DS, two pages, 8 x 10.5, no date. A “Vehicle Commander’s Report” issued to the National Aeronautic Association by astronaut Frank Borman for the flight of the Gemini 7 spacecraft. The report, which is signed at the conclusion in black ink by Borman, reads: “Gemini VII was launched from Cape Kennedy, Florida, at 19 30 03 Zulu on December 4, 1965. The crew consisted of Lt. Colonel Frank Borman, USAF Command Pilot, and Commander James A. Lovell, US Navy Pilot. The powered flight lasted approximately 5 minutes and 37 seconds at which time the spacecraft was pitched through a 180° angle on its right side and action was initiated to station keep or remain with the booster. The station keeping was successfully accomplished for a period of 22 minutes. This included daylight and nighttime station keeping. After a period of 22 minutes, the spacecraft separated from the booster by thrusting downward at approximately 10 feet per second. For the remainder of the first night pass the booster was tracked and a IR signature was obtained on the booster.
At 3 hours and 49 minutes the first of four orbit adjust maneuvers was made. An interesting facet about the first two is they were made using only the stars for initial reference. No onboard stabilization system was used. The burns made without the platform were very accurate as were the two burns using the platform, which were made later in the course of the flight. The purpose of the first two burns was to raise the perigee to assure a 15-day life time. The latter two burns made with the platform up and using onboard indications were to circularize the orbit at 161 nautical miles for the upcoming rendezvous with Gemini VI.
From launch until 264 hours and 33 minutes Spacecraft 7 engaged in many varied scientific experiments including several medical experiments. For the first time a laser beam was observed on a pass over Hawaii. Communication was not successfully established by the laser beam because there was only one good pass over a station with a laser in operating condition. During the first 3 days of the flight the weather was generally good over the entire world and ample opportunity existed for good photographic coverage of assigned areas of the earth. Also, during the first 3 days the visual accuity experiment located at Laredo, Texas, was accomplished and the Command Pilot was able to successfully identify three of the markers located on the ground. The crew noticed that landmarks such as rivers, airfields, and coast lines were very easy to identify. It was also determined that using the pulse mode of the spacecraft control system, any land target could be easily tracked. One target tracked was a Polaris missile launched from the submarine Benjamin Franklin that was submerged 30 miles east of the coast of Cape Kennedy. The missile was observed as it emerged from the water and was successfully tracked through staging until it disappeared in the background of white clouds. Another interesting fact of the flight was that for the first time in the American space program the crew were operating in space without pressure suits on. The pilot removed his suit at the end of the first 2 days. The Command Pilot followed suit at the end of 6 days and both crewmen were allowed to complete the mission unsuited after approximately 8 days in orbit.
The crew did suit up for the rendezvous at Gemini VI which occurred at the elapsed time of 264 hours and 33 minutes. Spacecraft 7 participation in the rendezvous consisted of orienting or changing attitudes in order to keep the radar transpondent located in the nose of the spacecraft pointed directly at Spacecraft 6. The rendezvous was accomplished with no difficulty and Spacecraft 6 spent several minutes station keeping with Spacecraft 7 at ranges down to one foot. The crew of Spacecraft 7 were able to spend a short amount of time station keeping on Spacecraft 6. It was determined that the station keeping and hence docking in space would be a matter of no great concern.
The only significant engineering problem which occurred during the flight was the occurrence and reoccurrence throughout the flight of a pressure light indicating that the pressure ratio in the fuel cell was improper. At approximately 12-1/2 days into the flight, two stacks out of a total of six in our electrical fuel cells were shut down due to water flooding within the stacks. Retrofire was accomplished just short of 14 days. A controlled reentry was flowing using the spacecraft initial guidance system, and the landing was within a seven nautical mile circle of the prescribed target. The total elapsed time of the flight was 330 hours and 35 minutes. The crew was recovered aboard the US Aircraft Carrier Wasp, and postflight medical examinations indicated that they were in excellent shape.” In fine condition.
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