Gordon Cooper

Gordon Cooper’s "personal copy" of ground tests in support of a Space Object Radiometry experiment to be performed on his forthcoming Gemini 5 mission.

Report Signed "my personal copy - / Gordon Cooper" in upper right of first page of Special Ground Tests / In Support of Experiment D-7 / on the Gemini-Titan 5 Mission, 12p, 8.5" x 11", separate sheets. Houston, Texas, July 26, 1965. Prepared by Capt. Robert D. Mercer, NASA, Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston. Three loose leaf holes at left edge and two staple holes in upper left of each page. Stamped "OFFICIAL USE ONLY" in upper and lower margins of each page. Fine condition.

Gordon Cooper, who piloted the "Faith 7" spacecraft on a 22-orbit mission which concluded the operational phase of Project Mercury in 1963, served as command pilot of the 8-day 120-revolution Gemini 5 mission which began on August 21, 1965, just four weeks after this report was issued. It was on this flight that he and pilot Charles Conrad established a new space endurance record by traveling a distance of 3,312,993 miles in an elapsed time of 190 hours and 56 minutes. Cooper also became the first man to make a second orbital flight and thus won for the United States the lead in man-hours in space by accumulating a total of 225 hours and 15 minutes.

The report begins "This document is a preliminary plan of test for ground support of experiment D-7, Space Object Radiometry, on the Gemini-Titan 5 manned space flight. Purpose of this document is an initial plan for review by all involved parties…"

Fine vintage condition.