An Astronaut Steps Into the Void

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An Astronaut Steps Into the Void Pioneers in Early Spaceflight GEMINI 4 An Astronaut Steps into the Void David J. Shayler GEMINI 4 An Astronaut Steps into the Void David J. Shayler GEMINI 4 An Astronaut Steps into the Void David J. Shayler Astronautical Historian Astro Info Service Ltd. Halesowen UK SPRINGER-PRAXIS BOOKS IN SPACE EXPLORATION Springer Praxis Books ISBN 978-3-319-76674-4 ISBN 978-3-319-76675-1 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76675-1 Library of Congress Control Number: 2018959438 © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2018 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors, and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. COVER IMAGE CAPTIONS: (Front Cover): A classic image from Gemini 4. Pilot Edward H. White II becomes the second man and first American to walk in space, June 3, 1965. (Back Cover) [Top] The Gemini 4 prime crew wearing full G-4C pressure suits. Pilot Edward H. White II (left) is accompanied by Command Pilot James A. McDivitt (right). [Courtesy Ed Hengeveld]. [Bottom] The front cover design for the next book in this series: Gemini 5, Eight Days in Space or Bust. Cover design: Jim Wilkie Project Editor: Michael D. Shayler Printed on acid-free paper This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Switzerland AG The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland Contents Author’s Preface ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� viii Acknowledgements ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� xii Dedication ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� xiv Foreword by Manfred ‘Dutch’ von Ehrenfried ������������������������������������������������������ xv Abbreviations and Acronyms ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� xviii Prologue ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� xxiii 1 Stepping into the void ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 1 Evolution of a Spacewalk ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 2 Gemini EVA Plan ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 5 The Evolution of America’s First EVA ���������������������������������������������������������������� 14 2 Dressed for the occasion ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 24 David Clark G-4C Extra-Vehicular Pressure Suit ������������������������������������������������ 25 Ventilation Control Module (VCM) System �������������������������������������������������������� 34 Hand-Held Maneuvering Unit (HHMU) ������������������������������������������������������������� 35 3 Jim and Ed ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 40 James Alton (‘Jim’) McDivitt, Command Pilot Gemini 4 ���������������������������������� 41 Edward Higgins (‘Ed’) White II, Pilot Gemini 4 ������������������������������������������������ 48 Two for Four �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 55 4 Steps towards space ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 62 A Not-so-Secret Rendezvous ������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 62 Longer Duration Missions ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 65 The Hardware ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 67 The Gemini 4 Launch Vehicle ����������������������������������������������������������������������������� 67 The Gemini 4 Spacecraft ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 69 Astronaut Preparations ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 76 Keeping Plan ‘X’ a Secret ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 86 Gemini 4 Mission Objectives ������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 89 v vi Contents 5 School for controllers ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 91 “This is School House, Houston” ������������������������������������������������������������������������ 91 Gemini Flight Control ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 96 Providing a Tracking Network Across the World ������������������������������������������������ 104 6 “We’re on our way, buddy!” ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� 113 It’s the Final Countdown �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 113 Orbital Flight �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 130 7 “He’s out! He’s floating free!” �������������������������������������������������������������������������� 140 Go for EVA ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 140 Picking Up on the Next Pass �������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 144 Going For “Eee…Vee…Aaa” ������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 147 Standing on the Seat �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 151 Get Back In ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 168 8 A streamlined Gemini capsule �������������������������������������������������������������������������� 181 Settling into the Flight Plan �������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 182 Flight Day One: Thursday June 3. Post-Eva Activities ���������������������������������������� 182 Flight Day Two: Friday June 4 ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� 197 9 Something else up here �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 206 Flight Day Two: Friday June 4 ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� 207 10 This thing isn’t very big ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 221 Flight Day Three, Saturday June 5 ���������������������������������������������������������������������� 222 A Pit Stop at Indianapolis ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 226 11 A computer malfunction �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 238 Flight Day Four, Sunday June 6 �������������������������������������������������������������������������� 238 Ready to Come Home ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 243 Turn Your Computer Off �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 249 12 Final orbits ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 257 Flight Day Five, Monday June 7 �������������������������������������������������������������������������� 258 13 “We’re about ready to come down” ���������������������������������������������������������������� 267 Flight Day Five: Monday June 7 – Re-entry Phase �������������������������������������������� 267 Re-entry Sequence ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 273 Recovery Phase ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 280 Getting Out of Gemini 4 �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 288 14 Post-flight �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 294 Post-Flight Activities ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 294 All Aboard the USS Wasp ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
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