Exploring the Unknown: Selected Documents in ... - The Black Vault

Exploring the Unknown
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At the same time, confident that Gemini’s major technological challenges
were being overcome, NASA moved out on mission planning for the humanpiloted
portion of the program. LeRoy E. Day, the Gemini Program’s Deputy
Director, outlined the missions in a 25 June 1964 memorandum:
Flights 4, 5, and 7 will provide experience in long duration orbital
flight . . . Many measurements and experiments will be performed to
assess the effects of orbital weightless flight on man and machine for
periods up to 14 days—more than adequate for the Apollo lunar expedition.
Among the medical experiments, for example; M-1, Cardiovascular
Reflex, will determine the feasibility of using inflatable cuffs to prevent
cardiovascular deterioration—evidence of which was noted in Project
Mercury flights MA-8 and MA-9. . . . In addition to these experiments,
we also plan to conduct extravehicular activity to evaluate man’s performance
outside the spacecraft.
With Flight No. 6, we will establish the feasibility of rendezvous and
provide experience for the visual manual docking mode, which is common
to both Gemini and Apollo . . . Whereas radar computer guidance
will be the primary onboard mode for the terminal rendezvous phase of
Flight No. 6; the radar optical and optical guidance modes will be primary
for Flights 8 and 9 respectively.
By Flights 10 and 11, or earlier, we plan to flight test the feasibility of
the LEM lunar orbit direct rendezvous mode in Earth orbit if possible.
In this mode, the catch up or parking orbits are essentially by-passed and
terminal rendezvous is initiated near first apogee. . .
For Flight No. 12, we plan to simulate LEM abort maneuvers; either
abort from an equiperiod transfer orbit (I-57). 129
Eldon Hall followed in July 1964 with another set of mission profiles that
offered not only the already agreed-upon Gemini mission objectives, but also
such proposals as tests of propellant transfer, rendezvous with an empty Apollo
Command Module, rendezvous with a Lunar Module, using Gemini as a minimum
space station, a joint NASA/Air Force Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL)
using Gemini spacecraft, satellite recovery on-orbit, and a one-astronaut Gemini
mission with a telescope mounted in the other seat of the spacecraft. Of course,
these missions did not come to pass (I-58). 130
129. L. E. Day, Deputy Director, Gemini Program, NASA, Memorandum for William C.
Schneider, Deputy Director, Apollo Program, NASA, “Gemini Support of Apollo,” 25 June 1964.
Folder 18674, NASA Historical Reference Collection, NASA History Division, NASA Headquarters,
Washington, DC.
130. John L. Hammersmith, Director, Gemini Systems Engineering, NASA, Memorandum for
Deputy Director, Gemini Program, NASA, “List of Missions,” 17 July 1964. Folder 18674, NASA
Historical Reference Collection, NASA History Division, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC.