Gemini 2
| Mission Insignia | |
|---|---|
| |
| Mission Statistics | |
| Mission Name: | Gemini 2 |
| Call Sign: | Gemini 2 |
| Number of Crew: |
0 |
| Launch: | January 19, 1965 14:03:59.861 UTC Cape Canaveral LC 19 |
| Landing: | January 19, 1965 14:22:14 UTC 16° 36'N, 49° 46' W |
| Duration: | 18 minutes, 16 seconds |
| Orbits: | Suborbital |
| Apogee: | 160 km |
| Distance Traveled: |
3,422.4 km |
Gemini 2 was an unmanned flight in the U.S. Gemini program. Gemini 2 was launched on a Titan II rocket. The flight was a suborbital test of various systems. It later became the first spacecraft flown into space twice when it was sent on an unmanned military mission.
The Titan II/Gemini launch vehicle had to be dismantled to protect it from 2 hurricanes in August and September of 1964. The 2nd stage of the vehicle was taken down and stored in a hanger on 26 August 1964 in preparation for Hurricane Cleo, but the entire launch vehicle was dismantled and removed from Pad 19 in early September before Hurricane Dora passed over Cape Canaveral on September 9th. The Gemini launch vehicle was erected for the final time on 12 September 1964.
Many ground tests were carried out on the Gemini 2 and Titan rocket in November, 1964. On November 24, 1964, there was a wet mock simulated launch. During this test the Gemini 3 crew assisted by their backup crew, did egress training from the Gemini 2 spacecraft, for their upcoming Gemini 3 flight. (See photo above).
Gemini II had been scheduled for launch December 9, 1964. On that date the countdown reached zero and the stage one engines were ignited. The launch vehicle's Malfunction Detection System detected technical problems due to a loss of hydraulic pressure and shutdown the engines about one second after ignition.
Gemini 2 had flight instrumentation pallets installed in the crew cabin, similar to Gemini 1.
Instrument Pallets
Capsule Location
It is currently on display at the U.S. Air Force Space Museum, Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida. Its guidance computer is held at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.
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Gemini | Next Mission: Gemini 3 |