Gemini 12 (Spacecraft)

Variant names

Dates:

Active 1966-11-11

Active 1966-11-15

Nationality: Americans

History notes:

Gemini XII was launched on November 11, 1966, with James A. Lovell, Jr. serving as commander of the mission and Edwin E. (Buzz) Aldrin serving as pilot. The primary objectives of the Gemini XII mission included rendezvous, docking, and evaluation of extra-vehicular activity (EVA). The mission's secondary objectives included operating tethered vehicles; performing 14 experiments, rendezvous and docking in the third revolution; demonstrating automatic re-entry; performing docked maneuvers; practicing docking; conducting system tests; and parking Gemini 12 Agena target vehicle (GATV-12) in a 555.6 km orbit. Gemini XII's EVA time was five hours and 30 minutes. All of the mission's primary objectives and most of its secondary objectives were met. Docking maneuvers were canceled due to a propulsion anomaly during GATV insertion. Gemini XII landed on November 15, 1966, 4.8 km from its attempted landing zone.