Word: radar
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...trickle of oxygen became a steady stream, joining in a chemical reaction with hydrogen to produce the electricity to run the craft's computer, radar, communications and environment-control systems. For reasons not yet fully understood, the pressure inside the oxygen tank increased as the volume of liquid oxygen decreased while it was being used. Soon the fuel cell was supplying Gemini with all the electricity it needed, and the astronauts began switching their systems back on. Fuel-cell experts had actually underestimated the system's efficiency, were surprised that they could get sufficient power with such...
...right moment for just the right length of time, he gave his craft a "kick in the apogee" and moved it into an even more precise orbit. Curving between 107 and 217 miles above the earth, Gemini was now ready for its next test: release of the 76-Ib. Radar Evaluation Pod (REP). Fitted with bright, flashing lights and radar transponders, the REP would be an orbiting target for a carefully planned attempt to check the techniques of docking vehicles in space...
Still Safe. Gemini soared into its second orbit. Over Africa, Cooper ejected the Radar Evaluation Pod precisely on schedule. Though the spring release tossed it out a little harder than anticipated, the mission still seemed safe...
...back at NASA's Houston control room, Flight Director Chris Kraft's ground crew was growing more and more worried about the unheated fuel for the fuel cells. The pressure kept falling; it was already dangerously low at 180 p.s.i. Because the radar, radio and computer would use up too much power, Chris Kraft decided against any further maneuvers with the pod. He went into a huddle with his fuel-cell engineers Assured that the pressure was far too low for normal operation, Kraft immediately planned for the crew's safety...
...somehow to stir the system into life. They maneuvered the spacecraft around so chat its blunt end, which housed the fuel-cell system, would get the full impact of the sun's rays. But the sun was no help. By this time the astronauts had turned off the radar, radio, computer and some of the environment-control systems. They were consuming only 13 amperes of electricity−but that was all that the fuel cells were producing...