Word: spacecrafts
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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Shot by a camera through the spacecraft's window, the movie films first showed the Agena target vehicle sailing serenely through space (see opposite page) as the Gemini maneuvered carefully around it in a masterly exhibition of spacecraft control. Pictures of the docking process (see succeeding pages) reflected Gemini's cautious approach and clearly showed the green lights on the Agena's instrument panel signaling that all was well. Despite their silence, the pictures seemed to give the sound of a solid, satisfactory thump as the two vehicles mated firmly in space...
...Futile Attempt. The vivid pictures were more than a record of near disaster; they were a testament to the skill and resourcefulness of the astronauts and the value of NASA's intense training program, which taught them not only to master the complexities of a properly operating Gemini spacecraft, but to expect-and to cope with-the unexpected...
...pitch it up or down. Once thrusters have been fired to change the orientation of the craft, however, other thrusters-pushing in the opposite direction-must be fired to stop the motion at the desired point. In the absence of an atmosphere to slow it down by friction, the spacecraft would continue any attitude-changing maneuver indefinitely unless reverse thrust were available to stop...
...that the real trouble was a short circuit in Gemini's electronic control system that had caused its No. 8 thruster to begin firing intermittently. The Agena's thrusters-weaker than Gemini's-had been firing automatically in a futile attempt to stabilize the two orbiting spacecraft. Once cut loose from the Agena's stabilizing thrusters, the Gemini immediately increased its roll rate under the continuing push of No. 8, which now had even more effect because it was no longer turning the combined mass of the two ships, only the Gemini itself...
...malfunction might have been even more serious had it occurred when Scott was taking his scheduled walk in space. Some experts believe that outside the spacecraft Scott would have quickly spotted the firing thruster and warned Armstrong in time for him to shut off its propellant. Others are convinced that the rolling Gemini would have whirled Scott around in space at the end of his 75-ft. tether, eventually slamming him against the spacecraft and probably causing fatal injuries...