The events on this day in history for our heritage companies are noted below.
The earliest event was in 1954, the latest event was in 1997
Three milestone events (5 to 65+ years ago)
Human Spaceflight:
1960 – GD (Convair), GE and Martin Company selected to develop feasibility studies for advanced manned spacecraft (early Apollo studies) – MILESTONE: 65 years ago
1963 – USAF accepts the first MM Titan II/Gemini launch vehicle
1965 – LAUNCH FAILURE: Lockheed Agena D Gemini VI Target, GD Atlas SLV-3/Lockheed Agena D, LC12, CCAFS – FAILURE of Agena D shortly after separation from the Atlas – MILESTONE: 60 years ago
1965 – Gemini VI mission canceled after failure of Lockheed Agena D upper stage after launch – MILESTONE: 60 years ago
1974 – MM X-24B flight 44, Dryden Lake – Pilot Michael Love
Military and Classified Programs:
1963 – LAUNCH: Classified mission, GD Atlas/Lockheed Agena D, SLC4W, VAFB
1967 – LAUNCH: Classified mission, MM Titan IIIB, SLC4W, VAFB
1997 – LAUNCH: LM DSCS 3 B-13, LM Atlas IIA, LC36A, CCAFS
Exploration and Interplanetary Programs:
NONE
Earth-Monitoring and Civil Weather Satellite programs:
NONE
Commercial Programs:
NONE
Test, ICBM, FBM programs:
1954 – Early missile configuration studies by a variety of agencies result in the recommendation to develop a two-stage vehicle (leading to Martin Titan I)
Other:
NONE
The photos today are the launch of the Gemini VI target vehicle (Agena D) on Atlas SLV-3 in 1965 and the Gemini VI crew (Wally Schirra, Tom Stafford) exiting the pad after the failure of the Agena D after separation from the Atlas vehicle. The mission was renamed Gemini VIA and was launched in December 1965 and rendezvoused in space with Gemini VII. The missions of Gemini VI, VII and VI-A are covered in more detail in the MARS Star for the fourth quarter of 2025 (issued any day now).
