Gemini- 9 splashes down in Atlantic

Cape Kennedy: The Gemini

9 spacecraft splashed down in the Atlantic today at the end of the three- day flight of astronauts Thomas Stafford and Eugene Cernan.

Stafford was at the controls as the spacecraft hurtled through the earth’s atmosphere to a safe splash down.

The flight had been plagued by problems but included the longest- yet walk in space.

The capsule, from which Cernan made a two hour and five minute space walk yesterday, came down within sight of the recovery aircraft carrier Wasp stationed about 345 miles east of this missile launching centre.

Stafford piloted his craft through the fiery re- entry procedure so that his orange parachute could be seen from the carrier.

Stafford immediately informed flight controllers that he wanted to remain aboard the spacecraft until it could be lifted aboard the carrier.

Previously astronauts have prepared to be taken off by frogmen and flown back to the carrier by helicopter.

ROUND THE WORLD 45 TIMES

Mission control centre reported after the landing that the communications through the 34- minute reentry period were better than on any of the 12 previous US man- in- space flights.

During their flight Cernan and Stafford circled the globe 45 times and travelled nearly 1,200,000 miles.

“Have you got us in sight” Stafford asked as Gemini 9 drifted down on its 84- foot parachute.

The carrier advised that it did and added: “The whole world has you in sight.”

The sailors on the aircraft carrier Wasp crowded the deck as the big carrier turned to approach the spacecraft in the water. They were cheering the astronauts.