(Rusty B) wrote in message om...
I found an interesting bit if trivia related to
the early Gemini program.

According to the Encyclopedia Astronautica:

http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/titan2.htm

"1964 Nov 24 - Gemini-Titan (GT) 2 successfully completed the
Wet Mock Simulated Launch, a full-scale countdown exercise which
included propellant loading.
Procedures for flight crew suiting and spacecraft ingress were
practiced during simulated launch. The primary Gemini-Titan 3
flight crew donned the training suits and full biomedical
instrumentation, assisted by the space suit bioinstrumentation
and aeromedical personnel who would participate in the GT-3
launch operation. As a result of this practice operation,
it was established that all physical examinations,
bioinstrumentation sensor attachment, and suit donning
would be done in the pilot ready room at complex 16.
The final readiness of the vehicle for flight was established
by the Simulated Flight Test on December 3. For the launch
vehicle, this test was a repeat of the Joint Combined
Systems Test, but for the spacecraft it was a detailed
mission simulation."

Here is a picture of the Gemini-3 crew leaving LC-19 after the
Gemini-2 simulated countdown.

http://images.jsc.nasa.gov/iams/imag...3/10073868.htm

http://images.jsc.nasa.gov/iams/imag...3/10073868.jpg


Here are pictures of them suiting up for the Gemini-2 simulation
and leaving the trailer.
Note the date on the photos 11/24/64.

http://www.johnwyoung.com/gt3/enlarge-gt3/s65-10483.htm

http://www.johnwyoung.com/bio/enlarg...io070300-1.htm

http://www.johnwyoung.com/gt3/enlarge-gt3/64_h_2877.htm



Gemini-2 was launched Jan 19, 1965.

Gemini-3 was launched Mar 23, 1965.



- Rusty Barton - Antelope, California

Interesting account but I'm curious about something.

In the 2nd image, why are Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra (in civilian
clothing) carrying what appear to be spare suit cooling units? Not a
big deal, it's just that I don't ever remember seeing anyone carrying
around spares. Perhaps it was a long simulation and the GT-2 vehicle
had no internal provisions to supply the suits since it was to be
flown unmanned.

Thanks

John Pelchat