TR-30 Checklist
Retrofire
€k&mtro

BBO
Checkliet

Reentry Commdnications Exp

- ORBIT 4
EBO
1OK-

L
00
 - 12 -
Crew safety i s paramount. Gemini represents thousands
of hours of design, modification, fabrication, inspection,
testing and training. Every component or system critical
to crew safety has a redundant (back-up) feature.

Launch
The malfunction detection system (MDS) in the launch
vehicle is the heart of crew safety during the powered phase
of flight -- lift off to second stage shut down.

This system was designed for the Gemini launch vehicle

and had no counterpart in the Titan weapon system. Its
f’unction is to monitor Gemini launch vehicle pulbsystem perform-
ance and warn the crew of a potentially catastrophic malfunction
in time for escape, if necessary. The MDS monitors engine
thrust for both stages, turning rates, propellant tank
pressures, staging, Stage I hydraulic pressure, a spacecraft
switchover command or engine hardover.

During the powered phase of flight there are three modes

for crew escape. These are (1) ejection seats, (2) firing the
retrorockets to separate the spacecraft from the launch vehicle,
then initiating the spacecraft recovery system, (3) normal
spacecraft separation followed by use of the thrusters and
retroroclqets. For malf’unctions dictating retro-abort node
which occur between 15,000 and 70,000 feet, the astronauts
will not initiate abort until aerodynamic pressure has decreased
to the,point where successflrl separation of the spacecraft from
the launch vehicle is assured., more ~
 Escape procedures w i l l be i n i t i a t e d by t h e command
p i l o t following two v a l i d cues t h a t a malfunction has
occurred. The p a r t i c u l a r malfunction and t h e time a t which
i t occurs w i l l determine a b o r t procedures as follows:
1. L i f t - o f f to 15,000 f e e t -- Immediate e , j e c t i o n for all
malfunctions .
2. 15,000 t o 70,000 f e e t -- Delayed r e t r o - a b o r t for
a l l malfunctions .
T h i s a c t i o n c o n s i s t s o f arming abort c i r c u i t s , w a i t i n g

u n t i l aerodynamic p r e s s u r e has decreased, then salvo f i r i n s

t h e f o u r r e t r o r o c k e t s to s e p a r a t e from t h e launch v e h i c l e .
T h i s delay r e q u i r e s approximately i'ive seconds.

3. A f t e r t h e launch v e h i c l e i s above 70,GGO feet,

aerodynamic drag w i l l have decreased to t h e point where no
d e l a y between engine shutdown and r e t r o - a b o r t i s r e q u i r e d Tor
successful separation. Retro-abort w i l l be used u n t i l a
v e l o c i t y o f approximately 20,700 f t / s e c (14,100 mph) i s
achieved. For r a p i d malfunctions, r e t r o - a b o r t will be i n i t i a t e d
immediately a f t e r r e c e i p t of two v a l i d cues. For slow
malfunctions, r e t r o - a b o r t w i l l be i n i t i a t e d a t t h e next occurring
fixed t i m e i n o r d e r to land near pre-positioned recovery v e s s e l s .

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4. For velocities exceeding 20,700 ft/sec, but less

than orbital velocity minus 300 ft/sec, the normal spacecraft
separation abort sequence isused for all malfunctions.
The most probable cause of abort at this time would be'early
shutdown o f the booster due to h e 1 depletion. Also, abort
may be requested by ground monitors if the trajectory exceeds
acceptable limits. The general abort plan in this flight
regime is to separate from the launch vehicle, assume retro-
attitude, insert landing area parameters in the spacecraft
computer, retrofire, and descend to a planned recovery area.

In-Flight
There are no single point failures which would jeopardize
crew safety during in-flight operations. A l l systems and
subsystems have redundant features or there is an alternate
mode .
The Environmental Control System (ECS) controls suit and
cabin atmosphere, crew and spacecraft equipment temperatures
and provides drinking water and a means of disposing of waste
water.

The spacesuit itself is a redundant system. Should cabin

pressure fail, the spacesuit provides life support.

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It i s a f u l l p r e s s u r e s u i t which works i n conjunction
w i t h t h e ECS. Gaseous oxygen i s d i s t r i b u t e d through t h e s u i t
v e n t i l a t i o n system f o r cooling and r e s p i r a t i o n and p r o v i s i o n s
allow t h e a s t r o n a u t t o take i n d r i n k i n g water while i n a hard
s u i t ( p r e s s u r i z e d ) condition.

A 100 p e r c e n t oxygen environment a t 5.0 psia i n a

p r e s s u r i z e d cabin o r 3.7 p s i a i n an unpressurized cabin i s

provided i n s p a c e s u i t by t h e ECS. Additional oxygen i s
a v a i l a b l e from tanks i n t h e r e e n t r y module i n case o f emergency
and f o r use during r e e n t r y .

I n event t h e f l i g h t must be terminated before mission

completion, t h e Gemini propulsion systems w i l l permit a
c o n t r o l l e d landing i n a contingency recovery a r e a .

Reentry, Landing and Recovery

The Reentry Control System (RCS) c o n t r o l s t h e s p a c e c r a f t
a t t i t u d e during r e t r o r o c k e t f i r i n g and reentry. Two complete
and independent systems provide 100 p e r c e n t redundancy. The
four retrorockets a r e wired with dual i g n i t e r s .

The O r b i t A t t i t u d e and Maneuver System (OAMS) s e r v e s as

a redundant s a f e t y f e a t u r e should t h e r e t r o r o c k e t s f a i l t o
fire, &$ case o f r e t r o r o c k e t f a i l u r e t h e OAMS w i l l have been

used t o lower t h e o r b i t t o the p o i n t where g r a v i t y and atmos-

drag would cause s p a c e c r a f t r e e n t r y .
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The OAMS is normally used to perform translation
maneuvers along three axes of the spacecraft and provide
attitude control during orbital phases of the mission.

In GT-3, should the retrorockets fail, reentry will occur

near Ascension Island in the South Atlantic.

Parachutes are used for descent following spacecraft

reentry. The crew has an excellent view of parachute
deplpyment through the Spacecraft windows. If there is a
parachute malfunction the crew will eject themselves from the
spacecraft and use their personal chutes for landing.
Survival equipment is carried on the backs of the ejection
seats and remains attached to the astronauts until they land.

Recovery forces will be provided by the military services

and during mission time will be under the operational control
of the Department of Defense Manager for Manned Space Flight
Support Operations.

Planned and contingency landing areas have been established.

Planned areas are those where the probability of landing is
sufficiently high to justify pre-positioning of recovery
forces for support and recovery of crew and spacecraft within
given access times.
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 - 17 -
Contingency areas a r e a l l o t h e r areas along t h e ground
t r a c k where the s p a c e c r a f t could p o s s i b v land, The p r o b a b i l i t y
of landing i n a contingency area i s s u f f i c i e n t l y low t h a t
snecial s e a r c h and rescue techniques w i l l provide adequate
recovery support ,

There a r e f o u r types o f planned landing areas:

1, Primary Landing Area -- Landing w i l l occur w i t h

normal t e r m i n a t i o n o f the mission a f t e r three o r b i t s .
This a r e a i s i n the A t l a n t i c Ocean, o f f Grand Turk Island i n
t h e West I n d l e s , approximately 805 m i l e s s o u t h e a s t of Cape
Kennedy .
2. Secondary Landing Areas -- i n A t l a n t i c Ocean where
a landing would occur i f it i s d e s i r a b l e t o terminate t h e
mission a f t e r the f i r s t o r second o r b i t f o r any cause, Ships
and a i r c r a f t w i l l be s t a t i o n e d t o provide support, Aircraft
w i l l be a b l e t o drop pararescue personnel and f l o t a t i o n
equipment w i t h i n one hour a f t e r s p a c e c r a f t landing.

3, Launch Abort Landing Areas -- Along t h e launch ground

t r a c k between F l o r i d a and A f r i c a where landings would occur
following a b o r t s above 45,000 f e e t and before o r b i t a l in-
sertion.

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 - 18 -
Surface s h i p s w i t h medical personnel and r e t r i e v a l
equipment, and search and rescue a i r p l a n e s w i t h pararescue
personnel, f l o t a t i o n equipment and e l e c t r o n i c search c a p a b i l i t y
w i l l be s t a t i o n e d i n t h i s a r e a before launch. A f t e r t h e success-

f u l i n s e r t i o n o f t h e s p a c e c r a f t i n t o o r b i t , some o f t h e s h i p s
and planes w i l l deploy t o secondary areas to provide support
on a l a t e r o r b i t , and t h e remainder w i l l r e t u r n t o home
s t a ti ons .
4, Launch S i t e Landing Area -- Landing w i l l occur
following an abort during countdown, launch and e a r l y
powered f l i g h t i n which e j e c t i o n seats are used. It i n c l u d e s
an a r e a of approximately 26 m i l e s seaward and t h r e e m i l e s
toward t h e Banana River from Pad 19. I t s major axis i s
o r i e n t e d along the launch azimuth.

A s p e c i a l i z e d recovery f o r c e of land v e h i c l e s , amphibious

c r a f t , s h i p s and boats, a i r p l a n e s and h e l i c o p t e r s w i l l be

s t a t i o n e d i n t h i s area from t h e t i m e t h e a s t r o n a u t s e n t e r t h e
s p a c e c r a f t u n t i l l i f t - o f f plus f i v e minutes.

Recovery a c c e s s time v a r i e s from 0 minutes f o r a water

landing t o 10 minutes f o r a land landing. The a s t r o n a u t s
w i l l be taken t o t h e P a t r i c k A i r Force Base h o s p i t a l f o r
examinations a f t e r pickup.
c

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 - 19 -
Contingency Landing Areas:

Search and r e s c u e a i r c r a f t equipped w i t h e l e c t r o n i c

search equipment, pararescue men and f l o t a t i o n equipment
w i l l be staged along t h e ground and sea t r a c k s o that t h e
s p a c e c r a f t w i l l be l o c a t e d and a s s i s t a n c e given t o the
a s t r o n a u t s w i t h i n 18 hours a f t e r t h e recovery f o r c e s a r e
n o t i f i e d of t h e probable landing p o s i t i o n .

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 NASA-S-65-2333

ABORT MODES

SEPARATION USING MANEUVER

ENGINES TOUCHDOWN CONTROL
THRU USE OF:
1 ) OAMS
2) RETROGRADE ROCKETS
3 ) LIFT MODULATION RETROGRADE ADAPTER
T
V / V R 0.8 A

TITAN THRUST
TERMINATED REENTRY MODULE
I
PRIOR TO
I-'
SEPARATION \o
P,
MODE 11 I

IMED1ATE
SEPARATION

DROGUE DEPLOYMENT

DEPLOYMENT
(01:40) ALTITUDE
 SPACECRAFT LANDING SEQUENCE
-DROGUE CHUTE DEPLOY AT 50,000 FT.

PILOT CHUTE DEPLOY AT 10,600 FT.

R E N D E Z V O U S & RECOVERY SECTION SEPARATION

MAIN CHUTE DEPLOY (REEFED)

/-
I

FIGURE 2.9-2
SPACECRAFT AT SINGLE POINT SUSPENSION 1
SPACECRAFT IN L A N D I N G POSITION - 2-16-65
 - 20 -
Manned Space F l i g h t Tracking Network

Within weeks a f t e r t h e l a s t manned Mercury mission

(MA-9) i n May 1963, work began on t h e $56-million program t o
reshape t h e network for Gemini's needs. Tracking network
requirements for Gemini missions were q u i t e d i f f e r e n t f r o m
and more demanding than those for Mercury.

Mercury flew one man i n one capsule, t h e network was

b u i l t w i t h e x i s t i n g or " o f f - t h e - s h e l f " equipment and the
s p a c e c r a f t t r a v e l l e d i n a f i x e d o r b i t a l path.

Gemini involves n o t only a two-man capsule but, on

rendezvous missions, an Agena t a r g e t v e h i c l e ; imposing a
d u a l t r a c k i n g requirement on t h e s t a t i o n s . Moreover, Gemini
a s t r o n a u t s w i l l be a b l e t o e x e r c i s e considerable c o n t r o l over
t h e i r o r b i t a l p a t h and w i l l , i n long d u r a t i o n missions, s u b j e c t
a i r b o r n e and ground systems to tremendous r e l i a b i l i t y s t r a i n s .
I n terms o f information t o be handled t h e g e a r used i n t h e
Gemini network w i l l be asked t o absorb some 40 times t h e amount
generated by Mercury. Gemini capsule measurements o f 275 t e l e m e t r y
items alone are t h r e e times those o f Mercury.

An i n d u s t r y team (comprised of ITT, Canoga, Bendix, E l e c t r o -

Mechanical Research, RCA, IBM, AT&T, C o l l i n s Radio, Radiation, Inc.,
and UNIVAC) helped p u t t h e Gemini n e t ''on l i n e . " By t h e s p r i n g
o f 1964 t h e equipments were i n s t a l l e d , s t a t i o n s t a f f s were t r a i n e d
and up t o s t r e n g t h and t h e network was e x e r c i s e d by t h e Saturn I SA-6,
GT-1, and Centaur AC-3 missions.
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 - 21 -

Some new equipment has been installed, some old equipment

modified, a few stations have been dropped from the network,
a few added. The most basic change in the network is its
language. It has changed from an analog system to a digital
system to acquire a data handling capability, a speed and
precision which has already out-distanced Mercury's best.

The Manned Space Flight Network f o r Gemini is composed

of tracking and data acquisition facilities around the world,
a Mission Control Center at Cape Kennedy and a computing and
communications center at Goddard Space Flight Center, Green-
belt, Md. (The Mission Control Center at Houston, Tex.,
when completed, will be used for many of the flight control
and computing functions presently performed at'dze Mission
Control Center, Cape Kennedy, and Goddard Space Flight
Center )

The basic network consists of seven primary land sites;

two ships, the Rose Knot Victory and Coastal Sentry Quebec;
six additional land stations; and the computing/comnications
and c o n t r o l centers.

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 - 22 -
The l o c a t i o n s of t h e land s t a t i o n s a r e as follows:
Primary S t a t i o n s Additional S t a t i o n s

Cape Kennedy, F l a , , and down- Kano, Nigeria

range A i r Force E a s t e r n T e s t *Madagascar (Tananarive)

Range s i t e s .
Bermuda Canton I s l a n d

Grand Canary I s l a n d P o i n t Arguello, C a l i f .

"Carnarvon, Australia White Sands, N , M.

Hawaii E g l i n AFB, F l a .

Guaymas, Mexico
Corpus C h r i s t i , Tex.
Two Ships:. The Rose Knot
and Coastal Sentry

Other t r a c k i n g and data a c q u i s i t i o n f a c i l i t i e s , such

as r e l a y a i r c r a f t , i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n s h i p s , communications, r e l a y
stations, etc., w i l l be c a l l e d up as r e q u i r e d and i n t e g r a t e d
i n t o t h e b a s i c Network. Also considered p a r t of t h e network
i s t h e Network Engineering and Training Center a t Wallops
Island, Virginia.
* The s t a t i o n a t Muchea, A u s t r a l i a , has been d e a c t i v a t e d as
a r e s u l t of t h e new s t a t i o n a t Carnarvon. Also t h e Zanzibar
s t a t i o n was removed and Tananarive, a STADAN s t a t i o n , i s
supporting i n its place.

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 - 23 -
Network Responsibility
Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC). The MSC has the overall
management resbonsibility of the Gemini program. The direction
and mission control of the Network immediately preceding and
during a mission simulation or an actual mission is the
responsibility of the MSC.

Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). NASA has centralized

the responsibility for the planning, implementation, and
technical operations of manned space flight tracking and
data acquisition at the Goddard Space Flight Center. Hence,
the GSFC has the responsibility for the technical operation
of the Network f o r Gemini. Technical operation is defined as
the operation, maintenance, modification, and augmentation of
tracking and data acquisition facilities to function as an
instrumentation network in response to mission requirements.
About 370 persons directly support the network at Goddard.

Weapons Research Establishment(WRE). The WRE, Department

of Supply, Commonwealth of Australia, is responsible f o r the
maintenance and operation of the Network stations in Australia.
Contractual arrangements and agreements define this cooperative
effort.

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 - 24 -
Department of Defense (DOD). The DOD i s r e s p o n s i b l e
f o r t h e maintenance a n d a p e r a t i o n a l c o n t r o l o f those DOD
a s s e t s and f a c i l i t i e s r e q u i r e d t o support P r o j e c t Gemini.
These i n c l u d e network s t a t i o n s a t t h e E a s t e r n T e s t Range,
Western T e s t Range, and t h e A i r Proving Ground Center,

NASCOM. The e n t i r e network i s supported by t h e NASA

Communications Network. This Division, a Goddard r e s p o n s i b i l i t y ,
i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t and o p e r a t i o n of t h e
world-wide ground communications network t h a t provides
tdkthe voice, and data l i n k s between t h e s t a t i o n s and
c o n t r o l c e n t e r s f o r t h e network.

It links 89 s t a t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g 34 overseas p o i n t s , with

message, voice and data communications. I t s c i r c u i t s and
t e r m i n a l s span 100,000 r o u t e m i l e s and 5OO,OOO c i r c u i t miles.

Also part of NASCOM i s t h e voice communication n e t .

A s o p h i s t i c a t e d switchboard system, w i t h m u l t i p l e dual-

o p e r a t i n g consoles, e n a b l e s one o p e r a t o r t o devote f’ull
a t t e n t i o n t o any s p e c i a l mission conferences, This system i s
c a l l e d SCAMA I1 ( S t a t i o n Conferencing and Monitoring
Arrangemeqt). SCAMA I1 can now handle 100 l i n e s and can
u l t i m a t e l y be expanded t o handle 220 l i n e s . Both p o i n t -
t o - p o i n t connections and conference arrangements are p o s s i b l e .

A l l l i n e s can be connected i n t o one conference w i t h o u t l o s s o f

q u a l i t y . The S C m o p e r a t o r can add c o n f e r e e s o r remove them.
He a l s o c o n t r o l 3 which of the conferees can talk filch cm
T i s t e n only. more- -
 - 25 -

The SCAMA c u r r e n t l y has 10 times t h e c a p a b i l i t y of t h e

network used f o r Mercury.

One of t h e most c r i t i c a l f u n c t i o n s t h e world-wide network

must perform i s t h a t of o b t a i n i n g data and making high-speed
near-real-time computations. During a f l i g h t , the t r a c k i n g
data from the Manned Space F l i g h t Network s t a t i o n s a r e sent
v i a ground communications to the Goddard Space F l i g h t Center,
f o r processing. The development o f an extensive computer

program was r e q u i r e d t o handle the t r a c k i n g data and t o

make c r i t i c a l computations f o r t h e so-called "go or no-go"
and r e t r o f i r e and r e e n t r y d e c i s i o n w i t h i n m i l l i s e c o n d s of
t r a c k i n g measurements. A t t h e Goddard Computing Center, t h r e e

IBM 7094 computers a r e i n s t a l l e d . Two operate i n p a r a l l e l

t o a c c e p t p o s i t i o n data i n d i g i t a l form d i r e c t l y from the
s t a t i o n s and perform computations for each of the s e p a r a t e
f l i g h t phases: the launch phase, the o r b i t a l phase, and
t h e recovery phase. The o t h e r s e r v e s as a backup,

The Computing Center a l s o houses various d i s p l a y s and

p l o t board p r e s e n t a t i o n s for v i s u a l i n d i c a t i o n o f capsule
l o c a t i o n , v e l o c i t y , and s t a t u s of c e r t a i n c r i t i c a l capsule
systems.

The number o f people a t Goddard, a t t h e s t a t i o n s and a t

o t h e r support groups such as t h e t r a i n i n g c e n t e r and a l o g i s t i c s
d e p o t , t o t a l s some 1500 personnel f o r the e n t i r e network.
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 - 25 -

Voice Communications

Remote Air to Ground

Voice Communications

Air to Ground
Voice Communications

F1 ight Controller
X

X
XXI
Manned

High Speed Radar

Data xx

Telemetry Communica-
tions X x x xx

RF Command x x x
Down Range Up Link X

Digital Command
X X X X
System
Gemini Launch
Vehicle Command
-
On Site Data
X X X X
Processor (1218)

Telemetry Real Time

Display X X x

Telemetry Receiver
& Recorder

Acquisition Aid
X

X
xx
xx
xx
X X
1
Ixx
x
-
xx
xx
~

I
C-Band Radar X X

I
 - 26 -
EXPERIMENTS
NASA has scheduled a series o f scientific, biological
and technological experiments for Project Gemini. These
were first undertaken in Project Mercury and involve
experiments submitted by NASA, the Department of Defense and
the scientific community.

Reentry Communications

An object reentering the Earth's atmosphere from space

generates extremely high temperatures. These temperatures
ionize the air and create a plasma sheath which surrounds
the object and effectively eliminates radio communications with
it. Project Mercury manned space flights suffered l o s s of
telemetry and voice communications during reentry.

Research has developed a method for restoring radio

communications during this period. It has been determined
that injecting fluid into the Lonized plasma will decrease
the amount of ionization to a level where communications are
possible. The technique has been successful for objects with
a maximum nose diameter of eight inches and at velocities up
to approximately 18,000 feet per second (12,270 mph). This
experiment is designed to establish whether the same technique
can be applied to a large, blunt, high-velocity vehicle. The
experiment was designed by the NASA Langley Research Center,
Hampton, Va. and I s sponsored by the NASA Office of Advanced
Research and Technology. There are three experimenters, The0
Sims, W.F. Cuddihy, and L. C. Schroeder, all of Langley.
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 - 27 -
The GT-3 f l i g h t o f f e r s an opportunity f o r an engineering
experiment under very p r a c t i c a l c o n d i t i o n s .

During the Gemini r e e n t r y , water w i l l be i n j e c t e d

i n extremely b r i e f , timed p u l s e s a t d i f f e r e n t flow rates
i n t o the ionized plasma sheath. S i g n a l l e v e l s received
w i l l be monitored and recorded f o r use i n e v a l u a t i n g t h e
e f f e c t i v e n e s s of t h e d i f f e r e n t flow rates. For purposes
of t h e experiment, t e l e m e t r y s i g n a l measurements w i l l be
s u f f i c i e n t , and t h e r e w i l l be no attempt t o r e s t o r e a s t r o n a u t
voice channel communications on t h i s f l i g h t .

The experiment c o n s i s t s of a water expulsion system

designed t o f i t on t h e i n s i d e s u r f a c e of t h e s p a c e c r a f t ' s
r i g h t main landing g e a r door. The system i s completely s e l f -
contained except for t h e experiment a c t i v a t i o n switch i n s i d e
t h e cabin. T o t a l weight of t h e equipment s e r v i c e d f o r f l i g h t
i s approximately 85 pounds.

A s t h e s p a c e c r a f t r e e n t e r s t h e E a r t h ' s atmosphere,
the communications blackout w i l l begin a t approximately
3OO,OOO feet. A t a s p e c i f i e d time a f t e r r e t r o - f i r e the
p i l o t (John Young) w i l l f l i c k a switch t o s t a r t the experiment.

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 - 28 -
The switch w i l l open a solenoid shut-off valve and
a l l o w n i t r o g e n gas p r e s s u r i z a t i o n of the water s t o r a g e tank.
It w i l l a l s o s t a r t t h e mechanically run i n J e c t i o n sequence
timer. This w i l l a c t i v a t e the i n j e c t i o n nozzle solenoid
valves a t t h e i r programmed times t o allow i n j e c t i o n of' viater
i n t o t h e s p a c e c r a f t flow f i e l d . The water supply w i l l be
exhausted i n approximately 150 seconds.

E f f e c t s of Zero Gravity on the Growth of Sea Urchin 3ggs

This experiment i s designed t o explore the p o s s i b i l i t y
of t h e e x i s t e n c e o f a g r a v i t a t i o n a l f i e l d e f f e c t on c e l l a
exposed to low g r a v i t y c o n d i t i o n s . C e l l u l a r e f f e c t s are
more e a s i l y d e t e c t a b l e i n simple c e l l systems, and t h i s
experiment w i l l i n v e s t i g a t e zero-gravity e f f e c t s o n sea
u r c h i n eggs during s e n s i t i v e stages o f development, such a s
f e r t i l i z a t i o n and c e l l d i v i s i o n . For comparison, a s f x i l a r
s e r i e s o f c o n t r o l samples w i l l be developed simultaneously a t
t h e launch s i t e .

The experiment c o n s i s t s of a metal c y l i n d e r containing

e i g h t s e p a r a t e samples o f sea u r c h i n eggs, sperm, and a
fixative solution. The capsule i s mounted i n s i d e t h e cabin
on t h e l e f t hatch.

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 - 29 -
A t designated times, t h e eggs and t h e sperm w i l l be

u n i t e d t o s t a r t t h e f e r t i l i z a t i o n and growth process. After

a s p e c i f i e d time, t h e f i x a t i v e s o l u t i o n w i l l be a p p l i e d t o
t h e egg embryo t o s t o p i t s growth. Rotation of a handle a t
one end o f t h e c y l i n d e r a c t i v a t e s e i t h e r t h e f e r t i l i z a t i o n
o r t h e f i x a t i o n process. The a c t u a l sequence i s prearranged
by c y l i n d e r design.

The c y l i n d e r i s 3 1/4 inches i n diameter and 6 3/4

inches long. It weighs 25.4 ounces.

The experiflent w i l l , be conducted by t h e NASA Ames

Research Center. Dr. Richard S. Young of t h a t Center i s t h e
experimenter. The sponsor i s t h e NASA Office of Space
Sciences.

S y n e r g i s t i c E f f e c t o f Zero Gravity and Radiation on White Blood

Cells

This experiment w i l l be conducted by the Atomic Energy

Commission and i s sponsored by t h e NASA O f f i c e of Space
Sciences. Dr. Michael Bender of Oak Ridge National Laboratory
i s the experimenter.

The o b j e c t i v e i s t o examine t h e b i o l o g i c a l e f f e c t s o f
radiation. This i s important because of p o s s i b l e r a d i a t i o n
exposure d u r i n g prolonged f l i g h t s . The experiment w i l l t e s t
t h e p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t weightlessness i n t e r a c t s w i t h r a d i a t i o n
t o produce unpredicted e f f e c t s g r e a t e r than t h e sum of t h e i r
individual effects
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 - 30 -
The experiment w i l l measure t h e changes i n human blood
samples exposed t o a known q u a n t i t y and q u a l i t y o f r a d i a t i o n
during t h e zero g r a v i t y phase of t h e mission. For comparison,
a similar s e r i e s o f c o n t r o l samples w i l l be exposed
simultaneously a t the launch s i t e . An a n a l y s i s a l s o w i l l be
made on blood samples taken from t h e f l i g h t crew immediately
b e f o r e and a f t e r t h e mission.

The r a d i a t i o n source w i l l be Phosphorus-32 an i s o t o p e

which emits only a s i n g l e b e t a . p a r t i c l e w l t h an average
energy of 0.7 mev ( m i l l i o n e l e c t r o n v o l t s ) .

The experiment i s housed i n a h e r m e t i c a l l y s e a l e d

aluminum box 3.7 inches wide, 1.3 inches deep, 3.8 inches
long. It weighs approximately one pound and i s l o c a t e d on
t h e r i g h t h a t c h i n s i d e t h e cabin.

I r r a d i a t i o n of t h e b l o o d samples i s i n i t i a t e d manually
by t w i s t i n g a handle on t h e box.

Cardiovascular E f f e c t s o f Space F l i g h t
T h i s i s a c o n t i n u a t i o n o f s t u d i e s begun during P r o j e c t

Mercury t o e v a l u a t e t h e e f f e c t s o f prolonged weightlessness

on t h e c a r d i o v a s c u l a r system. Astronauts S c h i r r a and Cooper

experienced l o w e r than normal blood p r e s s u r e i n the e r e c t

p o s i t i o n immediately a f t e r emerging f r o m t h e s p a c e c r a f t .
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 - 31 -
The experiment will be conducted by the Space Medicine
Branch o f the Crew Systems Division of the Manned Spacecraft
Center and is sponsored by the NASA Office o f Manned Space
Flight.

Comparisons will be made of the astronauts' preflight

and postflight blood pressures, blood volumes, pulse rates,
and electrocardiograms. The data will reveal the cardiovascular
and blood volume changes due to heat stress, the effect of
prolonged confinement, dehydration, fatigue, and possible
effects of weightlessness. There are no inf'light requirements.

Measurements will be taken before, during, and after a

head-up tilt of 80 degrees from the horizontal.

The astronauts will remain in the spacecraft while it

is hoisted aboard the recovery vessel. A portable biomedical

recorder w i l l be attached to each astronaut before he leaves

the spacecraft, and 61ood pressure and electrocardiogram
measurements will be taken. Each astronaut will then egress
from the spacecraft and stand on the vessel's deck. Blood
pressure and ECG measurements will be recorded automatically
before, during, and for a short time after egress. The
astronauts will then go to the shipls medical facility for
the tilt table tests.

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MEDICAL CHECKS

Medical checks w i l l be based on biomedical t e l e m e t r y and

voice communications. T h i s data w i l l be used t o e v a l u a t e
g e n e r a l c o n d i t i o n of t h e crew, blood pressure, and o r a l
temperature .
PHOTOGRAPHY

A 7Omm Hasselblad still camera and a 16m motion

p i c t u r e camera w i l l be a v a i l a b l e f o r g e n e r a l purpose
photography.

FOOD ETVALUATION

Evaluation o f f l i g h t food packaging and handling i s

one of t h e tasks scheduled during t h e mission. One hour
during t h e second o r b i t has been provided i n t h e p i l o t ' s
f l i g h t p l a n t o v e r i f y food items f o r use i n l a t e r Gemini

missions.

Two meals of f o u r items each w i l l be aboard t h e

spacecraft. Each meal w i l l be contained i n a n aluminum f o i l
laminated over-wrap. There w i l l be two rehydrated items and
two b i t e - s i z e items t o a meal, s u g a r l e s s chewing gum, and
a wet pack f o r c l e a n s i n g hands and face.

The food w i l l be stowed i n a box on t h e l e f t s i d e of t h e

Gemini c o c k p i t . During the second o r b i t , the command p i l o t
w i l l t r a n s f e r t h e meals t o the p i l o t i n t h e r i g h t seat who w i l l
e v a l u a t e each i t e m . -
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The rehydrated i t e m s w i l l be r e c o n s t i t u t e d by adding
water w i t h a s p e c i a l water gun developed by Manned Spacecraft
center engineers. When t h e gun i s i n s e r t e d i n t o the nozzle
on t h e food c o n t a i n e r s i t can t r a n s f e r water i n t o t h e food
without s p i l l i n g . The b i t e s i z e items do n o t need water.

They a r e coated t o prevent crumbling. For c u t t i n g

open the overwrap, and packaging around b i t s i z e items, t h e
a s t r o n a u t has a s p e c i a l p a i r of s c i s s o r s , stowed i n a
pocket on the l e f t l e g of h i s s u i t .
After the p i l o t has r e c o n s t i t u t e d t h e food and sampled
i t , he w i l l go through t h e food wasted.sposa1 procedure. In
each package of t h e f r e e z e - d r i e d food, t h e r e i s a yellow
t a b l e t o f food d i s i n f e c t a n t i n a separate pouch. When i t i s
placed i n t h e food pouch, it a c t s chemically t o prevent
s p o i l a g e of t h e remaining food.

All products used during t h e f l i g h t must conform w i t h

s t r i n g e n t b a c t e r i o l o g i c a l requirements which a r e higher than
normal i n d u s t r y requirements on commercially processed food.

The food formulation concept was developed by the U.S.

Army Laboratories, Natick, Wss. O v e r a l l food procurement,
processing, and packaging w a s performed by t h e Whirlpool
Corp., S t . Joseph, Mich. P r i n c i p a l food s u b c o n t r a c t o r s are
S w i f t and Co., Chicago, and P i l l s b u r y Co., Minneapolis.

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Meal A
Beef P o t Roast -- Freeze d r i e d beef cubes i n gravy.
The item i s i n bar shape and weighs 27 grams. Formulated
from a r e c i p e of cooked d i c e d beef, beef j u i c e s and water.
Orange J u i c e -- Contains 20.7 grams of orange j u i c e
c r y s t a l s and 0.3 grams o f orange o i l granules. An i n s t a n t
product.
Meal B
Applesauce -- Commercially prepared i n s t a n t powder.
Weighs 42 grams and c o n t a i n s mixture of i n s t a n t applesauGe
and i n s t a n t apple j u i c e .

Grapefruit Juice -- Commercially prepared i n s t a n t

powder. Weighs 2 1 grams.

Brownies -- Compressed irito cubes with no s p e c i a l drying

procedure. Has double c o a t i n g o f s t a r c h and g e l a t i n .
Contents include shortening, b i t t e r chocolate, g e n e r a l purpose
f l o u r , chemical leavening, s a l t , whole f r e s h eggs, granulated
sugar, v a n i l l a f l a v o r i n g , and midget pecans. T o t a l weight
o f six cubes i s 45 grams.

Chicken b i t s -- Six pieces, f r e e z e d r i e d . T o t a l weight

i s 24 grams. Contains diced chicken., water, gravy m i x ,
shortening, and minced onion.

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G E M I N I SURVIVAL PACKAGE

The Gemini s u r v i v a l package c o n t a i n s 14 items designed

t o support an a s t r o n a u t i f he should land o u t s i d e normal
recovery a r e a s .

The package weighs 23 l b s . and has two s e c t i o n s . One

s e c t i o n , holding a 3 1/2-pound water c o n t a i n e r and machete
i s mounted by the a s t r o n a u t ' s l e f t shoulder. The main
package, containing t h e l i f e r a f t and r e l a t e d equipment, i s
mounted on t h e back of t h e e j e c t i o n s e a t . Both packages
a r e a t t a c h e d t o t h e a s t r o n a u t ' s p e r s o n a l parachute harness
by a nylon l i n e . A f t e r e j e c t i o n from t h e s p a c e c r a f t , as
t h e s e a t f a l l s c l e a r and t h e parachute deploys, t h e s u r v i v a l
k i t w i l l hang on a l i n e , ready f o r use as soon as t h e a s t r o n a u t
lands.

I n f l a t e d , t h e one-man l i f e r a f t i s f i v e and one h a l f

f t . long and t h r e e f t . wide. A C02 b o t t l e i s a t t a c h e d for
inflation. The r a f t i s a l s o equipped with a s e a anchor, sea
dye markers, and a sun bonnet of nylon m a t e r i a l w i t h an
aluminized c o a t i n g which t h e a s t r o n a u t can p l a c e over h i s
head.

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I n h i s s u r v i v a l k i t , t h e a s t r o n a u t a l s o has a r a d i o
beacon, a combination s u r v i v a l l i g h t , sunglasses, a medical
k i t , and a d e s a l t e r k i t assembly. The combination s u r v i v a l
l i g h t i s a new developmentfbr t h e Gemini k i t , combining many
i n d i v i d u a l items which were c a r r i e d i n t h e Mercury k i t .

About t h e s i z e o f a paperback novel, t h e CSL c o n t a i n s

a s t r o b e l i g h t for s i g n a l i n g a t n i g h t , a f l a s h l i g h t , and a
s i g n a l m i r r o r b u i l t i n on t h e end o f t h e case. It a l s o
c o n t a i n s a small compass.

There a r e t h r e e c y l i n d r i c a l c a r t r i d g e s i n s i d e t h e case.
Two c o n t a i n b a t t e r i e s for t h e l i g h t s . The t h i r d c o n t a i n s a
sewing k i t , 14 f e e t o f nylon l i n e , c o t t o n b a l l s and a
s t r i k e r f o r k i n d l i n g a f i r e , halazone t a b l e t s for water
p u r i f i c a t i o n , and a w h i s t l e ,

The d e s a l t e r k i t includes e i g h t d e s a l t e r b r i c k e t t e s ,
and a processing bag. Each b r i c k e t t e can d e s a l t one p i n t o f
seawater .
The medical k i t c o n t a i n s a one cubic centimeter i n j e c t o r
f o r pain, and a two cubic centimeter i n j e c t o r f o r motion
sickness. There also a r e s t i m u l a n t , pain, motion sickness,
and a n t i b i o t i c t a b l e t s and a s p i r i n .

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The water c o n t a i n e r was manufactured a t Manned
S p a c e c r a f t Center by members of t h e Crew Systems Division.
Other items were provided by t h e following c o n t r a c t o r s :
machete, Case Knife Co., Bradford, Pa.; r a d i o beacon, Sperry
Co., Phoenix, Ariz.; sunglasses, Cool Ray Co., Houston, Tex.;
combination s u r v i v a l l i g h t , ACR E l e c t r o n i c s , New York City;
medical k i t i n j e c t o r s , Rodona Research Corp., Bethesda, Md.;
d e s a l t e r k i t assembly, Department of Defense; l i f e raft,
S t e i n t h a l Co., New York City; C02 c o n t a i n e r , Arde Corp.,
Paramus, N . J .

GEMINI SPACECRAFT

The Gemini s p a c e c r a f t i s c o n i c a l shaped and c o n s i s t s

of two major assemblies, t h e r e e n t r y module and adapter
section. It i s 18 f e e t , 5 inches i n l e n g t h and 10 f e e t
a c r o s s a t t h e base.

The r e e n t r y module i s s e p a r a t e d i n t o t h r e e primary

sections: (1) Rendezvous and recovery s e c t i o n (R&R). (2)
Reentry c o n t r o l s e c t i o n (RCS); (3) Cabin s e c t i o n .

The R&R s e c t i o n i s t h e forward s e c t i o n of t h e s p a c e c r a f t

and i s a t t a c h e d t o t h e RCS s e c t i o n . Radar equipment i s n o t
carried f o r t h i s flight. Housed i n t h i s s e c t i o n a r e t h e
drogue, p i l o t and main parachutes.

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The RCS s e c t i o n , located between, and mated t o , the
R&R and cabin s e c t i o n s o f t h e s p a c e c r a f t . It contains t h e
f u e l and o x i d i z e r tanks, valves, tube assemblies and t h r u s t
chamber assemblies ( T C A ) . A parachute a d a p t e r assembly i s

on t h e forward face for main parachute attachment.

The cabin s e c t i o n houses t h e crew. It i s l o c a t e d between

t h e RCS and a d a p t e r s e c t i o n s . It w i l l provide proper water
flotation attitude. The shape also allows space between i t
and t h e o u t e r c o n i c a l shell for i n s t a l l a t i o n of equipment.
The o u t e r s h e l l i s covered w i t h Reng 4 1 s h i n g l e s w i t h an
a b l a t i v e h e a t s h i e l f on the b l u n t end ?or heat p r o t e c t i o n .

The a d a p t e r c o n s i s t s o f a r e t r o g r a d e s e c t i o n and a n

equipment s e c t i o n . Retrograde r o c k e t s and p a r t o f t h e r a u i a t o r

f o r t h e cooling system a r e contained i n the r e t r o g r a d e

section. The equipment s e c t i o n holds b a t t e r i e s for e l e c t r i c a l

power, f u e l f o r t h e o r b i t a l t i t u d e and maneuver system, and
t h e primary oxygen f o r t h e environmental c o n t r o l system.

The equipment s e c t i o n also s e r v e s as a r a d i a t o r for the

s p a c e c r a f t ' s cooling system which i s contained i n t h e s e c t i o n .

The equipment s e c t i o n i s j e t t i s o n e d immediately p r i o r

t o r e t r o f i r e , and t h e r e t r o g r a d e s e c t i o n i s j e t t i s o n e d a f t e r
retrofire.

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The Gemini s p a c e c r a f t provides 50 per c e n t more cabin
space than the Mercury s p a c e c r a f t . Gemini's r e e n t r y module
i s 11 f e e t high and 7 1/2 f e e t i n diameter a t i t s base, compared
t o n i n e f e e t h i g h s i x f e e t i n diameter for Mercury.

The Gemini equipment a d a p t e r i s 7 1/2 f e e t high and

10 f e e t i n diameter a t i t s base.

Launch weight o f t h e s p a c e c r a f t i s approximately 7,000

pounds. Landing weight o f t h e r e e n t r y module i s about
4,700 pounds.

P r i n c i p a l s t r u c t u r a l materials i n t h e r e e n t r y module
are titanium, w i t h Rene' 4 1 and beryllium used f o r s h i n g l e s .
The a d a p t e r i s constructed mainly of magnesium.

Prime c o n t r a c t o r f o r t h e Gemini s p a c e c r a f t i s McDonnell

A i r c r a f t Corp., St. Louis.

G E M I N I LAUNCH V E H I C L E

The Gemini Launch Vehicle i s a modified T i t * I1 c o n s i s t i n g

o f two stages.

Stage I i s 63 f e e t high, and s t a g e I1 i s 27 f e e t high.

Diameter i s 10 f e e t . O v e r a l l l e n g t h of'the launch v e h i c l e
i n c l u d i n g t h e s p a c e c r a f t i s 109 f e e t .

Launch weight, i n c l u d i n g the s p a c e c r a f t i s about 340,000

pounds.
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 PROPULSION SYSTEMS OAMS, RCS, RETRO
LOCATION IN SPACECRAFT
EQUIPMENT SECT10

RnROGRADE SECn

RE-ENTRY SECT1

FIGURE 2.5-1 2- 16-65

 Propulsion is provided by two stage I and one stage
I1 liquid propellant engines which burn a 50-50 blend of
monomethyl hydrazine and unsymmetrical-dimethyl hydrazine
as fuel, with nitrogen tetroxide as oxidizer.

Stage I engines produce about 430,000 pounds of thrust

at lift-off, and the stage 11 engine produces about 100,000
pounds of thrust at altitude. Fuels are storable for easy
handling and hypergolic (ignite on contact with each other),
which eliminates the need for an ignition system,

Titan I1 was chosen for Gemini because of its simplified

operation, thrust and availability. The following modifications
were made:

a. Additions for a malfunction detection system.

b. Modifications of flight control system.
C. Modification of electrical system.
d. Substitution of radio guidance for inertial guidance.
e. Deletion of retro rockets and vernier bottles.
f. New stage I1 equipment t r u s s .
Q. New stage II forward oxidizer skirt assembly.
h. Simplification of trajectory tracking requirements.
i. Modification of hydraulic system.
J. Modification of instrumentation system.

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GLV program management for NASA is under the direction
of the Space Systems Division of the Air Force Systems
Command. Contractors include: air frame and system
integration, Martin, Baltimore (Md.) Division; propulsion
systems, Aerojet-General Corp., Sacramento, Calif.; radio
command guidance system, General Electric Co., Syracuse,
N. Y.; ground guidance computer, Burroughs Corp., Paoli, Pa.;
systems engineering and technical direction, Aerospace Corp.,
El Segundo, Calif.

GEMINI SPACE SUIT

The Gemini space suit which will be used on this mission

was designed as a close fitting f ' u l l pressure suit. The
wearer can take off the helmet and gloves in flight. The
remainder of the suit is designed for continuous wear. The
communications system (earphones and microphones) is an integral
part of the suit.

The inner layer of the suit is a rubberized material,

and the outer covering is a nylon material.

Air inlet and outlet connections are located at waist

level. Oxygenis provided from containers stowed in the
spacecraft's adapter section. During reentry, after the
adapter section has been jettisoned, astronauts use an oxygen

supply located in the reentry module.

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The gloves a r e a t t a c h e d t o t h e s u i t a t a r o t a t i n g wrist
j o i n t which allows full wrist movement. A small b a t t e r y pack
and i n d i v i d u a l f i n g e r t i p l i g h t s a r e mounted on each glove
90 t h a t t h e a s t r o n a u t s can read instruments on t h e n i g h t
s i d e o f t h e E a r t h while t h e cabin l i g h t i s o f f .

A pocket i s l o c a t e d on the i n s i d e of each l e g between

t h e ankle and knee. The l e f t pocket c o n t a i n s a s p e c i a l

p a i r of s c i s s o r s for opening food packages, and t h e r i g h t

pocket holds a parachute shroud l i n e c u t t e r . The c u t t e r would

be used a f t e r landing t o prevent t h e a s t r o n a u t from becoming
entangled by parachute l i n e s .

The a s t r o n a u t dons t h e suit through a z i p p e r opening

which runs from the c r o t c h up t h e e n t i r e back o f t h e c s u i t .

The s u i t has been developed by M S C l s Crew Systems

Division. P r i m e c o n t r a c t o r i s t h e David C l a r k C o . , Worcester,
Mass .
Each a s t r o n a u t i s provided w i t h t h r e e s u i t s . One i s
f o r t r a i n i n g , t h e second i s worn during t h e mission, and t h e
t h i r d i s a back-up.

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CREW BIOGRAPHIES

NAME: V i r g i l I. "Gus" Grissom

BIRTHPLACE AND DATE: M i t c h e l l , Ind., A p r i l 3, 1926
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science degree i n mechanical engineering
from Purdue U n i v e r s i t y
MARITAL STATUS: Married t o t h e former B e t t y L. Moore of
M i t c h e l l , Ind.
CHILDFUN: S c o t t , May 16, 1950; Mark, Dec. 30, 1953.
Grissom i s a Major i n t h e United S t a t e s A i r Force, and
received h i s wings i n March, 1951. He flew 100 combat missions
i n Korea i n F-861s w i t h t h e 334th F i g h t e r - I n t e r c e p t o r Squadron.
H e l e f t Korea i n June 1952 and became a j e t i n s t r u c t o r a t
Bryan, Tex.

I n August 1955, he entered t h e A i r Force I n s t i t u t e of

Technology a t Wright-Patterson A i r Force Base, Ohio, t o s t u d y
a e r o n a u t i c a l engineering. I n October 1956, he attended t h e
Test P i l o t School a t Edwards A i r Force Base, Calif., and r e -
turned t o Wright-Patterson A i r Force Base i n 1957 as a t e s t
p i l o t assigned t o t h e f i g h t e r branch.

Grissom has logged more t h a n 4,000 hours f l y i n g time,

including more t h a n 3,000 hours i n j e t a i r c r a f t . H e was
awarded t h e Distinguished Flying Cross and t h e A i r Medal w i t h
C l u s t e r f o r s e r v i c e i n Korea.

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NAME: John W. Young
BIRTHPLACE AND DATE: San Francisco, C a l i f . , Sept. 24, 1930
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science degree i n a e r o n a u t i c a l engineering
from Georgia I n s t i t u t e of Technology
MARITAL STATUS: Married t o the former Barbara V. White of
Savannah, Ga.
CHILDREN: Sandy, A p r i l 30, 1957; John, Jan. 17, 1959

Upon graduation from Georgia Tech, Young entered t h e

United States Navy and i s now a Lieutenant Commander i n that
service. From 1959 t o 1962 he served as a test p i l o t , and
l a t e r program manager of t h e F4H weapons systems p r o j e c t ,
doing t e s t and e v a l u a t i o n f l i g h t s and w r i t i n g t e c h n i c a l re-
ports .
H e served as maintenance o f f i c e r f o r all-weather Fighter
Squadron 143 a t the Naval A i r S t a t i o n , N i r a m a r , C a l i f , In
1962, Young set world time-to-climb records i n t h e 3,000
meter and 25,000 meter events i n t h e F4B Navy f i g h t e r .

H e has logged more t h a n 3,200 hours f l y i n g t i m e , ihclud-

i n g more than 2,700 hours i n j e t a i r c r a f t .

Young w a s among the group of nine a s t r o n a u t s s e l e c t e d by

NASA i n September 1962. I n a d d i t i o n t o p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n the
o v e r a l l a s t r o n a u t t r a i n i n g program he has had s p e c i a l i z e d
d u t i e s including monitoring development of environment c o n t r o l
systems and s p a c e c r a f t e d e c t i o n seats and couches,

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NAME: Walter M. S c h i r r a , Jr.
BIRTHPLACE AND DATE: Hackensack, N. J., March 12, 1923
EDUCATION: Graduate of t h e United S t a t e s Naval A c a d a y
MARITAL STATUS: Married t o t h e former Josephine Fraser
of S e a t t l e , Wash.

S c h i r r a , a,Navy Commander, received f l i g h t t r a i n i n g a t

Pensacola, Naval A i r S t a t i o n .

A s an exchange p i l o t w i t h t h e United S t a t e s A i r Force,

154th F i g h t e r Bomber Squadron, he flew 90 combat missions i n

F-84E a i r c r a f t i n Korea and downed one M I G w i t h another
probable. He received t h e Distinguished Flying Cross and two
A i r Medals for h i s Korean s e r v i c e .

He took p a r t i n t h e development of t h e Sidewinder missile

a t t h e Naval Ordnance Training S t a t i o n , China Lake, Calif.
S c h i r r a was p r o j e c t p i l o t f b r t h e F7v3 Cutlass a n d i n s t r u c t o r
pilot f o r t h e Cutlass and t h e J?J3 Fury.
S c h i r r a flew F3H-2N Demons as o p e r a t i o n s o f f i c e r of t h e 124th
F i g h t e r Squadron onboard t h e Carrier Lexington i n t h e P a c i f i c .
He a t t e n d e d t h e Naval A i r S a f e t y Offic&School a t t h e
U n i v e r s i t y of Southern C a l i f o r n i a , and completed t e s t p i l o t
t r a i n i n g a t t h e Naval A i r Center, Patuxent River, Md. He
was l a t e r assigned a t Patuzent i n s u i t a b i l i t y development
work on t h e F4H.
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 - 4'( -
He has more than 3,800 hours f l y i n g time, i n c l u d i n g
more than 2,700 hours i n j e t a i r c r a f t .

S c h i r r a was one o f t h e seven Mercury a s t r o n a u t s named

i n A p r i l 1959.

On Oct. 3, 1962, S c h i r r a flew a s i x - o r b i t mission i n

h i s "Sigma 7" s p a c e c r a f t . The f l i g h t l a s t e d nine hours and
13 minutes from l i f t o f f through landing and he a t t a i n e d a
v e l o c i t y of 17,557 m i l e s p e r hour, a maximum o r b i t a l a l t i t u d e
of 175 s t a t u t e m i l e s and a t o t a l range of almost 144,000
s t a t u t e miles. The impact lpoint was i n t h e p a c i f i c Ocean,
about 275 m i l e s n o r t h e a s t of Midway I s l a n d . He was awarded
t h e NASA Distinguished Sekvice Medal f o r h i s f l i g h t .

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NAME: Thomas P. S t a f f o r d
BIRTHPLACE AND DATE: Weatherford, Okla., Sept. 17, 1930
EDUCATION: Bachelor o f Science degree from United St&L&e3
Naval Academy
MARITAL STATUS: Married t o t h e former Faye L, Shoemaker o f
Weatherford, Okla.
CHILDFEN: Dianne, J u l y 2, 1954; Karin, Aug. 28, 1957

S t a f f o r d , an A i r Force Major, was commissioned i n the

United S t a t e s A i r Force upon graduation from t h e U.S. Naval
Academy a t Annapolis. Following h i s f l i g h t t r a i n i n g , he flew
f i g h t e r i n t e r c e p t o r a i r c r a f t i n t h e United S t a t e s and
Gerrhan;r, and l a t e r a t t e n d e d t h e United S t a t e s A i r Force
Experimental F l i g h t T e s t School a t Edwards A i r Force Base,
Calif .
He served as Chief of the Performance Branch, USAF
Aerospace Research P i l o t School a t Edwards. I n t h i s assignment
he was r e s p o n s i b l e f o r s u p e r v i s i o n and a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of t h e
f l y i n g curriculum f o r s t u d e n t t e s t p i l o t s . He a l s o served
as an i n s t r u c t o r i n both f l i g h t t e s t t r a i n i n g and s p e c i a l i z e d
academic s u b j e c t s . He e s t a b l i s h e d b a s i c textbooks and p a r t i c i p a t e d
i n and d i r e c t e d t h e w r i t i n g o f f l i g h t t e s t manuals f o r use
by t h e staff of s t u d e n t s .

S t a f f o r d i s co-author of the P i l o t * s Handboqk. f o r Performance

F l i g h t Testina; and Aerodynamics Handbook f o r Performance F l i g h t

Testinff.
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- adom -
- 6i7 -
 - 50 -
PROJECT OFFICIALS

George E. Mueller Associate Administrator,

Office of Manned Space
Flight, NASA Headquarters.
.
Acting Director, Project
Gemini
William C. Schneider Deputy Director, Project
Gemini, Office o f \ Manned
Space Flight, NASA Headquarters.
E, E. Christensen Director, Missions Operations,
NASA Headquarters
Charles W. Mathews Gemini Program Manager,
Manned Spacecraft Center,
Houston, Tex.
Christopher C. Kraft Mission Director, Manned
.
Spacecraft Center, Houston,
Tex
Lt. Gen. Leighton I. Davis USAF, National Range
Division Commander
and DOD Manager of Manned
Space Flight Support
Operations.
Maj. Gen. V. 0. Huston USAF, Deputy DOD Manager
Col. Richard C. Dineen Director, Directorate
Gemini Launch Vehicles,
Space Systems Division,,
Air Force Systems Commdnd.
Lt, col. John G. Albert Chief, Gemini Launch
Division, 6555th Aerospace
Test Wing, Air Force
Missile Test Center, Cape
Kennedy, Fla.
USN, Commader Task Force 140.

- end -
 - 50a -

6T-3 FWFORMATION MISSION ORGANIZATION

ADMINISTRATOR
FOR PUBLIC AFFAIHS
1 JULIA SCHEER 1

I DIRECTOR 1

10.6. LLOYD, JR 1

-
I D I RECTOR
INFO I
MISSION SPECIAL
NEWS OPERATIONS PROTOCOL
COMMENTARY ACTIVITIES

JACK KING PAUL HANEY CHARLES JONES - BILL GREEN

1 COORD IM T O R
LESGAVER II COORDINATORS
LT* CoLCoLEMAN
CMDR. FOLEY
I1 COORDINATOR
ALFREDFUNCH 1