Gemini VIII launched 1966

Gemini VIII crew: David Scott, Neil Armstrong

Mission patch

Gemini VIII, launched March 16, 1966, was the sixth crewed spaceflight of the Gemni program.  Its crew consisted of Command Pilot Neil Armstrong and Pilot David Scott.

Gemini VIII docked succesfully with the Agena Target Vehicle, but soon after they began to roll.  Armstrong corrected the roll immediately but the spacecraft began to roll again.  They were spinning at a rate of nearly 1 revolution per second.  Armstrong managed to fire the re-entry thrusters in the opposite direction of the roll and brought them under control. 

Since they had used all of the fuel to correct the spin, they had to abort the mission after less than 11 hours.