www.spaceflightnews.net - Gemini 8 (NASA Code GT-8); Launch Date: March 16, 1966; Launch Time: 11:41:02 am EST; Launch Site: Launch Complex 19; Launch Vehicle: Gemini-Titan II GLV-8 (GT-8) NASA history documentary: Gemini 8 "This Is Houston Flight" Gemini 8 marked the first successful dual launch and docking with the Gemini Agena Target Vehicle (GATV), completing the world's first on-orbit docking of two spacecraft. The mission was originally scheduled for three days, but was aborted on the first day in space. The Gemini 8 GATV was launched as the second stage of an Atlas-Agena rocket at 10:00 am EST on March 16, 1966 from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 14. The GATV launch occurred about 101 minutes prior to the launch of the manned Gemini 8 spacecraft. Docking of the Gemini 8 spacecraft and the GATV was successfully completed at a mission elapsed time of 6 hours, 33 minutes. This marked the first time a docking was achieved in space. Just 27 minutes after the docking was achieved, a problem surfaced that resulted in an abort of the mission. A short-circuit occurred in the Orbital Attitude Maneuvering System (OAMS) which caused fuel to be depleted through the capsule's #8 thruster. Just seconds after the malfunction, the mated spacecraft began spinning rapidly as a result of the pressure being released through the faulty thruster. Astronaut Armstrong was able to temporarily correct the problem by sequentially firing the OAMS thrusters, but the spinning always resumed <b>...</b>