SPLASHDOWN, CAPSULE IN SEA, CAPSULE HAULED ABOARD WASP, ASTRONAUTS LEAVING CAPSULE.




Initials JGS/SAT/CR/SGM



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Background: GEMINI NINE ASTRONAUTS THOMAS STAFFORD AND EUGENE CERNAN TODAY (MONDAY) ENDED THEIR THREE DAY SPACEFLIGHT WITH A PERFECT SPLASHDOWN IN THE WESTERN ATLANTIC LESS THAN TWO MILES (3KM) FROM THE RECOVERY CARRIER "WASP".

FROM 180 MILES (210 KM) IN SPACE, THE TWO ASTRONAUTS SWEPT IN A GIANT ARC ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, LANDING IN SIGHT OF THE WASP AND WATCHED BY MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ON TELEVISION VIA THE EARLY BIRD SATELLITE. BOBBING IN THE CHOPPY ATLANTIC, STAFFORD AND CERNAN POPPED OPEN THE HATCHES SOON AFTER TOUCH DOWN AND GAVE A CHEERY THUMBS UP SIGN TO INDICATE THAT ALL WAS WELL AFTER THE FIERY PLUNGE THROUGH THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE.

FROGMEN PUT A SUPPORTING COLLAR ROUND THE CAPSULE TO PREVENT IT FORM SINKING. THE CAPSULE WAS THEN HAULED ABOARD THE CARRIER WASP AND THE TWO MEN CLIMBED OUT OF THEIR CAPSULE SMILING AND WAVING, GIVING NO INDICATION OF THE EXHAUSTING NATURE OF THEIR MISSION. DURING THEIR 45 TRIPS ROUND THE EARTH IN 72 HOURS, 21 MINUTES, STAFFORD AND CERNAN CHALKED UP MAJOR SUCCESSES WITH THE WORLD'S LONGEST SPACEWALK - EVENT THOUGH INCOMPLETE - AND THREE DIFFICULT RENDEZVOUS MISSIONS.

PRESIDENT JOHNSON CONGRATULATED THE TWO ASTRONAUTS AND TOLD THEM THAT THEIR FLIGHT WAS ONE OF THE FINEST CHAPTERS IN THE UNITED STATES SPACE STORY. PRESIDENT JOHNSON HAD WATCHED THE SPLASHDOWN ON TELEVISION AND THEN TELEPHONED THE ASTRONAUTS FROM HIS OFFICE.