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Gemini 3 Flight Press Kit
Gemini 3 Flight Press Kit
R PROJECT: GEMINI-TITAN 3
............................. 1-4
E
GENERAL NEWS RELEASE
Primary Objectives.............................
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
5
Secondary Objectives ........................... 6
Mission Description ............................ 7
Flight Data ....................................
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 .
-- 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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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 .
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 ,
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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.
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M I S S I O N DESCRIPTION
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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.
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Launch Area:
Surface winds - 18 knots with gusts to 25 knots.
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.
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
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
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
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1 C o n t r o l S/C t o O o , 180, 0'
-
- 2
---
LOO
---
-
I Horizon Scanner Check
-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
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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
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
bo TR-30 Checklist
Retrofire
k&mtro
BBO
Checkliet
L
00
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Contingency Landing Areas:
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NASA-S-65-2333
ABORT MODES
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.
FIGURE 2.9-2
SPACECRAFT AT SINGLE POINT SUSPENSION 1
SPACECRAFT IN L A N D I N G POSITION - 2-16-65
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Manned Space F l i g h t Tracking Network
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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
Range s i t e s .
Bermuda Canton I s l a n d
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
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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.
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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,
Voice Communications
Air to Ground
Voice Communications
F1 ight Controller
X
X
XXI
Manned
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 Receiver
& Recorder
Acquisition Aid
X
X
xx
xx
xx
X X
1
Ixx
x
-
xx
xx
~
I
C-Band Radar X X
I
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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
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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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.
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A t designated times, t h e eggs and t h e sperm w i l l be
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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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.
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
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MEDICAL CHECKS
FOOD ETVALUATION
missions.
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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 .
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G E M I N I SURVIVAL PACKAGE
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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 .
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
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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
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
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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.
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.
G E M I N I LAUNCH V E H I C L E
RnROGRADE SECn
RE-ENTRY SECT1
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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.
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CREW BIOGRAPHIES
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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
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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.
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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
Testinff.
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PROJECT OFFICIALS
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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
1 COORD IM T O R
LESGAVER II COORDINATORS
LT* CoLCoLEMAN
CMDR. FOLEY
I1 COORDINATOR
ALFREDFUNCH 1