Gemini IX

Occurred 59 years ago

Gemini IX-A was the seventh crewed Earth-orbiting mission of the Gemini series. It carried astronauts Tom Stafford and Gene Cernan. Primary mission objectives were to demonstrate (1) rendezvous techniques and docking with a target vehicle to simulate maneuvers to be carried out on future Apollo missions, (2) an Extravehicular Activity (EVA) spacewalk to test the Astronaut Maneuvering Unit (AMU), and (3) precision landing capability. Scientific objectives included obtaining zodiacal light and airglow horizon photographs. Two micrometeorite studies were to be carried out, and there were also one medical and two technological experiments.

Mission Type

Human Spaceflight

mission duration

3 days, 20 minutes, 50 seconds

Launch

June 3, 1966

Landing

June 6, 1966

Two men of Gemini crew pose for portrait in white spacesuits in front of flags

Gemini IX crew Thomas Stafford and Eugene Cernan.

NASA

The Gemini IX Crew

Elliot M. See Jr.

Original Gemini IX command pilot, died in plane crash on February 28, 1966.

Charles A. Bassett

Original Gemini IX pilot, died in plane crash on February 28, 1966.

Thomas P. Stafford

Backup command pilot, promoted to prime crew after the death of the original prime crew.

Portrait of Gene Cernan in 1964 with model rocket

Eugene A. Cernan

Backup pilot, promoted to prime crew after the death of the original prime crew.

NASA space science data coordinated archive

Gemini IX

The NSSDC provides an in-depth overview of the Gemini IX mission objectives, spacecraft, and program.

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The Augmented Target Docking Adapter (ATDA) is photographed from the Gemini-9 spacecraft during one of three rendezvous occasions in space.

S66-37972 (3 June 1966) ?– The Augmented Target Docking Adapter (ATDA) is photographed from the Gemini-9 spacecraft during one of three rendezvous occasions in space. The ATDA and Gemini-9 spacecraft are 35.5 feet apart in this view. Failure of the docking adapter protective cover on the ATDA to fully separate prevented the docking of the two spacecraft. The ATDA was described by the Gemini-9 crew members as an “angry alligator.”

NASA

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