Gemini 11 (Spacecraft)

Gemini XI was launched on September 12, 1966, with Charles Conrad, Jr. serving as commander of the mission and Richard F. Gordon, Jr. serving as pilot. The primary objective of the Gemini XI mission was to rendezvous and dock with Gemini Agena target vehicle 5006 (GATV-5006). The mission's secondary objectives included practicing docking; performing extra-vehicular activity (EVA); conducting 11 experiments; maneuvering while docked; conducting tethered vehicle testing; demonstrating automatic re-entry; and parking Gemini 10 Agena target vehicle (GATV-10) in a 352.4 km orbit. All of the mission's primary objectives and most of its secondary objectives were achieved. Experiment D-16, or Power Tool Evaluation, was canceled when the EVA was terminated early. During EVA, astronaut Gordon tethered the two spacecraft together with a 30-meter line. Automatic re-entry was successful. Gemini XI landed on September 15, 1966, 4.9 km from its attempted landing zone.