The Titan II rocket launched the Gemini capsule in a test of the launch vehicle and spacecraft configuration during launch to the orbital insertion phase. The craft reentered the atmosphere Apr. 12, 1964.
Launched by a Titan II 2 booster into a suborbital flight, a 3133.9kg reentry Gemini mockup demonstrated the structural integrity of the module during maximum heating rate reentry and demonstrated variable lift on the reentry module.
This was the first manned flight of the Gemini program, with astronauts Virgil I. Grissom and John W. Young aboard. The crew performed a manually controlled reentry after three Earth orbits. The Gemini spacecraft was the first spacecraft that allowed astronauts the control over the craft that would be necessary for future landings on the Moon. Gemini III returned to Earth on March 23, 1965 after a mission duration of four hours, 52 minutes and 31 seconds.
3,537.6kg Gemini IV was launched by Titan II 4. This mission was the second manned flight of Gemini, with astronauts James McDivitt and Ed White. The crew made an attempt to rendezvous with the second stage of the launch vehicle Titan, testing the maneuverability of the Gemini craft; however, the attempt used up too much fuel and had to be abandoned. Astronaut Ed White performed a spacewalk wearing a spacesuit and tethered to the spacecraft by an 8m lifeline that provided him with oxygen and communication wires. White was able to maneuver outside the spacecraft using an oxygen-jet propulsion gun. This made it possible for him to place a 16mm camera at the aft of the capsule. White refused to reenter the capsule until specifically ordered to do so by the mission director, 21 minutes after he began his spacewalk. Gemini IV orbited the moon 64 times, before it splashed down on June 7, 1965 after a mission duration of 97 hours, 56 minutes and 12 seconds.
Titan II 5 launched 3,175.2kg Gemini V on the third manned orbital flight of Gemini program, with astronauts L. Gordon Cooper and Charles Conrad jr. The crew attempted to perform a simulated rendezvous maneuvers experiment, but the fuel cells malfunctioned and the rendezvous was abandoned. The crew also performed communications experiments, and Gemini V's cameras recorded amazing detail of the Earth's surface. The astronauts themselves were able to detect the test launching of Minuteman missiles from the Earth's surface, proving that visibility from space was much higher than had been estimated. This was an encouraging finding for those who were interested in using space satellites for surveillance.
Titan II launched 3,628.8kg Gemini VII on December 4, 1965, with astronauts Frank Borman and James Lovell aboard. This was the fourth manned mission in the Gemini series. The purpose of this mission was to test man's ability to stay in space for an extended period of time. The mission established a space-endurance record, with a mission duration of 330 hours, 35 minutes and one second. This mission also took part in a long-awaited rendezvous attempt. The Gemini VI launch had been canceled earlier in the month when the intended rendezvous spacecraft, Agena, failed to achieve orbit. Gemini VI was finally launched on December 15 into the same orbit as Gemini VII. Gemini VI maneuvered to within a few feet of Gemini VII, accomplishing everything but docking. Gemini VII returned to Earth on December 18, 1965.
With its launch terminated at T minus 42 seconds, this spacecraft, atop an Atlas-Agena D, never achieved orbit. The launch was a simultaneous countdown of the craft and its Atlas-Agena target vehicle. However, telemetry was lost after 375 seconds forcing the abort of the launch.
This mission would have been the fourth manned mission of the Gemini project. The purpose of the mission was another attempt at rendezvous with a second vehicle. An Atlas rocket launched an Agena spacecraft, the intended rendezvous target. Telemetry with the Agena was lost 375 seconds after launch and the spacecraft failed to achieve orbit, causing the launch of Gemini VI to be postponed. Finally on December 15, Gemini VI, with astronauts Walter Schirra and Tom Stafford on board, was launched into the same orbit as Gemini VII, which had been orbiting for nearly two weeks. Gemini VI was able to maneuver within a few feet of the other spacecraft, accomplishing everything but docking. Gemini VI returned to Earth after a mission duration of 25 hours, 51 minutes and 24 seconds.
Gemini VIII was the sixth manned mission of the Gemini series. The Gemini spacecraft, with astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and David R. Scott, was launched to rendezvous and dock with an Agena spacecraft that had been separately launched. The docking was achieved successfully, but an attitude and maneuver thruster malfunctioned and caused the docked spacecraft to tumble end over end. The astronauts were forced to separate the vehicles, and lost a lot of fuel in the process. The mission was terminated early after a duration of ten hours, 41 minutes and 26 seconds. Gemini VIII splashed down (the first Pacific Ocean landing) on March 17, 1966.
The seventh manned Gemini mission, scheduled for May 17, 1966, had to be postponed when the rendezvous target vehicle failed to achieve orbit. On June 3, Gemini IX was finally launched with astronauts Thomas P. Stafford and Eugene A. Cernan on board. This mission was to attempt three rendezvous and docking procedures; however, the target vehicle's shroud failed to separate, and the crew could only achieve near approaches. Eugene Cernan tested a personal jet system designed to improve spacewalking techniques. He spent more than two hours maneuvering in space and working on equipment outside the spacecraft, and was so exhausted that he was nearly unable to get back inside the spacecraft. Gemini IX splashed down on June 6, 1966 after a mission duration of 72 hours, 20 minutes and 50 seconds.
The 3,762.6kg Gemini X capsule was launched into orbit by a Titan II 10 booster. Aboard the capsule were John W. Young and Michael Collins. Reaching a record altitude of 474 miles, the Gemini crew were able to rendezvous twice with GATV Agena target vehicle. The rendezvous included the first docked vehicle maneuvers. As well, Collins performed a spacewalk to retrieve a micrometeorite detector from the target vehicle. The flight ended after 3 days with a splashdown in the Atlantic.
Charles Conrad jr. and Richard Gordon jr. were lifted into orbit aboard their Gemini 11 capsule by a Titan II booster. Once in space, they began their rendezvous activities. Their target was an Agena booster. After one orbit, the men managed to dock with the Agena. Once docked, both craft were fired into a 1,368km orbit above the Earth. Later in the flight, Astronaut Gordon made a 2 hour 43 minute space walk where he attached a tether from the Agena to the Gemini docking bar. With the space walk over, the men uncoupled the two craft the remaining link being the tether. Two complete revolutions were made with the craft attached in such a manner. The flight, of 44 orbits, lasted 71 hours, 17 minutes and 8 seconds before splashdown east of Miami in the Atlantic.
A Titan II rocket lifted James Lovell jr. and Edwin Aldrin into Earth orbit in Gemini 12. After three orbits, the crew maneuvered the Gemini capsule to rendezvous with the target Agena vehicle. Aldrin performed a record 5 hour 30 minute space walk. As well, the first solar eclipse was photographed from orbit. After completing 59 orbits, Aldrin and Lovell splashed down in the Atlantic after 94 hours, 34 minutes and 31 seconds.