Chapter 2 - Gemini 12

Aldrin's character has, maybe also because of his father, developed to perfectionistic. Aldrin confirmed his description of being a scientific man by investigating all performed spacewalks, before making his one. He had to perform this EVA in his first mission as a crew member. This EVA included space-walking and performing little actions on the outside of the capsule. This job fitted Aldrin very well, because of his good physical and mental shape and his studies. With a few tips of his friend Ed White, who made his walk in 1963, prepared him even better. During his flight he indeed appeared to use his strength more efficiently and seemed to be less exhausted. In the mean time, Aldrin became USAF major at the age of 36.

The other crew member of the Gemini GTA 12 was 38 year old James (Jim) Arthur. He had been member of Gemini 7 and was a NAVY captain. Later on he was Apollo 8 and 13 crew member. In the Gemini 12 crew Lovell was commander and Aldrin was the pilot. Both astronauts glued a word on their back before the lift off; one 'THE', the other 'END', because it would be the last Gemini flight.

The orgiginal schedule was to launch Gemini 12 on november 9, but this was delayed to november 11 1966. The launch from Cape Canaveral would be done by the Titan rocket. The name Gemini Titan-Agena derived from the combination of the Titan IIIB and the Agena rockets, on which the Gemini crew capsule was placed. Agena rockets had been combined with Thor rockets and later on with the Atlas rockets, but since july of 1996, the Titan was udes as the undermost two stages on which the third stage, the Agena, was placed. The Titan II, which was called Titan IIIB in combination with the third stage, was used to escape earth's gravity. The actual crew capsule was situated on top of the target rocket (Agena), at a height of 36.45 metres above the ground in launch position.

The actual launch was executed as scheduled. After undermost Titan rocket brought the capsule to the scheduled height, it was released and the second rocket was ignited. This rocket took the capsule into an earth orbit, after which it was released. This flight intended to reconnect the capsule to the Agena. Therefore the agena disconnected from the capsule and continued its orbit. The capsule maneuvered into another orbit and returned in this orbit to accomplish the rendez-vous with its rocket. Befor this could happen, the capsule radar, which would enable a precise approach to the Agena, broke down. Lovell had to switch to manual control and was assisted by Aldrin, who navigated with a sextant. This enabled them to accomplished the docking. As a test for future flights, they were scheduled to enter a higher orbit, but this was deleted form the schedule after one of the rocket's propulsions didn't funcion well.

After this part of the flight ended, the astronauts had to prepare for the EVA. For this event, the air pressure inside the capsule had to match the pressure outside. For his EVA, Aldrin used a sort of tape to stay attached to the capsule while working outside. With a sort of gun, filled with high-pressure air, in his hand, he was able to maneuver around the spacecraft.

The moment that Aldrin could leave the capsule, at an altitude of approx. 160 kilometres, finally arrived. With his tapes gloves, he could cling to the capsule. To avoid drifting away from the spacecraft in case Aldrin couldn't hold on to the capsule, he was attached to the Agena by a 7 metre cable.

In order to investigate how working in space for several hours affected people, Aldrin had a schedule of several actions to complete. This included cleaning the capsule window and removing the box with 'space-dust' attached to the Agena, which would be investigated back on earth. He even fixed several parts of the control system. He also got the opportunity to shoot beautiful and clear pictures; which included the first photos of a solar eclipse from space. After being in space for 128 minutes and completing 20 actions by 3 EVA sessions, he came back in for the last time. This was 5 and a half hours and 59 orbits after he left the capsule for the first time.

Apparantly his studies on rendez-vous and EVA helped him to perform his tasks perfectly at a 28,000 km/h. Four days after lift-off Gemini 12 came down in the ocean, only 4 kolimetres off target, aircraft carrier Wasp.

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