Source: NASA
Gemini 6A Launch on December 15th, 1965.
Gemini 6 was originally suppose to launch in October of 1965 and complete docking objectives with an Agena Target Vehicle1. However 6 minutes into the launch of the Agena target, it suffered a Rapid-Unplanned-Deconstruction which resulted in a complete loss of the target. As a result the original launch of Gemini 6 was aborted and revised for a later launch date with different objectives, resulting in Gemini 6A.
Gemini 6A was to original on December 12, 1965 however about 1.5 seconds into main engine ignition, they shut down, resulting in a scrubbed launch. A few days later, after the cause of the premature engine shutdown was determined to be a combination of a loose electrical connection and a dust covering that had been left in the booster stage of the Titan II launch vehicle. After remedying these, Gemini 6A successfully launched on December 15th, 196523.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agena_target_vehicle ↩︎
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1965-104A ↩︎
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini_6A ↩︎
