Gemini V (Spacecraft)

Gemini V was launched on August 21, 1965, with L. Gordon Cooper serving as commander of the mission and Charles Conrad, Jr. serving as pilot. The primary objectives of the Gemini V mission included evaluating rendezvous of the Guidance and Navigation (G&N) system with the radar evaluation pod (REP); demonstrating the eight-day capability of spacecraft and crew; and evaluating the effects of weightlessness for an eight-day flight. The secondary objectives of the mission included demonstrating controlled re-entry guidance; evaluating the fuel cell; demonstrating all phases of guidance and control system operation needed for rendezvous; evaluating the capability of both crewmen to maneuver the spacecraft to rendezvous; checking rendezvous radar; and executing 17 experiments. During the mission, problems developed with the fuel cell that precluded rendezvous with the REP. The objective to rendezvous the G&N system with the REP was not achieved. The REP rendezvous was not attempted due to a decision to power down fuel cells. The secondary objective to demonstrate controlled re-entry guidance was not achieved due to incorrect navigation coordinates transmitted to the spacecraft computer from the ground, which caused an 89-mile overshoot of the landing zone. Experiment D-2, Nearby Object Photography, was not conducted when REP rendezvous was canceled. Gemini V landed on August 29, 1965, 170.3 km from its attempted landing zone.