g11/12_v_bw_o_n (unnumbered press photo, Arasmith, no. 2)

“On Sept. 14, 1966, the Gemini XI spacecraft is tethered to an Agena target vehicle. Gemini XI separated from the Agena with their spacecraft pointed nose-down toward the Earth. Conrad and Gordon maneuvered their craft to get the tether taut between both. Then, by firing their side thrusters to slowly rotate the combined spacecraft, they were able to use centrifugal force to generate about 0.00015 g. "There is an artificial gravity field," Gordon said. "It makes the camera move back very rapidly." The tether was released following two orbits of the artificial gravity experiment, allowing Gemini and Agena to go their separate ways.

 

This demonstration of "passive attitude stabilization" of the two spacecraft connected by a tether was only one of many tasks in the flight plan for the demanding three-day mission. In addition, the crew demonstrated the link-up with an Agena and used its engine to boost Gemini XI to a record altitude and performed two spacewalks by Gordon.”

 

The above is paraphrased from a rare well-written official NASA caption, which seemed to be appropriate for this image as well. Although it may be of Gemini XII, which also conducted the artificial gravity experiment, odds are high that the initial attempt (during Gemini XI) would’ve been the one to merit depiction by the irrepressible Russell Arasmith. Per the norm for Mr. Arasmith works, the obligatory numeral is in the lower right-hand corner. This possibly being number two out of who knows how many. Unfortunately, we’ll probably never know for sure.

 

A full life:

 

www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/westminster-ca/russell...

Credit: Dignity Memorial website

 

I'm sure only a fraction:

 

www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/history/arasmith-gallery.html

 

A wonderful peak, confirming my above statement:

 

d3eguztg5751m.cloudfront.net/as/assets-mem-com/cmi/7/7/9/...

Credit: The Arasmith Family/Dignity Memorial website

Done