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1966 in spaceflight
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| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| year | 1966 |
| image | Gemini 8 docking.jpg |
| caption | Gemini 8 about to dock with its Agena target vehicle, the first time two spacecraft dock in orbit. |
| first | 7 January |
| last | 29 December |
| total | 131 |
| success | 111 |
| failed | 13 |
| partial | 7 |
| catalogued | 118 |
| maidens | |
| retired | |
| orbital | 5 |
| totalcrew | 10 |
| firstsat | |
| firsttrav |
The year 1966 saw the peak and the end of the Gemini program. The program proved that docking in space and human EVA's could be done safely. It saw the first launch of the Saturn IB rocket, an important step in the Apollo program, and the launch of Luna 9, the first spacecraft to make a soft landing on a celestial object (the Moon).
Orbital launches
January
|- |d-date = 7 January |d-date = 15 January |d-date = ??? |d-date = 23 January 1966 |d-date = 25 January 1966 |d-date = 30 January |d-date = 3 February 18:45
February
|- |d-date = 27 February |d-date = 5 February |d-date = 18 February |d-date = ??? |d-date = 22 February 1966 |d-date = 17 February 1966 |d-date = 22 February 1966 |d-date = 27 February |d-date = 21 February |d-date = 16 March |d-date = 26 February 16:49:21
March
|-
| d-date = 1 March |
|---|
| d-date = 29 March |
| - |
| d-date = 15 September 1967 |
| - |
| d-date = 17 March |
| - |
| d-date = 25 March 1966 |
| - |
| d-date = ??? |
| d-date = 23 March 1966 |
| d-date = 24 March 1966 |
| - |
| d-date = 29 March |
| - |
| d-date = 24 March |
| - |
| d-date = |
| - |
| d-date = 27 March |
| - |
| d-date = |
| - |
| d-date = |
| - |
| d-date = 30 May (last contact) |
April
|-
| d-date = 14 April |
|---|
| d-date = 26 April 1966 |
| d-date = ??? |
| d-date = ??? |
| - |
| d-date = 14 April |
| - |
| d-date = |
| - |
| d-date = 26 April 1966 |
| d-date = 22 April 1966 |
| - |
| d-date = 28 April 1966 |
| - |
| d-date = |
| - |
| d-date = 11 June 1973 |
| - |
May
|- |d-date = 3 May |d-date = 3 May
| d-date = 3 May |
|---|
| d-date = 14 May 1966 |
| - |
| d-date = 23 November 1988 |
| - |
| d-date = 27 October 1970 |
| d-date = 17 May 1966 |
| d-date = 21 May 1966 |
| - |
| Technology |
| - |
| d-date = 17 May |
| - |
| d-date = 17 May |
| - |
| d-date = |
| - |
| d-date = 19 May |
| - |
| d-date = 9 June 1966 |
| d-date = ??? |
| d-date = ??? |
| - |
| - |
| d-date = 22 February 1985 |
| - |
| d-date = 2 June 1966 |
| - |
June
|-
| d-date = 11 June |
|---|
| d-date = 6 June |
| - |
| d-date = 6 June |
| d-date = 9 June |
| d-date = 9 June |
| - |
| Magnetospheric |
| d-date = 14 September 1981 |
| - |
| d-date = 16 June |
| - |
| d-date = 3 December |
| d-date = 12 March 1967 |
| d-date = 6 July 1967 |
| - |
| d-date = |
| - |
| d-date = |
| d-date = |
| d-date = |
| d-date = |
| d-date = |
| d-date = |
| d-date = |
| d-date = |
| - |
| d-date = 25 Jun |
| - |
| d-date = 14 July |
| d-date = Before 14 July |
| d-date = Before 14 July |
| - |
| d-date = 1975 - 2016 |
| - |
| d-date = 14 November 1989 |
| - |
July
|-
| d-date = |
|---|
| d-date = 5 July |
| - |
| d-date = 16 September |
| - |
| d-date = |
| - |
| d-date = 20 Jul 1966 |
| d-date = July |
| - |
| d-date = 4 Jan 1978 |
| d-date = 14 July |
| - |
| d-date = 22 July |
| - |
| d-date = 29 Dec |
| - |
| d-date = 21 July |
| - |
| d-date = 2 Aug 1966 |
| - |
| d-date = 2 Aug |
| - |
| d-date = 6 Aug 1966 |
| d-date = before 6 Aug 1966 |
| - |
August
|-
| d-date = |
|---|
| d-date = 16 Aug |
| - |
| d-date = 11 Sep |
| d-date = Before 11 Sep |
| d-date = Before 11 Sep |
| - |
| d-date = 29 Oct 13:29 |
| - |
| d-date = 24 Aug 1966 |
| d-date = before 24 Aug 1966 |
| d-date = 5 Mar 1970 |
| d-date = 5 Mar 1970 |
| - |
| - |
| d-date = |
| - |
| d-date = |
| d-date = 12 March 1967 |
| d-date = |
| - |
| d-date = |
| - |
| d-date = 25 Aug |
| d-time = 18:48:34 |
| - |
| d-date = 26 Aug |
| d-date = 26 Aug |
| d-date = 26 Aug |
| d-date = 26 Aug |
| d-date = 26 Aug |
| d-date = 26 Aug |
| d-date = 26 Aug |
| d-date = 26 Aug |
| - |
| d-date = 4 Sep |
| - |
September
|-
| d-date = 30 Dec |
|---|
| d-date = 15 Sep |
| - |
| d-date = |
| - |
| d-date = 16 Sep |
| - |
| d-date = 23 Sep |
| d-date = before 23 Sep |
| d-date = 9 May 1968 |
| d-date = 9 May 1968 |
| - |
| d-date = 11 Nov |
| - |
| d-date = 23 Sep |
| - |
| d-date = 12 Oct |
| d-date = Before 12 Oct |
| d-date = Before 12 Oct |
| - |
| d-date = 26 Sep |
| - |
| d-date = 7 Oct |
| d-date = before 7 Oct |
| - |
October
| - |
|---|
| d-date = |
| d-date = |
| - |
| d-date = 20 Oct |
| d-date = before 20 Oct |
| d-date = 21 Oct |
| - |
| d-date = 21 Oct |
| - |
| d-date = 11 Sep 1968 |
| - |
| d-date = 28 Oct |
| - |
| d-date = |
| - |
| d-date = |
| - |
| - |
| d-date = 29 Sep 1971 |
| - |
November
|-
| d-date = 29 Nov |
|---|
| d-date = 10 Nov |
| d-date = before 10 Nov |
| d-date = 16 Nov |
| - |
| d-date = 9 Jan 1967 |
| d-date = 5 Jan 1967 |
| d-date = 11 Jan 1967 |
| d-date = 31 Dec |
| d-date = 3 Nov (suborbital test) |
| - |
| d-date = 11 Oct 67 |
| - |
| d-date = 29 Nov |
| d-date = Before 29 Nov |
| d-date = Before 29 Nov |
| - |
| d-date = 23 Dec |
| - |
| d-date = 15 Nov |
| - |
| d-date = 20 Nov |
| - |
| d-date = 16 Nov |
| - |
| d-date = 27 Nov |
| - |
| d-date = 30 Nov 10:21 |
| - |
December
|- |d-date = 11 Dec |d-date = 14 Dec |d-date = before 14 Dec
| d-date = 8 Dec |
|---|
| d-date = |
| - |
| d-date = |
| d-date = 30 Nov 2002 |
| - |
| d-date = 12 April 1967 |
| - |
| d-date = 14 Dec |
| - |
| d-date = 24 Dec |
| d-date = before 24 Dec |
| - |
| d-date = 15 February 1967 |
| - |
| d-date = 27 Dec |
| - |
| d-date = 20 Dec |
| - |
| d-date = 24 Dec |
| - |
| d-date = 23 Nov 1967 |
| - |
| d-date = 21 Dec |
| - |
| d-date = 5 Apr 1969 |
| } |
Suborbital launches
January-December
|- |d-date =14 July |d-time = |d-span = |o-span = |d-date =28 July |d-time = |d-span = |o-span = |}
Gemini and Apollo launches
| Launch Date/Time | Rocket | Launch | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Site | Launch Contractor | Payload | Operator | Orbit | Mission/ | |||||||||||||||
| Function | Re-Entry/ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Destruction | Outcome | Remarks | ||||||||||||||||||
| 16 March | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 15:00 GMT | Atlas D | LC-14, Cape Canaveral | US Air Force | GATV 5003 | NASA | LEO | Gemini docking target. | 15 September 1967 | Successful | Used by Gemini 8 and Gemini 10 | ||||||||||
| 16 March | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 16:41 GMT | Titan II | LC-19, Cape Canaveral | US Air Force | Gemini 8, 2 Astronauts | NASA | LEO | Crewed Orbital Flight | 17 March 1966 | Partial Failure | First docking in space. (with GATV). | ||||||||||
| OAMS malfunction caused loss of control. Spacecraft became low on fuel after recovering. Terminated early. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 May | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 15:12 GMT | Atlas D | LC-14, Cape Canaveral | US Air Force | GATV 5004 | NASA | LEO | Gemini docking target. | 17 May 1966 | **Failure** | Failed to reach orbit. | ||||||||||
| Intended for use by Gemini 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 June | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 15:00 GMT | Atlas SLV-3 | LC-14, Cape Canaveral | US Air Force | ATDA 02186 | NASA | LEO | Gemini docking target. | 11 June 1966 | **Failure** | Fairing failed to separate | ||||||||||
| Intended for use by Gemini 9A | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 June | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 16:41 GMT | Titan II | LC-19, Cape Canaveral | US Air Force | Gemini 9A, 2 Astronauts | NASA | LEO | Crewed Orbital Flight | 6 June 1966 | Partial Failure | Unable to complete primary objective - Docking with ATDA - due to ATDA payload fairing malfunction | ||||||||||
| 5 July | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 14:53 GMT | Saturn IB (C-1B) | LC-37B, Cape Canaveral | NASA | (none) | N/A | N/A | Test launch vehicle | N/A | Successful | |||||||||||
| 18 July | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 20:39 GMT | Atlas D | LC-14, Cape Canaveral | US Air Force | GATV 5005 | NASA | LEO | Gemini docking target. | 29 December 1966 | Successful | Used by Gemini 10 | ||||||||||
| 18 July | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 22:20 GMT | Titan II | LC-19, Cape Canaveral | US Air Force | Gemini 10, 2 Astronauts | NASA | LEO | Crewed Orbital Flight | 21 July 1966 | Successful | |||||||||||
| 25 August | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 17:15 GMT | Saturn IB (C-1B) | LC-34, Cape Canaveral | NASA | Apollo Spacecraft (AS-202) | NASA | Sub-orbital | Test Apollo Spacecraft and Launch Vehicle | 25 August 1966 | ||||||||||||
| 18:48 GMT | Successful | |||||||||||||||||||
| 12 September | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 13:05 GMT | Atlas D | LC-14, Cape Canaveral | US Air Force | GATV 5006 | NASA | LEO | Gemini docking target. | 30 December 1966 | Successful | Used by Gemini 11 | ||||||||||
| 12 September | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 14:42 GMT | Titan II | LC-19, Cape Canaveral | US Air Force | Gemini 11, 2 Astronauts | NASA | LEO | Crewed Orbital Flight | 15 September 1966 | Successful | Altitude record for crewed Earth-Orbit flight | ||||||||||
| 11 November | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 20:46 GMT | Atlas D | LC-14, Cape Canaveral | US Air Force | GATV 5001A | NASA | LEO | Gemini docking target. | 23 December 1966 | **Failure** | Failed to ignite. | ||||||||||
| Used by Gemini 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 November | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 20:46 GMT | Titan II | LC-19, Cape Canaveral | US Air Force | Gemini 12, 2 Astronauts | NASA | LEO | Crewed Orbital Flight | 15 November 1966 | Successful | Final Gemini flight |
Deep Space Rendezvous
| Date (UTC) | Spacecraft | Event | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 February | Luna 9 | First lunar landing | in *Oceanus Procellarum*; first soft landing on a celestial body and first images from lunar surface |
| 27 February | Venera 2 | Flyby of Venus | Communication lost en route |
| 1 March | Venera 3 | First Venus impact | Communication lost en route |
| 3 April | Luna 10 | Selenocentric orbit insertion | first orbiter of the Moon |
| 2 June | Surveyor 1 | Lunar landing | in *Oceanus Procellarum* |
| 14 August | Lunar Orbiter 1 | Selenocentric orbit insertion | Returned 211 images |
| 27 August | Luna 11 | Selenocentric orbit insertion | |
| 23 September | Surveyor 2 | Lunar impact | Failed lander, impacted *Sinus Medii* |
| 25 October | Luna 12 | Selenocentric orbit insertion | |
| 29 October | Lunar Orbiter 1 | Lunar impact | |
| 10 November | Lunar Orbiter 2 | Selenocentric orbit injection | Returned 184 images |
| 24 December | Luna 13 | Lunar landing | in *Oceanus Procellarum* |
EVAs
| Start date/time | Duration | End time | Spacecraft | Crew | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 June | |||||
| 15:02 | 2 hours | ||||
| 7 minutes | 17:09 | Gemini IX-A | USAEugene Cernan | A complex EVA was planned. Cernan expended four to five times the expected effort, raising his pulse as high as 180 beats per minute. Excess heat and respiration completely fogged visor, causing the EVA to be cut short. Cernan also had difficulty returning to spacecraft and closing the hatch. | |
| 19 July | |||||
| 21:44 | 49 Minutes | 22:33 | Gemini X | USAMichael Collins | Collins performed a stand-up EVA. Instead of climbing completely out of the spacecraft, Collins extended his torso outside the spacecraft to take photos before and after capsule sunrise. Color photography after sunrise was only partly completed due to severe eye irritation of both Collins and Command Pilot Young. Handling the camera proved difficult due to stiffness of spacesuit gloves. |
| 20 July | |||||
| 23:01 | 39 minutes | 23:40 | Gemini X | USAMichael Collins | Umbilical EVA; with more difficulty than expected, Collins collected the micrometeorite collection package from the outside of Gemini. Then, using the Hand Held Maneuvering Unit, he pushed to the nearby Agena-8 to collect its micrometeorite collection package. Collins then pulled on the umbilical cord to return and re-enter the spacecraft. |
| 13 September | |||||
| 14:44 | 33 minutes | 15:17 | Gemini XI | USARichard F. Gordon Jr. | Gordon attached a tether between Gemini and Agena 11 for later orbital mechanics testing. While making the attachment, his work load exceeded the spacesuit cooling system, and his vision became obscured by a fogged visor and sweat in his eyes. Planned activities were curtailed by Command Pilot Conrad and Gordon returned to the spacecraft. |
| 14 September | |||||
| 12:49 | 2 hours | ||||
| 8 minutes | 14:57 | Gemini XI | USARichard F. Gordon Jr. | Gordon performed a stand-up EVA. He extended through the hatch to take astronomical photos. Conrad reported the spacewalk was so relaxing they both fell asleep for a moment after sunrise. | |
| 12 November | |||||
| 16:15 | 2 hours | ||||
| 29 minutes | 18:44 | Gemini XII | USABuzz Aldrin | Aldrin performed a stand-up EVA. Aldrin stood, took UV still photos and 16 mm color movie pictures, collected external experimental samples, and conducted a light exercise routine. | |
| 13 November | |||||
| 15:34 | 2 hours | ||||
| 6 minutes | 17:40 | Gemini XII | USABuzz Aldrin | First completely successful umbilical EVA, with all objectives achieved. Aldrin was able to control his movements and restrict his work load using techniques developed using underwater zero gravity simulations. He also benefited from experiences of the previous American EVAs and was able to move around the outside of the craft, deploy and recover various experimental packages, install and remove cameras, and practice work techniques using a ratchet-type wrench. | |
| 14 November | |||||
| 14:52 | 55 minutes | 15:47 | Gemini XII | USABuzz Aldrin | Aldrin performed a second stand-up EVA. He again extended outside the hatch to take photographs and repeat the light exercise experiment. Exertion levels during exercise were comparable to preflight simulations. Equipment and waste food containers not needed for reentry were jettisoned from the spacecraft. |
Orbital launch statistics
By country
| Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| failures | style="text-align:left;" | style="text-align:left;" | style="text-align:left;" | USSR | style="text-align:left;" | World | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 53 | 42 | 9 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 80 | 74 | 7 | 0 |
References
Footnotes
References
- "Recovery Beacon Signals from Kosmos Satellites".
- "Major NASA Launches".
- "OV".
- "GGTS 1,2". Gunter's Space Report.
- "Molniya-M/Blok L - Luna 11". Next Spaceflight.
- Wade, Mark. "T-7".
- Jim Dumoulin. (2000-08-25). "NASA Project Gemini IX-A (9)". NASA.
- Cernan "The Last Man on the Moon", p. 129-144.
- Mathews, Charles W.. (August 1966). "Gemini Program Mission Report: Gemini X". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
- Mathews [https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19750067644_1975067644.pdf Gemini Program Mission Report: Gemini X], p. 7-32
- (2008). "Gemini 11". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
- Chaikin, Andrew. (1998). "A Man on the Moon". Penguin Books.
- Mathews, Charles W.. (January 1967). "Gemini XII Program Mission Report". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
- Mathews, [https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19790076631_1979076631.pdf Gemini XII Program Mission Report], p. 7-28, 7-29, 7-43
- Mathews, [https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19790076631_1979076631.pdf Gemini XII Program Mission Report], p. 7-30
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