Gemini 4 Experiment Debriefing, 1967

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00
M-913-65-04
GT-4 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY LANDING ZONES,
RECOVERY SHIP SUPPORT AND CONTINGENCY RESCUE FORCES
\);J
DO
30"
~
00
HICKAM 0
00
00
0 GUAM
O"
~ PRIMARY
l~
RECOVERYAREA
0 PAGO PAGO
8
"
REEm;~ANEA
CVS
CARRI ER
30"
00
OESTROYER
AO
OILER
0
CO NTINGE NCY
RESCUE FORC ES
/)};;
FIG. 23
of Figure 24. Other areas in the world along the ground tracks are called contingency
landing areas. Because these contingency landing areas are world-wide, it has been
necessary to pre-position certain aircraft with their associated crews, pararescuemen,
and paramedics so that they will be able to reach the spacecraft in sufficient time to
render aid to the downed astronauts. These contingency forces have been deployed to
the bases shown in Figure 23 .
It should be noted that there
are numerous types of aircraft
in the launch area and primary
landing area for telemetry,
weather reconnaissance, aerial
photography, and recovery
operations. In addition to
these aircraft there are also
several helicopters in the pri­
mary recovery area from the
aircraft carrier that are carry­
ing swimmers. These swimmers
deploy into the water and
attach an auxiliary flotation
collar to the spacecraft. Launc
area recovery forces are de­
picted in Figure 25.
RECOVERY AREA FORCES
ARS AIRCRAF T
PRIMARY RECOV ERY ZONE
200 MILES BY
USS WASP AND
ONE DESTROYE R
AIRCRAFT
1 USAF SSB RELAY AIRCRAFT
AT TOUCHDOWN POINT
3 WASP HELICOPTERS
1 WASP COMMAND
(480 MILES N DIAM ETER )
LANDING FOOTPRINT
(ELLIPSE -
40 MILES)
~
ARS AIRCRAFT
FIG. 24
5/24/65
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