The events on this day in history for our heritage companies are noted below.
The earliest event was in 1952, the latest event was in 1998
Human Spaceflight:
1965 – LAUNCH: Gemini VI-A, MM Titan II/GLV, LC19, CCAFS – Only three days after the abort, Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford flew into space and rendezvoused with Gemini VII
1998 – LANDING: STS-88 (Endeavour), KSC
Military and Classified Programs:
NONE
Exploration and Interplanetary Programs:
1960 – LAUNCH FAILURE: Pioneer (P31), GD Atlas/Able, LC12, CCAFS – Stage I exploded 70 seconds after liftoff
Earth-Monitoring and Civil Weather Satellite programs:
1968 – LAUNCH: RCA ESSA-8, Thor Delta N, SLC2E, VAFB
Commercial Programs:
1981 – LAUNCH: Intelsat-5 F3, GD Atlas SLV-3D/Centaur, LC36B, CCAFS
1995 – LAUNCH: Galaxy 3R, MM Atlas IIA, LC36A, CCAFS
Test, ICBM, FBM programs:
1952 – LAUNCH: Viking 9 Solar Mission, Martin Viking Sounding Rocket, LC33, White Sands, New Mexico
1961 – LAUNCH: Martin Titan I, LC19, CCAFS
1964 – 549th squadron, GD Atlas D ICBMs, deactivated at Offut AFB, Nebraska
1972 – LAUNCH: Lockheed Poseidon C3, SSBN642, ETR
1984 – LAUNCH: Lockheed Trident C-4, SSBN644, ETR
1989 – LAUNCH: Lockheed Trident D-5, SSBN734, ETR
Other:
NONE
The photos today are from the long-delayed Gemini VI-A mission (see story on December 12) with Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford and include the launch, the crew, and a photo of Gemini VII taken by Gemini VI-A. Their mission lasted about 24 hours, long enough to rendezvous with Gemini VII.
