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Gemini 4 Experiment Debriefing, 1967

National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 1965 · 224 pages · text from the file's own layer

This NASA file from 1965 combines Mission Operation Report M-913-65-04 on the Gemini 4 (GT-4) flight with related correspondence. Memoranda from the Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight describe the planned four-day mission with James McDivitt and Edward White, including a spacewalk, a rendezvous with the booster second stage and thirteen experiments. Later letters and telegrams from NASA's Manned Space Science office concern the astronaut debriefing and requests for GT-4 photography and film for scientific analysis.

From the source: Release of 2026-06-12 Incident: June 3-7, 1965, Low Earth Orbit. Gemini IV was the second crewed mission of the Gemini series. Astronauts James McDivitt and Edward White successfully completed the four-day flight between June 3 and June 7, 1965. The mission included the first American spacewalk. This collection of documents contains a transcription of the astronauts recounting their observations of bright particles outside the spacecraft, dated circa June 25, 1967, on pages 78-81, and page 101.

M-931-65-04
LAUNCH VEHICLE DESCRIPTION
The Gemini Launch Vehicle (GLV) has been modified by man-roting an Air Force
Titan II missile. The GLV has two stages, the first 71 feet long and the second 18
feet long; both stages have a diameter of 10 feet. The gross loaded weight of the
two stages is 337,521 pounds and they both burn storable hypergolic (self-igniting
upon mixture) propellants. First stage thrust is approximately 430,000 pounds at sea
level. Second stage thrust is approximately 100,000 pounds. The various systems of
the GLV have been detailed in previous Gemini MOR 1 s and what follows is additional
information concerning modifications made to GLV-4. The fuel dampener and oxidizer
standpipe used to suppress longitudinal oscillations have been redesigned. Butt welding
vice lapped joints have been utilized on the fuel tank conduits to eliminate minute
cracks. Malfunction Detection System circuitry has been redesigned to provide separate
indications of the subassembly thrust level and additional insulation has been applied to
provide increased fire protection. Sixteen T/M readout points have been removed
from the GLV because they are no longer required and one range safety circuit has
been added to the destruct system interlocking AGE and the GLV motor driven switch
control. This circuit will prevent switch cycling in the event that both set and reset
signals are inadvertently applied during checkout.
TABLE I
PROJECT COST
(In Millions)
FY 62 FY 63 FY 64 FY 65 FY 66 FY 67 Total
Spacecraft 30.3 205. 1 280.5 165.3 122.7 19. 1 823.0
Launch Vehicle 24.4 79. 1 122.7 115.4 88.6 8.5 438.7
Operational
Support 0 1 4.9 15. 7 27.7 30.8 13.0 92.2
Total RD & 0 54.8 289. 1 418.9 308.4 242. 1 40.6 1353.9
This level of funding will provide for twelve Gemini Launch Vehicles, twelve space
craft, seven Agena Target Vehicles, six Atlas booster missiles and the operational costs
of flight testing and the associated Ground Support Equipment.
SPACECRAFT
The spacecraft is 18. 75 feet long and its two sections, a reentry module and an adapter
section will weigh 7799 lbs. fully loaded with the astronauts onboard. The configuration
will be the same as was flown on GT-3 except for the following: minor changes have
been made to switch positions and nomenclature, three additional (total of six) adapter
5/24/65 Page 3

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Official release, from the pursue collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. 224 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.