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

Exploring the Unknown 345
Document I-68
Document Title: “Summary of Telephone Conversations RE Gemini 7/6,” 25–27
October 1965.
Source: Folder 18674, NASA Historical Reference Collection, NASA History
Division, NASA Headquarters, Washington DC.
Document I-69
Document Title: “Gemini Program Mission Report, Gemini VI-A,” January 1966.
Source: Folder 18674, NASA Historical Reference Collection, NASA History
Division, NASA Headquarters, Washington DC.
Document I-70
Document Title: “Gemini VIII Technical Debriefing,” 21 March 1966.
Source: NASA Collection, University of Houston, Clear Lake Library, Clear Lake,
Texas.
The Gemini program consisted of a methodical series of steps intended to develop procedures
and experience necessary for the Apollo program. These documents discuss three important
Gemini missions. Gemini VI was the first test of rendezvous in Earth orbit. The mission plan
called for the spacecraft to maneuver to intercept an Agena target vehicle. When the Agena
spacecraft failed, NASA quickly reconfigured the Gemini VI mission plan to rendezvous with
another Gemini mission, Gemini VII. The flight proved to be extremely successful and the
results were an important validation of the rendezvous concept for Apollo. The Gemini VIII
mission successfully docked with an Agena target vehicle but because of problems with the
spacecraft control system, the crew was forced to undock after approximately 30 minutes and
spent most of the rest of the shortened mission overcoming a failure of the attitude control
system or the flight’s early return to Earth.
Document I-68
SUMMARY OF TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS RE GEMINI 7/6
October 25, 1965
3:10 p.m.