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Liftoff of Gemini XII |
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Liftoff! It's 3:46 P.M. on November 11th of 1966, and a Titan II carrying James A. Lovell,
Jr. and Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin, Jr. lifts off from Complex 19 in the
final mission of the Gemini program: Gemini XII.
Although a fault in the radar
prevented it from being used, the primary objective of docking the Gemini
spacecraft with the Gemini Agena Target Vehicle (GATV) was still achieved. Buzz
Aldrin, who had three years earlier received an Sc.D. in Astronautics at MIT
(his work on manned orbital rendezvous earned him the nickname "Dr.
Rendezvous"), was able to complete the computations to guide the spacecraft
to the GATV.
After 59 orbits (nearly four days in space), Gemini XII splashed
down, marking a successful end to the Gemini program.
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Photo courtesy of NASA (Photo ID: S-6659970).
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