Ready For Four-Day Space Flight

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30768, 4 June 1965, Page 13

Ready For Four-Day Space Flight

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright > CAPE KENNEDY, June 3. Two American astronauts stood today on the threshold of one of man’s great adventures—a four-day space flight during which one of them may step into space near another satellite.

The marathon journey for Major Edward White and Major James McDivitt was due to start about 9 a.m. local time (2 a.m. N.Z. time Friday) with the blast-off of a 90ft Titan rocket. If technical or other problems delay the launch for more than three hours it will probably be postponed. If there is no trouble, the two astronauts and their spacecraft will blaze into orbit ranging from 100 to 185 miles high at speeds from 17,500 m.p.h. Throughout the planned 97-hour 50-minute mission, the astronauts will participate in four procedures which must be perfected before man ventures to the moon or planets, the Associated Press said. These are spacecraft manoeuvrability, rendezvous, astronaut emergence into space, and long-duration flight. The next Gemini flight calls

for a seven-day voyage. After ithat will come the first attempt to hook up a manned spacecraft with another satellite. Much of the drama of the Gemini IV flight is packed into the first seven hours of the flight plan. Immediately after Gemini IV achieves orbit the command pilot. Major McDivitt will move the 76001 b craft into formation with the orbiting second state of the Titan

11, flying about 400 ft in front of it.

Over the Pacific Ocean during the second orbit. Major McDivitt will approach within 20ft of the stage. Three hours after launching, as the two satellites approach the western Mexico Coast, Major White is expected to open his hatch and step into space. Using a gas-propelled jet gun, he will move close to the booster, taking pictures of it. If the stage is not tumbling too fast he might get close enough to touch it. After 12 minutes outside the spacecraft as it zips high above the southern United States, Major White will return to its protective confines over the Atlantic Ocean east of Georgia. Later, during orbit five, after moving about 16 miles from the second stage. Major McDivitt again is to steer close to it, perhaps as near as 10ft, to determine the effectiveness of such a manoeuvre in darkness, A.P. said. The first attempt was scheduled for daylight. After that. Major McDivitt and Major White will settle down to the main purpose of the mission. This is, to determine how well man withstands living in a spacecraft for long periods. Medical monitors around the world will watch closely for any signs of mental or physical deterioration which could prompt a quick decision to end the mission.