The events on this day in history for our heritage companies are noted below.
The earliest event was in 1958, the latest event was in 2005.
Two milestone events (5 to 65+ years ago)
Human Spaceflight:
1965 – LAUNCH: Gemini IV, MM Titan II/GLV, LC19, CCAFS – Second manned Gemini mission (Jim McDivitt/Ed White), first space walk by an American
1966 – LAUNCH: Gemini IX-A (originally IX), MM Titan II/GLV, LC19, CCAFS – Tom Stafford/Gene Cernan – delayed from May following loss of Agena due to Atlas failure, third mission performing rendezvous maneuvers, used ATDA for rendezvous, no docking possible (Payload fairing did not separate from ATDA – Atlas Target Docking Adapter)
Military and Classified Programs:
1959 – LAUNCH FAILURE: Lockheed Discoverer 3, Thor/Lockheed Agena A, SLC1W, VAFB – MILESTONE: 65 years ago – Agena upper stage
1966 – LAUNCH: Classified mission, GD Atlas SLV-3/Lockheed Agena D, SLC4E, VAFB
1969 – LAUNCH: Classified mission, MM Titan IIIB, SLC4W, VAFB – MILESTONE: 55 years ago
Exploration and Interplanetary Programs:
2005 – LM chosen to build Juno spacecraft to Jupiter (New Frontiers program)
Earth-Monitoring and Civil Weather Satellite programs:
NONE
Commercial Programs:
1997 – LAUNCH: LM Inmarsat 3 F4 (also Insat-2), Ariane 44L, ELA2, Kourou, French Guiana
Test, ICBM, FBM programs:
1958 – LAUNCH: GD Atlas A, LC12, CCAFS – Final Atlas A (test launches) at CCAFS
1965- LAUNCH: GD Atlas D, 576-A2, VAFB
1984 – LAUNCH: Lockheed Trident C4, SSBN (unknown), WTR – MILESTONE: 40 years ago
1985 – LAUNCH: MM Peacekeeper, TP-01, VAFB
2002 – LAUNCH: LM Peacekeeper, LF-02, VAFB
Other:
NONE
The photos today are from two missions. First, there are photos of the launch, the crew (Jim McDivitt, Ed White) and the first spacewalk by an American (White) from the Gemini IV mission. The mission lasted just over 4 days. Photo Credits: NASA.
Second, there are photos of the launch and both crews of Gemini IX-A. This mission was renamed Gemini IX-A after the first primary crew (Charles Bassett and Elliott See) perished in a plane crash at the McDonnell-Douglas factory in St. Louis. The backup crew (Tom Stafford, Gene Cernan) moved up to primary. Gemini IX-A rendezvoused with the ATDA (Atlas Target Docking Adapter) that was launched on June 1. The mission lasted 3 days, 20 minutes. Photo Credits: NASA.
