Agena Target Vehicle Identification Report
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Gemini VIII
Gemini VIII docks with its Agena Target Vehicle
Mission type Docking test
Operator NASA
COSPAR ID 1966-020A
SATCAT № 2105
Mission duration 10 hours, 41 minutes, 26 seconds
Distance travelled 293,206 kilometers (158,319 nautical miles)
Orbits completed 6
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft Gemini SC8
Manufacturer McDonnell
Launch mass 3,789 kilograms (8,353 lb)
Crew
Crew size 2
Members Neil A. Armstrong
David R. Scott
Start of mission
Launch date March 16, …show more content…
After 30 minutes of visually inspecting the Agena to make sure that it had not been damaged by the launch, they were given the go for docking. Armstrong started to move towards the Agena at 3.15 inches (8 centimeters) per second. In a matter of minutes, the Agena 's docking latches clicked and a green light indicated that the docking had been successfully completed. "Flight, we are docked! Yes, it 's really a smoothie," Scott radioed to the ground.
Emergency[edit]
There was some suspicion on the ground that the Agena 's attitude control system was acting up and might not have the correct program stored in it (this suspicion was subsequently found to be incorrect). Just before they went off contact with the ground, the crew of Gemini 8 were informed that if anything strange were to happen, they were to turn off the Agena.
After the Agena began execution of its stored command program, which instructed the Agena to turn the combined spacecraft 90° to the right, Scott noticed that they were in a roll. Armstrong used the Gemini 's OAMS thrusters to stop the roll, but after the roll stopped, it immediately started again. Gemini 8 was out of range of ground communications at this
Gemini VIII
Gemini VIII docks with its Agena Target Vehicle
Mission type Docking test
Operator NASA
COSPAR ID 1966-020A
SATCAT № 2105
Mission duration 10 hours, 41 minutes, 26 seconds
Distance travelled 293,206 kilometers (158,319 nautical miles)
Orbits completed 6
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft Gemini SC8
Manufacturer McDonnell
Launch mass 3,789 kilograms (8,353 lb)
Crew
Crew size 2
Members Neil A. Armstrong
David R. Scott
Start of mission
Launch date March 16, …show more content…
After 30 minutes of visually inspecting the Agena to make sure that it had not been damaged by the launch, they were given the go for docking. Armstrong started to move towards the Agena at 3.15 inches (8 centimeters) per second. In a matter of minutes, the Agena 's docking latches clicked and a green light indicated that the docking had been successfully completed. "Flight, we are docked! Yes, it 's really a smoothie," Scott radioed to the ground.
Emergency[edit]
There was some suspicion on the ground that the Agena 's attitude control system was acting up and might not have the correct program stored in it (this suspicion was subsequently found to be incorrect). Just before they went off contact with the ground, the crew of Gemini 8 were informed that if anything strange were to happen, they were to turn off the Agena.
After the Agena began execution of its stored command program, which instructed the Agena to turn the combined spacecraft 90° to the right, Scott noticed that they were in a roll. Armstrong used the Gemini 's OAMS thrusters to stop the roll, but after the roll stopped, it immediately started again. Gemini 8 was out of range of ground communications at this