# Gemini 6A

> 1965 crewed United States spaceflight in NASA's Gemini program

**Wikidata**: [Q378306](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q378306)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini_6A)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gemini-6a

## Summary
Gemini 6A (officially designated Gemini VI-A) was a 1965 crewed United States spaceflight operated by NASA as part of Project Gemini. Launched on December 15, 1965, the mission carried a two-person crew, Commander Wally Schirra and Pilot Thomas P. Stafford, into low Earth orbit. The flight utilized a Gemini spacecraft launched aboard a Titan II GLV vehicle and concluded successfully the following day with a splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean.

## Key Facts
*   **Mission Name:** Gemini 6A (also known as Gemini VI-A)
*   **Launch Date:** December 15, 1965
*   **Landing Date:** December 16, 1965
*   **Duration:** 93,084 seconds (approximately 25.8 hours)
*   **Spacecraft Type:** Gemini spacecraft
*   **Launch Vehicle:** Titan II GLV
*   **Operator:** National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
*   **Crew:** Wally Schirra (Spacecraft Commander) and Thomas P. Stafford (Spacecraft Pilot)
*   **Backup Crew:** Gus Grissom (Spacecraft Commander) and John Young (Spacecraft Pilot)
*   **Orbits Completed:** 16
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1965-104A

## FAQs
### Q: Who were the crew members of Gemini 6A?
A: The mission was crewed by Wally Schirra, serving as the spacecraft commander, and Thomas P. Stafford, who served as the spacecraft pilot.

### Q: When did Gemini 6A launch and land?
A: The mission launched on December 15, 1965, and landed the following day on December 16, 1965.

### Q: What was the recovery vessel for the mission?
A: The crew was recovered from the Atlantic Ocean by the USS Wasp after splashdown.

### Q: What launch vehicle was used for Gemini 6A?
A: The spacecraft was launched into orbit using a Titan II GLV (Gemini Launch Vehicle) from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 19.

## Why It Matters
Gemini 6A represents a critical step in the progression of American human spaceflight during the mid-1960s. As a specific instance of a human spaceflight within Project Gemini, it contributed essential data regarding orbital mechanics and crew endurance. The mission is structurally notable for its direct relationship to Gemini 7; records indicate Gemini 6A "follows" Gemini 7, reflecting the unique historical context where Gemini 6A launched after Gemini 7 to rendezvous with it in orbit. This mission profile helped prove the concepts of orbital rendezvous, a capability necessary for future lunar missions.

The mission is also distinguished by its technical specifications, operating in a low Earth orbit with a precise inclination of 28.9 degrees. The successful recovery of the crew by the USS Wasp demonstrated the reliability of operational procedures for returning astronauts from space. Furthermore, the inclusion of Gus Grissom and John Young as the backup crew highlights the continuity of personnel within NASA's early space programs, linking this mission to the broader narrative of the Space Race.

## Notable For
*   **Relation to Gemini 7:** Structurally linked to Gemini 7, which it followed, indicating a paired mission strategy.
*   **Precise Orbital Parameters:** Operated with a near-circular orbit (270 km periapsis / 274 km apoapsis) and a specific orbital period of 89.95 minutes.
*   **Short Duration Mission:** Completed its objectives in just over 25 hours (93,084 seconds) across 16 orbits.
*   **Notable Crew:** Commanded by Wally Schirra, one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts, with Thomas P. Stafford as pilot.
*   **Visual Documentation:** Associated with iconic imagery from the Gemini program, including specific crew photos and images of Gemini 7 in orbit.

## Body

### Mission Specifications
Gemini 6A was an instance of a human spaceflight utilizing the Gemini spacecraft class. The vehicle had a takeoff mass of 3,546 kilograms. It was launched from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 19 using a Titan II GLV expendable launch vehicle. The mission's COSPAR ID is 1965-104A.

### Orbital Profile
The spacecraft entered a low Earth orbit (satellite of Earth) with the following parameters:
*   **Periapsis:** 270 kilometres
*   **Apoapsis:** 274 kilometres
*   **Orbital Inclination:** 28.9 degrees
*   **Orbital Period:** 89.95 minutes

The mission maintained this orbit for a duration of 93,084 seconds, completing a total of 16 orbits before re-entry.

### Crew and Personnel
The prime crew consisted of Wally Schirra (Spacecraft Commander) and Thomas P. Stafford (Spacecraft Pilot). The mission also had a designated backup crew comprising Gus Grissom (Spacecraft Commander) and John Young (Spacecraft Pilot).

### Launch and Recovery
*   **Launch:** Occurred on December 15, 1965, designated as a significant "rocket launch" event at Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 19.
*   **Landing:** Occurred on December 16, 1965. The event was a splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean.
*   **Recovery Location:** The landing coordinates were recorded as latitude 23.5833 and longitude -67.8333.
*   **Recovery Operations:** The crew and spacecraft were recovered by the USS Wasp.

### Program Context
Gemini 6A was a part of Project Gemini. In the sequence of Gemini missions, it follows Gemini 7 and was followed by Gemini 8. The mission is recorded under various identifiers, including Freebase ID `/m/01_snq` and Wolfram Language Entity Code `Entity["HistoricalEvent", "GeminiVIALaunches"]`.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. [Source](http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1965-104A)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013