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NASA PROGRAM GEMINI WORKING PAPER NO. 5047

MISSION TRAINING PLAN FOR GEMINI IX FLIGHT CREW

f ( H A S A - : T H - X i - 7 2 2 7 2 ) M I S S I O N T B A I N I N G P L A N N 7 5 r - 7 0 5 2 t t ,F OB G E M I N I 9 F L I G H T - C 8 E H ( N A S A ) 19 p i

Unclas00/98 17538

D I STRI BU TI O N A N D R E F E R E N C I N G

This paper is not suitable fo r genera l distr ibution or referenc ing . It may be re fe rencedonly in other working cor re sponde nce and documents by participating organizations.

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS A N D SPACE ADMINISTRATION

M A N N E D S P A C E C R A F T C E N T E R

HOUSTON, TEXAS

F E B R U A R Y 14,1966



MSA PROGRAM GEMINI WORKING PAPER NO. 50̂ 7

MISSION TRAINING PLAN FOR GEMINI IX FLIGHT CREW

Prepared by: Mission Training SectionFlight Crew Support Division

Authorized for distribution:

Donald K. SlaytcAssistant Director

' Flight Crev Operations

NATIONAL.AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION" * " <m.'̂ V ; 9 , i yj?' ? . - - . . - , r . , - • : • » _ .;.•:...

MANNED SPACECRAFT CENTER

HOUSTON, TEXAS

FEBRUARY lk, 1966



iii

CONTENTS

Section Page

1.0 SUMMARY 1-1

2.0 INTRODUCTION 2-1

3.0 PREPARATION AND TRAINING 3-1

3.1 Spacecraft Tests ....... 3-1

3.2 Gemini Mission Simulator Training 3-23.3 Translation and Docking Training 3-53.U launch Abort Training 3-63-5 Egress and Recovery Training 3-63.6 Celestial Training 3-73-7 Extravehicular Activity Training 3-73.8 Gemini Mockup 3-83.9 Briefings and Meetings 3-83.10 Other Training Activities 3-9

k.O Figures k-1



iv

FIGURES

Figure . Page

^-1 Time spent by each •crewmember on training orrelated activities during preflight trainingperiod . ..................... ^-3

Crew training schedule .............. k-k



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1.0 SUMMARY

This plan defines the training to be accomplished "by the primary

and backup crews in preparation for the seventh manned Gemini mission,(Gemini IX). It is intended as a guide to the flight crews and supportpersonnel responsible for training, and it does not represent absolutetraining requirements. The training outlined in this document is for-mal scheduled training, and it does not include such crew activitiesas study and physical fitness which are accomplished on an individualbasis, nor those activities that are more directly related to flightoperations support and engineering efforts.

The Crew Commander and the Flight Crew Training Coordinator arejointly responsible for the accomplishment of the overall training plan.Effective planning and coordination by all agencies involved will be

essential to the successful completion of training objectives withinthe relatively short period available for training. Equipment locationand availability will be such as to minimize crew and support personneltravel requirements.



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2.0 INTRODUCTION

This training plan outlines the specific mission training to be.accomplished by the flight crews for the manned Gemini IX mission.Gemini IX, like Gemini VIII, will fly with an auxiliary tape memory(ATM) to operate in conjunction with the onboard computer and willattempt EVA during a rendezvous operation. Gemini IX will attemptthree Agena secondary propulsion system (SPS)burns while docked andat least one Agena primary propulsion system burn while docked. Thisplan is published as a guide to the flight crew and the personnel re-sponsible for training the flight crews.

The criteria used in developing this training plan are as follows:

1. Although crewmembers are normally scheduled by teams and in

their designated seat position, cross-seat and cross-team training willbe done so that each crewmember can satisfactorily perform the more

critical tasks. This will permit some late-date flexibility in reas-signment of crewmembers and alleviate training schedule problems.

2. The backup crew must be as prepared for flight as the primarycrew. This will permit, if the need arises, replacement as a team orby individual seat position with minimal delay to the launch schedule.

3. Only one crewmember will be required to participate in the lesscritical activities, such as some of the spacecraft tests and certainsystems and operations meetings. The crewmember who attends will brief

the others on the significant results.

k. The crews will receive Gemini systems briefings prior to parti-cipation in major spacecraft tests, at the start of mission simulatortraining at Cape Kennedy, and again approximately 10 days before flight.They will also receive Agena systems briefings approximately k monthsbefore flight.

5. The command pilots assigned to Gemini IX were thoroughly trainedin basic spacecraft systems operations in preparation for the Gemini Vand VI missions; therefore, mission simulator sessions will include areview of basic systems rather than extensive basic systems training.

Additional training sessions are planned for the pilots to provide sys-tems familiarization prior to crew team training.

6. This training plan defines the equipment requirements only ona general basis. Detailed equipment requirements must be met by the re-sponsible organizations to permit the training as described in thisdocument.



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3.0 PREPARATION AND TRAINING

The following is a description of each major area in which the crews

will be extensively involved. Schedules defining specific areas of prep-aration and training are included in figure ^-2 to illustrate the propersequencing of individual crew activities.

3.1 Spacecraft Tests

Participation by flight crewmembers in the testing of their space-craft is of significant operational and training value to them. It -isnecessary to have an operator or observer inside the spacecraft duringmany of the tests. The flight crews will frequently fulfill this re-quirement for the major spacecraft tests and, in so doing, learn the

characteristic functioning of their spacecraft systems. In addition,when modifications to the spacecraft are considered or required, thecrews will be able to make inputs with full knowledge of the situation.

Spacecraft tests are normally run on a 2^-hour basis, requiringboth crew teams to cover the critical crew-interface tests. One or twocrewmembers can cover the less critical tests. When practical, all fourcrewmembers will attend the major spacecraft test reviews.

Crew participation in testing of the Gemini DC spacecraft is shownin figure ^-2. Each crewmember will spend between ^0 and 50 hours inthe spacecraft and a much greater amount of time observing, trouble-

shooting, and reviewing spacecraft status, as well as supporting space-craft tests and launch operations for other missions. The followingoutlines the planned number of crewmembers participating in the space-craft testing and the location of these tests.

Crew Location

3.1.1 Gemini VI.-

Simultaneous launch demonstration k Houston MCC

Final simulated flight . 2 Houston MCC

3.1.2 Gemini VII.-

Final simulated flight 3 Houston MCC



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Crew Location

3.1-3 Gemini IX.-

AMU firing 3 Houston andLTV

Simulated flight test 3 MAC

Altitude chamber test and horizontalSEER . 4 MAC

Plan X k • Cape

Premate verification 2 Cape

Mate k Cape

Environmental, electrical and joint

guidance and control test k CapeJoint combined systems test 4 Cape

Final spacecraft systems test k Cape

Final simulated flight test k Cape

Simultaneous launch demonstration k Cape

Final launch preparation 2 Cape

3-2 Gemini Mission Simulator Training

The flight crew will complete an extensive training program usingthe Gemini mission simulators both at Houston and at Cape Kennedy toprovide them with experience in normal and abnormal operation of space-craft systems and flight control. The program consists of 30 trainingsessions, of 1 hour 30 minutes to 3 hours duration. This training isdivided into four training phases:

1. Phase I Familiarization

2. Phase II General systems training

3 - Phase III Mission training

k. Phase IV Integrated mission simulations

Phases I and II will be conducted at the Manned Spacecraft Center. Mostof Phase III and all of Phase IV training will be conducted at CapeKennedy.



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The Gemini mission simulator, the Gemini part task trainer, and thedynamic crew precedures simulator will be used for out-the-window vehiclepositioning and control. The tasks to "be performed using the externaldisplays are: (l) orientation of the vehicle to various positions fromrandom initial attitudes, (2) practice estimating vehicle rates using

celestial and terrestrial information, and (3) the practice of appli-cable flight plan maneuvers and tests, including the rendezvous maneu-vers. This document contains only an outline of the mission simulatorprogram. A detailed description of each session will be distributed ona limited basis to crewmembers and personnel directly involved in Geminimission simulator training.

Each simulator training session will include a briefing and a de-briefing. Sessions may be modified as required by such factors asstatus of simulation programs, equipment, and the assessed value of in-dividual sessions.

3.2.1 Phase I Familiarization.- The purpose of this phase is tofamiliarize the crews with the simulator configuration, the normal opera-tional characteristics of the spacecraft systems, and the preliminaryflight plan. The pilot crewmembers of Gemini IX will receive additionalfamiliarization sessions as required to become thoroughly proficient inspacecraft systems knowledge and operation. It is anticipated that eachpilot will require approximately five additional familiarization sessions.

Session 1 Simulator familiarization and general spacecraft systemsoperation.

Sessions 2 and 3 Flight plan review, with emphasis on operations

using the visual display system. The crews will wear pressure suitsduring one of these exercises.

3-2.2 Phase II General systems training.- The purpose of thisphase is to train the crews in system failure detection for Gemini IXspacecraft and analysis and the application of alternate procedures andoperational modes. The application of specific mission rules is mini-mized. The number of failures per session will be kept to a level thatwill allow the crews to discuss and analyze each failure in detail. Thesessions in this phase are:

Session 1 Electrical sequential, electrical power and communica-

tions.

Session 2 - ACME, CAMS, and RCS

Session 3 Navigation and control, ATM and computer



Session U Environmental control system (suited)

Session 5 Random system failures

3.2.3 Phase III - Mission training.- This phase consists of 1̂

training sessions and its purpose is to refine each crewmember's capa-bility to perform specific mission duties. The rendezvous mission ses-sions in this phase will consist of a launch, a rendezvous, retrofires,and a reentry. Random failures will be inserted that normally will notrequire early termination of the mission. The normal mission sessionswill consist of major flight plan activities, including rendezvous,practiced on a real-time basis with random failures. The sessions com-prising this phase are:

Session 1 launch aborts

Session 2 Rendezvous

Session 3 Rendezvous

Session U Rendezvous mission

Session 5 Normal mission

Session 6 launch aborts (suited)

Session 7 Retrofires and reentries (suited)

Session 8 Rendezvous mission (suited)

Session 9 ~ Normal mission (suited)

Session 10 - Launch aborts (suited)

Session 11 Retrofires and reentries

Session 12 Rendezvous mission (suited)

Session 13 Normal mission (suited)

Session 1^ Normal mission (suited).

3-2.^ Phase IV Mission simulations with mission controlDuring

the final phase of training of the mission simulator a series of inte-grated exercises will be conducted that will involve the flight crewsand ground network support.personnel. During these exercises, flightcontrol is rehearsed exactly as it is planned for the mission. Thecrews will occupy their positions in the mission simulator and will be in



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voice contact with either a real or simulated flight control network.Command and telemetry data links will also be active between the simu-lator and the flight control network. The types of exercises plannedare launch, reentry and simulated network simulations. The latter isprogrammed to cover countdown through rendezvous to simulate the world-

wide network and flight controller activities. During the simulatednetwork simulations the crews will have the option of remaining in thetrainer and practicing flight plan activities with the network personnel.

The mission simulations currently planned together with mission con-trol are as follows:

Session 1 Simulated network simulation

Session 2 Launch simulation

Session 3 Reentry simulation




Session 7 Reentry simulation

Session 8 Launch simulation

3-3 Translation and Docking Training

This training will be conducted on the Gemini translation and dock-ing simulator at MSC. The simulator is designed to provide crew train-ing in spacecraft control during the docking phase and formation flyingwith the Agena using all control modes, a wide variety of initial condi-tions, different lighting environments, and a moderate number of failures.

Training will consist of eight sessions of approximately 2 hourseach. The first session is planned to allow the crews to become famil-iar with the trainer and with normal and abnormal control characteris-

tics . The remaining seven sessions are planned to train the crews inmaneuvering the spacecraft in close proximity of the target vehicle andsuccessfully accomplishing the docking task. Various failures will beinserted during the runs. A detailed description of each session willbe distributed to those personnel and crewmembers who are directly in-volved in training on the translation and docking simulator.



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Launch Abort Training

In addition to launch phase training on the Gemini mission simula-tor, the crew will receive launch abort training on the dynamic crewprocedures simulator. This training program consists of eight different

groups of runs, as listed below, to be accomplished in six sessions ofapproximately 25 runs per session. Where possible, they have been pat-terned after actual Titan launch vehicle launches.

Group-I Normal launch with minor deviations due to winds, tran-sients, high or low booster thrust, et cetera

Group II Engine/propulsion failures

Group III Staging/sequential failures

Group IV Tank pressurization failures

Group V Controls/hydraulics failures

Group VI Instrument failures

Group VII Electrical/ordnance failures

Group VIII - Selected double failures

3.5 Egress and Recovery Training

The flight crews will receive spacecraft postlanding and recoverytraining in the spacecraft test tank at MSC, the crew procedures mockup,the Gulf of Mexico and.pad emergency egress training at Cape Kennedy.

The postlanding and recovery training in the Gulf of Mexico willutilize as egress trainers Static Article no. 5 and Boilerplate no. 201.Initial recovery training will consist of a demonstration of the survivalequipment to be carried on the mission and a run through all proceduresto be used in the crew procedures mockup and Boilerplate 201 (in the testtank). During the training exercise, the crews will practice postland-ing systems operations, surface egress, and helicopter pickup. Each crewteam will make two suited egresses from the egress trainers in the Gulfto include deployment and use of the survival pack equipment.

Emergency pad egress training using the elevator and the slide wirewill be conducted at Cape Kennedy approximately 20 days before flight.The training consists of briefing on the procedures to be followed inusing either the elevator mode or the slide wire mode plus a series of



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practice egress runs. At this time the crews will also receive a brief-ing and demonstration on the configuration and operation of the ejectionsystem.

3.6 Celestial Training

The crewmembers will further increase their capability to orientand control the spacecraft by the use of celestial information, as wellas make various astronomical observations, through the use of the More-head Planetarium, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the Gemini mission simu-lator and Gemini part task- trainer.

J.6.1 Planetarium reviews.- The flight crews will utilize theMorehead Planetarium for general celestial reviews and orientation. Thecrew will complete two sessions during each of three or four visits.The activities included in these reviews are as follows:

Session 1 - Review of entire celestial sphere which includes recog-nition of relative magnitudes, positions, distances and celestial coordi-nates of prominent stars and constellations.

Session 2 This session is the same as Session 1 with more emphasison reviewing stars and constellations near the orbital plane. The flightcrew will observe and identify constellations and star patterns as theydrift across the window using the Gemini Flight Plan and star charts forreference. The orbital conditions and the window viewing limits for bothpilots will be simulated.

3-7 Extravehicular Activity Training

3-7-1 Briefings.- Prior to each of the following activities, thecrews will receive a suitable briefing on the operation and limitationsof the particular training device.

3.7.2 Air bearing simulator.- Each pilot will practice extravehic-ular maneuvering for approximately 15 hours on the air bearing platform.This training will be suited and will include familiarization with themodular maneuvering unit and tether dynamics.

3.7-3 Gemini mockup.- Prior to training in the altitude chamber andthe zero "g" aircraft each pilot and command pilot will utilize theGemini crew station and adapter mockups in pressurized suits to becomethoroughly familiar with the physical handling and operation of theextravehicular life support system (ELSS), and the astronaut maneuver-ing unit (AMU).



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3-7-^ Altitude chamber.- Each pilot will utilize the MSC altitudechamber B to become familiar with depressurization and repressurizationprocedures, EISS handling, operation, and AMJ hot firings.

3.T.5 Zero "g" flights.- During approximately ten flights in the

KC-135 aircraft at Wright Patterson Air Force Base with the spacecraftand adapter mockup, each crew will practice donning, doffing, and operat-ing the EISS, opening and closing the hatch, egress and ingress> and re-moval, donning and operation of the AMU. In addition the crew willpractice procedures and operation of the micrometeorite collection de-vices (S-10 and S-12 experiments).

3-7.6 Spacecraft systems tests.- The crews will participate inenvironmental control system (ECS) and EISS checkout at McDonnell Air-craft Corporation.

3.7.7 AMU simulations.- The pilots will fly simulations of the AMUat Edwards AFB and at LTV-Dallas for approximately ^5 total hours each.The command pilots will make familiarization runs for approximately6 hours each. The crews will practice AMU maneuvering and rendezvouswith the spacecraft.

3-7.8 AMU hot firings (LTV and MSC).- Each pilot will participatein ambient and altitude chamber firings of the AMU at LTV and MSC.Approximately 2 days will be spent in each type of firing.

3.8 Gemini Mockup

The Gemini Mockup which duplicates the Gemini spacecraft crew sta-tion, in addition to being used for EVA training and egress trainingmentioned previously, will be used by the flight crews to establishcockpit stowage provisions, pressure suit and ejection seat interfacesand use of special operational equipment. The advantages afforded bythis mockup are early availability and stowage flexibility. The flightcrews will use this trainer for a stowage review prior to the MAC hori-zontal SEDR test and as required'during later training.

3 • 9 Briefings .and Meetings

The three major areas of briefings (excluding those briefings anddebriefings carried out in conjunction with training exercises on thesimulators) are the flight plan reviews, spacecraft systems briefings,and flight experiments briefings.

3.9-1 Flight plan reviews.- The flight plan will be reviewed withthe flight crews on a periodical basis. The first review will be



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conducted shortly after crew selection and before commencement of theirpreflight training program. Although 5 flight plan reviews are programed,additional flight plan reviews will be conducted as required.

3-9-2 Systems briefings.- The flight crews will receive a seriesof briefings covering each major spacecraft system at the beginning ofcrew participation in spacecraft testing, and later at.Cape Kennedyapproximately 6 weeks before flight. A final systems review will beheld approximately 10 days prior to flight at Cape Kennedy. In allcases the briefings will be given by the engineers involved in space-craft testing. Each system will be discussed in detail with emphasison operational techniques and functional interrelationships.

3-9-3 Flight experiments.- The experiments for this mission will

be reviewed in general with the flight crews at the beginning of speci-fic mission training and again at approximately ^ months prior to flight.These briefings will be given by the experimenters, experiment monitorsand/or Flight Experiments Section personnel, emphasizing the experimentalobjectives and associated crew procedures. Experiments will be reviewedagain at approximately 7 weeks and 2 weeks prior to flight if necessary,to cover latest status and modifications to-equipment and procedures.The Gemini mockup will be used early in the training period to developproficiency in the handling and stowage of experimental equipment. TheGemini mission simulator will be used for operational crew training onexperiments during the specific mission training periods.

3.9.̂ AMU briefings and Agena briefings.- In addition to the abovebriefings all crewmen will receive briefings on the AMU by FCSD and LTV

personnel and on the Agena by FCSD and FOB personnel at MSC and byLockheed personnel at Sunnyvale. Additional briefings will be scheduledas necessary.

3.10 Other Training Activities

3-10.1 McDonnell Aircraft Corporation (MAC) rendezvous engineeringsimulator.- The McDonnell rendezvous engineering simulations at St. Louiswill be used by the crew for early familiarization with rendezvous tech-niques and procedures. Crew participation in these simulations willgenerally be scheduled between spacecraft tests at MAC, St. Louis, and

prior to availability of the Gemini mission simulator.

3.10.2 Part task trainer.- The Gemini part task trainer will beused as required for practice of techniques and procedures used duringthe terminal phase of rendezvous and for retrofire and reentry.



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3.10.3 Aircraft flying.- To the extent possible, crew travel insupport of engineering and training activities will be via NASA aircraft.This will expedite crew travel and will maintain crewmember flyingskills. Frequently, experiments training equipment can be utilized dur-

ing these flights.

3.10.̂ Gemini VT and VII mission support.- The crews participatedextensively in the Gemini VI and VII simulated network simulations,launch and reentry simulation, final simulated flight, flight controllerbriefings as the capsule communicators for the entire Gemini VI and VIImissions.



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k .O FIGURES



Page Intentionally Left Blank



T I M E (HOURS)

5.0 75 1 00 175

180 GEMINI 7/6 MISSION SUPPORT

150 SPACECRAFT TESTING

75 MISSION SIMULATOR

EH

£

50

45

30

28

24

SYSTEMS BRIEFING

MMU SIMULATIONS

20 MAC RENDEZVOUS SIMULATOR

OPERATION REVIEWS

EXPERIMENT BRIEFINGS

ZERO "G" AIRCRAFT TRAINING

PLANETARIUM

16 TRANSLATION AND DOCKING SIMULATOR

16 SPACECRAFT MOCKUP TRAINING

15 I BETA SIMULATOR (AIR BEARING TRAINER)

12| EGRESS AND RECOVERY TRAINING

DYNAMIC- CREW PROCEDURES SIMULATOR

Figure -̂1.- Time spent by each crew member on training or

related activities during preflight training period.



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