Question: What was the name of the spacecraft launched from Kennedy Space Center in 1966 that suffered the first critical in-space system failure?
Answer: Gemini 8
After blasting off safely from Kennedy Space Center and conducting the first docking of two spacecraft in orbit, the Gemini 8 spacecraft suffered a critical failure, putting the lives of astronauts Neil Armstrong and David Scott in danger and forcing the mission to be aborted.
The emergency occurred after the Gemini docked with the Agena Target Vehicle, and the combined craft began spinning. The astronauts undocked from the Agena, but Gemini continued spinning at 1 revolution per second, causing blurred vision and risking loss of consciousness. After the spacecraft was eventually steadied, the crew tested each thruster individually and found that one was malfunctioning.
