Florida Today from Cocoa, Florida • Page 61

FLORIDA TODAY, Sunday. March 14, 1993 13 Gemini astronauts to be inducted GEMINI, From 10E 1 -Jrh if price admission to all Brevard County residents, Lupfer said. "I think we had a good presentation before, but I think it's going to be even more tremendous now," Lupfer said. In addition to the Mercury exhibits which includes Wally Schir-ra's Sigma 7 spacecraft the Gemini area will include personal mementos of the men that will showcase to visitors what the Gemi generation of astronauts, just as many current shuttle fliers were influenced as children to go into the space program because of the early pioneers. "Really ordinary human beings were able to do those things and they'll be able to do the same thing if they chose to," said Gemini 11 astronaut Richard Gordon.

For more information about the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame call 269-6100. ni astronauts did in the space program and what they were like growing up. "I think visitors are going to find out that the early guys were just average Americans that went into space and had a particular love for aviation and space," said James Lovell, who flew two Gemini and two Apollo missions. The Gemini astronauts are hopeful the exhibits will inspire a new The Coca-Cola Co.

also provided significant funding, said Bill Lupfer, Astronaut Hall of Fame general manager. The Titusville attraction was closed to the public last Sunday so the 8,000 square-foot exhibit area could be remodeled. It will reopen next Sunday with a special half- Gemini 3 Gemini 8 When: March 23, 1965. Crew: Virgil 'Gus' Grissom and John Young. Mission: The first manned Gemini flight proved the spacecraft could work in space and change its orbit by firing maneuvering jets.

Mission duration: 4 hours, 53 Men made history during 2-year project Date: March 16, 1966. Crew: Neil Armstrong anjj; David Scott. Mission: Two spacecraft 'rf. Gemini 8 capsule and an Agerta upper stage were docked in space for the first time. JHe Gemini spacecraft started spifi ning and the crew had to make a emergency splashdown.

Mission duration: 10 hours, 4t tered the Air Force and served as an experimental flight test officer at the Air Force Test Center in California. Collins was selected as an minutes. Charles Conrad Jr. Charles "Pete" Conrad Jr. piloted Gemini 5, commanded Gemini 11, walked on the moon during Apollo 12 and commanded the Skylab 2 space station mission.

minutes chief of staff for Research and Development and Acquisition at the U.S. Air Force headquarters in Washington, D.C. Stafford retired in 1979. Today, Stafford is a partner in the consulting firm Stafford, Burke and Hecker in Alexandria, Va. He and his wife, Linda, live in Alexandria.

Neil Armstrong Neil Armstrong was the first human to walk on the moon. He was born Aug. 5, 1930, in Wapakoneta, Ohio. He received a bachelor of science degree in 4 During 1965 and 1966, 13 astronauts flew 10 Gemini missions. John Young, James McDivitt, Edward White Charles "Pete" Conrad Jr, Frank Borman, James Lovell, Thomas Stafford, Nell Armstrong, David Scott, Eugene Cernan, Michael Collins, Richard Gordon Jr.

and Buzz Aldrin Jr. were members of Project Gemini, which led to the Apollo lunar missions and eventually the space shuttle. John Young John Young holds a record for the most space flights six. Young flew on Geminis 3 and 10, orbited the moon during Apollo 10, walked on the moon during astronaut in 1963. Collins retired from the Air Force as a major general and left NASA in 1970.

He became the first director of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Conrad was born June 2, 1930, in Philadelphia. He re-c i a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical engineering from Princeton Uni COLLINS Gemini 4 Gemini 9 aeronautical engineering from Purdue University and a master of science degree from the University of Southern California. Armttrnni Space Museum, serving from 1971 to 1978. Collins also wrote several books on space, including Cany-ing the Fire, Liftoff, and Space Machine. He and his wife, Patricia, live in Everglades City.

Richard Gordon Jr. Richard Gordon Jr. walked in space on Gemini 11 and orbited the moon on Apollo 12. He was born Oct 5, 1929, in Seattle, Wash. He received a Apollo 16 and commanded two space shuttle missions, STS-1 andSTS-9.

He was born Sept 24, 1930, in San Francisco. Young considers When: June 3-7, 1965. Crew: James McDivitt and Edward White II. Mission: The highlight of the mission was NASA's first extravehicular activity, which became known as a spacewalk. White spent 22 minutes outside the cabin.

Mission duration: 4 days, 2 versity in 1953. CONRAD After graduation, Conrad attended the Navy Test Pilot School in Maryland. NASA selected Conrad as an astronaut in 1962. In 1973, Conrad retired from the Navy. Today, he is staff vice president with the McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co.

He and his wife, Nancy, live in Huntington Beach, Calif. Frank Borman Frank Borman commanded Gemini 7 and Apollo 8, the first flight to orbit the moon. Borman was born March 14, 1928, in Gary, Ind. Borman re 1 1 ft ar'J Date: June 3-6, 1966. Crew: Thomas Stafford artd Eugene Cernan.

Mission: A docking attempt was called off when a shrowjf failed to separate from the targejj vehicle, giving project Gemini 'angry The misstpti also featured several renders vous and spacewalks. Mission duration: 3 2Q Orlando his vrmur hours. minutes. bachelor of set-ence degree from the University of Washington in 1951. A retired Navy captain, Gordon received his wings as a naval avia- flew as a naval ARMSTRONG aviator from 1949 to 1952.

In 1955, he joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics' Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory. He was selected as an astronaut in 1962. Armstrong left NASA in 1971 and became a professor at the University of Cincinnati. Today he is chairman of CTA, in Lebanon, Ohio. David Scott David Scott flew on Gemini 8, was Command Module pilot on Apollo 9 and drove the first Lunar Rover as commander of Apollo 15.

He was born June 6, 1932, in ceived a bachelor of science degree from the U.S. Military Academy, at West Point in 1950 and a master of science degree from the California Insti JhF hometown. Young joined the Navy after graduating from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1952. After training at the Navy Test Pilot School in 1959, Young was assigned to the Naval Air Test Center. He retired from the Navy in 1976.

NASA selected Young to be an astronaut in 1962. In 1983, Young was named chief of the Space Shuttle Branch of the Astronaut Office and later selected chief of the Astronaut Office. Today, Young is a special assistant to the director of the Johnson Space Center for Engineering, Operations and Safety. He and his wife, Susy, live in Seabrook, Texas. James McDivitt NASA selected James McDivitt as an astronaut in 1962.

McDivitt commanded the Gemini 4 mission and the Apollo 9 BORMAN tute of Technology in 1957. A career Air Gemini 5 San Antonio. He ,1 Force officer Gemini 10 P1 received a bachelor of science degree from the U.S. Military Academy in 1954 and two master of science degrees Date: Aug. 21-29, 1965.

I Crew: Gordon 'Gordo' Cooper I and Charles 'Pete' Conrad. Mission: Fuel cells were used the first time and navigation I systems were tested for rendezvous. Flight proved humans "could survive in space long enough for a trip to the moon. Mission duration: 7 days, 23 I Date: July 18-21, 1966. Crew: John Young and-'Mij chael Collins.

Mission: Once docked withJJs Agena target vehicle, Geminf.10 was boosted into a high Eattfi orbit. The crew also rendesS voused with the Gemini 8 Agerif and performed a spacewalk. Mission duration: 2 days irom Massacnu- from 1950 to 1970, Borman served as a fighter pilot in the Philippines, an operational pilot and instructor and an assistant professor at West Point. He also was an experimental test pilot at the U.S. Air Force Aerospace Pilot School.

He was selected as an astronaut in 1962. In 1969, Borman became an Eastern Airlines advisor. Today, he is with the Patlex Corp. He and his wife, Susan, live in Las Cruces, N.M. James Lovell James Lovell piloted Gemini 7, commanded Gemini 12, orbited the moon on Apollo 8 and commanded the aborted Apollo 13 moon flight He was born March 25, 1928, in Cleveland.

He attended the Uni tor in 1953. He GORDON attended All-Weather Flight School and jet transitional training and was assigned to an all-weather fighter squadron at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville. He attended the Navy's Test Pilot School and was a flight test pilot there until 1960. He also was a flight safety officer, assistant operations officer and ground training officer for Fighter Squadron 96 at Miramar. He won the Bendix Trophy Race from Los Angeles to New York in May 1961, setting a new speed record of 869.74 miles per hour and a transcontinental record of 2 hours 47 minutes.

Gordon was selected as an astronaut in 1963. In 1971, Gordon became chief of advanced programs for the Astronaut Office and worked on the design and testing of the space shuttle and development equipment A year later he retired from NASA and the Navy to become executive vice president of the New Orleans Saints professional football team. He currently is president of Space Age America Inc. of Los Angeles. He and his wife, Linda, live in Manhattan Beach, Calif.

Buzz Aldrin Buzz Aldrin walked in space on Gemini 12 and explored the moon on Apollo 11, the first lunar landing mission. He was born Jan. 20, 1930, in nours flight -r He was born June 10, 1929, in Chicago. In 1959, McDivitt received a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical engineering from the setts Institute of SCOTT Technology in 1962. Scott entered the Air Force and graduated from the Experimental Test Pilot School and the Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

He was selected as an astronaut in 1963. Scott has held many administrative posts with NASA. He retired from the Air Force in 1975 and now is president of Scott Science and Technology of Los Angeles. He and his wife, Lurton, live in Manhattan Beach, Calif. Eugene Cernan Eugene Cernan walked in space on Gemini 9, orbited the moon on Apollo 10 and walked on the moon as commander of Apollo "rial Gemini 6 versity of Wis-consin.

He received a bachelor of science degree from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1952 and completed the ad-v a management Gemini 11 LOVELL University of Mi- mcDIVITT chigan. He also has received several honorary doctoral degrees. McDivitt joined the Air Force in 1951 and retired as a brigadier general in 1972. He is a graduate of the U.S.

Air Force Experimental Test Pilot School and the U.S. Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot Course. McDivitt was named manager of lunar landing operations in May 1969 and led a team that planned the lunar exploration program. Before leaving NASA in 1972, McDivitt was program manager for several Apollo flights. Today, McDivitt is senior vice president of government operations for Rockwell International Corp.

He and his wife, Judy, live in Potomac, Md. Edward White II Edward White II became America's first space walker on the Gemini 4 mission. He was born Nov. 14, 1930, in San Antonio. White received a bachelor of science degree from the U.S.

Montclair, NJ. He received a bachelor of sci-ence degree from the U.S. Military Academy in 1951, graduating third in his class. Aldrin en ZM Date: Dec. 15-16, 1965.

Crew: Walter 'Wally' Schirra and Thomas Stafford. Mission: The crew the world's first rendezvous in space, a technique required for the moon landing program. Gemini 6 chased down "and rendezvoused with Gemini 7, "flying within a foot of the space-craft. Mission duration: 25 hours, 51 17. He was born March 14, 1934, in Chicago.

He received a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University in 1956 and a Date: Sept. 12-15, 1966. fi- Crew: Charles 'Pete' CofTra and Richard Gordon. Mission: The first rendezvous and docking in a single orbit aftef launch was performed and fheri the crew was boosted to a recoj altitude for Gemini of 739 miles. spacewalk also was accorf plished.

Mission duration: 2 days, .3 ftrt ALDRIN CERNAN tered the Air program at Harvard Business School in 1971. Lovell attended the Test Pilot School at the Naval Air Test Center in Maryland. He was selected as an astronaut in 1962. Lovell retired from the Navy in 1973. Today, he is a group vice president with Centel Business Communications Systems in Chicago.

He and his wife, Marilyn, live in Lake Forest 111. Thomas Stafford Thomas Stafford commanded the American ship that linked in orbit with a Soviet craft during the Apollo-Soyuz flight in July 1975. Stafford was born Sept 17, 1930, minutes. hours. P'0llJ Military Academy at West Point in 1952 and a master of science from the University of Michigan in 1959.

In 1965. White ill received an hon- Force and earned his pilot wings in 1952. As an F86 fighter pilot in Korea, he flew 66 combat missions and destroyed two MIG-15 aircraft He later served as an aerial gunner instructor at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, as aide to the dean of faculty at the Air Force Academy and with an F100 squadron in Germany. He then attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Following his doctor of science studies, Aldrin was assigned to the Gemini Target Office of the Air Force Systems Command in Los Angeles.

He was selected as an astronaut in 1963. Aldrin returned to active Air Force duty in 1971 and was assigned to Edwards Air Force Base, as commander of the Test Pilots School. He retired from the Air Force as a colonel in 1972 to enter business. He currently is president of Stare raft Enterprises of Laguna Beach, and chairman of the board of governors of the National Space Society. He and his wife, Lois, live in Laguna Beach.

Source: US Astronaut Hall ot Fame i master or science degree in aeronautical engi-neering from the U.S. Postgraduate School. Cernan, a retired Navy captain, received his commission through the Navy ROTC program at Purdue and entered flight training upon graduation. He was selected as an astronaut in 1963. Cernan later acted as the senior U.S.

negotiator with the Soviets on the Apollo-Soyuz mission. He retired from the Navy and left NASA in 1976. Today, he is president of Cernan Energy Group in Houston, where he lives with his wife, Jan. Michael Collins Michael Collins walked in space on Gemini 10 and circled the moon while in the Apollo 11 Command Module while America's first moonwalkers explored the lunar surface. He was born Oct 31, 1930, in Rome.

He received a bachelor of science degree from the U.S. Military Academy in 1952. After West Point Collins en- Gemini 7 in Weatherford, Okla. Stafford received a bachelor of science degree from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1952 and has several honorary degrees.

Following i JLamm STAFFORD in astronautics WHIIC from the University of Michigan. FoUowing West Point White received flight training in Florida and Texas, spent time in Germany with an Air Force fighter squadron and attended the Air Force Test Pilot School in 1959. In 1962, NASA selected White as an astronaut On Jan. 27, 1967, White and fellow Apollo 1 astronauts Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee died in a spacecraft fire during a launch padt3t Gemini 12 li Date: Nov. 11-15, 1966.

Crew: James Lovell and BUii Aldrin. Mission: The final Gemini flight featured rendezvous, docking and a record-duration, fjvef-hour spacewalk all the impoi tant elements required for Project Apollo. Mission duration: 3 Have oo' Date: Dec. 4-18, 1965. Crew: Frank Borman and "James Lovell.

Of Mission: Launched first be- cause of a problem with the Gemini 6 mission, the two men 'spent two weeks on a long "duration stay in space. Toward the end of the flight they served as a rendezvous target for Gemi- Mission duration: 13 days, 18.5 graduation, Stafford was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. He trained in South Dakota and Germany and graduated from the Air Force Experimental Flight Test Pilot School. Stafford was selected as an astronaut in 1962.

Stafford returned to the Air Force and was assigned as deputy hours. 1 ours..