The Gemini 6 Mission

The Gemini 6 mission was originally scheduled to launch on December 12th, but an electrical umbilical separated prematurely on the launch pad and forced the launch to be delayed until December 15th. The objective of the mission was to rendezvous with the Gemini 7 mission, already in orbit around the earth. After initiating some thrust burns to catch up with the Gemini 7 in orbit, the Gemini 6 reached the Gemini 7 and spacecraft maneuvering exercises. The crews practiced circling each other and approaches, with every crew member taking time to practice. During the duration of the mission, three scientific experiments were conducted and another was partially completed. After five hours of exercises, the Gemini 6 spacecraft reentered the earth's atmosphere and splashed down on December 16th.