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Remarkable flown Gemini 5 flight plan used by Charles Conrad on the third crewed Gemini flight, identified on the front as "Part No. CF55069, Dash 1, S/N 50, SC 5, Book 1, Remarks: Flight Plan," with the title page reading: "Revision 2, GT-5 Flight Plan, Prepared by Flight Crew Support Division, Spacecraft Operations Branch, August 11, 1965," and marked, "Internal NASA Use Only." The ring-bound plan measures 8 x 10.5 and contains 90 sheets (many double-sided), inclusive of the stiff covers. It is divided into "Section I: Launch Through Rendezvous" and "Section II: Flight Plan," followed by ten sheets of map plates.
Most of Conrad's extensive handwritten notes come in the second section, recording critical data points and denoting tasks completed or deleted, such as fuel cell purges, crew activities like sleeping and eating periods, and the completion of mission-related checklists. Early on, at 1:04:40, Conrad notes, "Saw meteor reenter below," and at 2:02:50 records that the spacecraft was "dinged by a micrometeorite." He also makes observations of weather patterns seen while in Earth orbit ("Large Storm," "Storm Doreen," and "Large Storm Eye"), and jots down some reminders: "Tell Hou about Pri scanner" and "Get Serious," above scheduled flight plan updates. At 2:01:00, he makes a note to "Congratulate Gordo on exceeding his MA-9 Flight," referring to crewmate Gordon Cooper's 34-hour Project Mercury mission, in which he had become the first American to spend an entire day in space. The Gemini 5 mission was another record-breaker, coming in at 7 days, 22 hours, 55 minutes, 14 seconds—just under their '8 Days or Bust' slogan, but still enough to set a new endurance record. Their flight might have been one day longer, but Gemini 5 was cut short due to the approach of Hurricane Betsy—perhaps one of the weather patterns observed while on orbit. The rear board bears two affixed Velcro strips for securing the plan within the Gemini spacecraft. In very good to fine condition, with general wear from use.
Provenance: Collection of Charles Conrad, Lot 172, Odyssey Auctions, February 27, 1994.
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