# Gemini 12

> 1966 crewed spaceflight in NASA's Project Gemini

**Wikidata**: [Q259770](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q259770)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini_12)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gemini-12

## Summary
Gemini 12 was a 1966 crewed spaceflight conducted by NASA as the final mission of Project Gemini. Commanded by Jim Lovell with Buzz Aldrin as pilot, the mission launched on November 11, 1966, and successfully demonstrated critical extravehicular activity (EVA) and rendezvous techniques. It remains a key milestone in preparing for the Apollo lunar missions.

## Key Facts
- **Official Designation:** Gemini 12 (also known as Gemini XII)
- **Mission Type:** Human spaceflight, part of Project Gemini
- **Launch Date:** November 11, 1966
- **Landing Date:** November 15, 1966
- **Crew:** Jim Lovell (Spacecraft Commander) and Buzz Aldrin (Spacecraft Pilot)
- **Backup Crew:** Gordon Cooper (Commander) and Eugene Cernan (Pilot)
- **Spacecraft Mass:** 3,762.1 kg at takeoff; 1,947.24 kg at landing
- **Duration:** 340,471 seconds (approximately 3.94 days)
- **Orbits Completed:** 59
- **Launch Vehicle:** Titan II GLV
- **Operator:** National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- **Manufacturer:** McDonnell Aircraft Corporation

## FAQs
### Q: Who were the crew members of Gemini 12?
A: The mission was crewed by Jim Lovell as the spacecraft commander and Buzz Aldrin as the spacecraft pilot. The backup crew consisted of Gordon Cooper and Eugene Cernan.

### Q: When did Gemini 12 launch and land?
A: Gemini 12 launched on November 11, 1966, from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 19. It concluded its mission with a splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean on November 15, 1966.

### Q: What were the primary achievements of the Gemini 12 mission?
A: The mission successfully executed a docking and berthing with an Agena Target Vehicle and conducted three extra-vehicular activities (EVAs) totaling 19,800 seconds. It operated in a low Earth orbit with an altitude ranging from 251 km to 289 km.

## Why It Matters
Gemini 12 served as the culmination of NASA's Project Gemini, a critical bridge between the initial Mercury missions and the Apollo program. The mission is historically significant for proving the feasibility of sustained extravehicular activity (EVA). Before this mission, astronauts had struggled with movement and task execution during spacewalks. Buzz Aldrin's successful completion of three EVAs, totaling 19,800 seconds, demonstrated that proper techniques and restraints could make working in space manageable. This validation was essential for the upcoming lunar landings, where astronauts would need to perform complex tasks on the lunar surface. Additionally, the mission successfully demonstrated rendezvous and docking procedures with an Agena Target Vehicle, further perfecting the orbital mechanics required for future space exploration. The safe recovery of the crew by the USS Wasp marked the end of the Gemini era, having met its goal of advancing knowledge in spaceflight mechanics and human endurance.

## Notable For
- **Final Mission of Project Gemini:** It was the last flight in the Gemini series, following Gemini 11.
- **EVA Breakthrough:** The mission successfully addressed previous difficulties with spacewalking, performing 3 EVAs that proved astronauts could work effectively outside the spacecraft.
- **Astronaut Pedigree:** The crew included Buzz Aldrin (future Apollo 11 moonwalker) and Jim Lovell (future Apollo 13 commander).
- **Orbital Operations:** Successfully docked with an Agena Target Vehicle for over 43 hours (155,520 seconds).
- **Precision Recovery:** The mission ended with a splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean, recovered by the USS Wasp.

## Body

### Mission Profile and Timeline
Gemini 12 launched from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 19 on November 11, 1966, utilizing a Titan II GLV launch vehicle. The mission remained in low Earth orbit for approximately 3.9 days (340,471 seconds), completing 59 orbits of the Earth. The flight concluded on November 15, 1966, with a splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean at coordinates 24.5833° N, 69.95° W. The crew and spacecraft were recovered by the USS Wasp.

### Orbital Parameters
The spacecraft operated within a low Earth orbit defined by the following parameters:
- **Apoapsis:** 289 km
- **Periapsis:** 251 km
- **Orbital Inclination:** 28.8 degrees
- **Orbital Period:** 89.94 minutes

### Crew and Personnel
The flight was crewed by two NASA astronauts:
- **Jim Lovell:** Spacecraft Commander
- **Buzz Aldrin:** Spacecraft Pilot

The backup crew assigned to the mission included Gordon Cooper as spacecraft commander and Eugene Cernan as spacecraft pilot.

### Key Events and Activities
The mission featured several significant operational milestones:
- **Docking:** The spacecraft successfully docked with an Agena Target Vehicle. This activity began on November 12, 1966, and concluded on November 13, 1966, lasting for 155,520 seconds.
- **Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA):** The crew conducted 3 separate EVAs with a total combined duration of 19,800 seconds.
- **Significant Events:** A rocket launch event occurred at Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 19 on November 11, 1966, followed by the splashdown event in the Atlantic Ocean on November 15, 1966.

### Technical Specifications
The Gemini 12 spacecraft was manufactured by the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation. It had a recorded mass of 3,762.1 kilograms at takeoff and 1,947.24 kilograms at landing. The COSPAR ID for the mission was 1966-104A.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. [Source](http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1966-104A)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013