g07_v_bw_o_n (1965, unnumbered Martin Co. photo)
“EXERCISE IN SPACE
This Martin Company, Baltimore, Md., artist’s drawing depicts the “station keeping” exercise which astronauts Frank Borman and James Lovell will attempt with the burned out second stage of their Air Force Gemini-Titan II rocket early in the GT-7 mission. The second stage (above capsule) will present a target about the size of a house trailer. To aid the astronauts in locating the 27-foot-long target, four flashing lights are mounted on the second stage.”
By the hand of THE MAN-MYTH-MACHINE-LEGEND - John Gorsuch.
Per the “GEMINI PROGRAM REPORT, GEMINI 7”:
“The Gemini launch vehicle performed satisfactorily in all respects. The countdown was nominal, resulting in a launch within 3.7 seconds of the scheduled time. The first-stage flight was normal with all planned events occurring within allowable limits. Staging was nominal. The crew reported that the flame front caused by staging had some effect on the visibility through the spacecraft windows. The second-stage flight was also normal and resulted in the nearest-to-nominal orbital-insertion conditions yet achieved in the Gemini Program. Immediately after the spacecraft separated from the launch vehicle, the crew turned the spacecraft around and began maneuvering back toward the expended Gemini launch vehicle second stage. They then successfully conducted station keeping maneuvers, maintaining distances from 60 to 150 feet for about a 15-minute period. During station keeping, the crew reported profuse second-stage fuel venting which was apparently causing it to tumble at rates of approximately 2 rpm. The crew reported no difficulty in station keeping with the second stage; however, a minimum distance of 60 feet between vehicles was maintained because of the high tumble rates of the launch vehicle. At the completion of station keeping, a separation maneuver was performed and the spacecraft was powered down in preparation for the 14-day mission.”
Above at/from:
tothemoon.ser.asu.edu/files/gemini/gemini_7_mission_repor...
Credit: “March to the Moon”/Arizona State University website
Last, but NOT least, thanks to fellow Flickr user Peter Duncan's astute input, 16mm footage during the station keeping can be seen at the following, commencing at the 4:27 mark:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZB7NOWDvw0
Credit: Retro Space HD/YouTube
g07_v_bw_o_n (1965, unnumbered Martin Co. photo)
“EXERCISE IN SPACE
This Martin Company, Baltimore, Md., artist’s drawing depicts the “station keeping” exercise which astronauts Frank Borman and James Lovell will attempt with the burned out second stage of their Air Force Gemini-Titan II rocket early in the GT-7 mission. The second stage (above capsule) will present a target about the size of a house trailer. To aid the astronauts in locating the 27-foot-long target, four flashing lights are mounted on the second stage.”
By the hand of THE MAN-MYTH-MACHINE-LEGEND - John Gorsuch.
Per the “GEMINI PROGRAM REPORT, GEMINI 7”:
“The Gemini launch vehicle performed satisfactorily in all respects. The countdown was nominal, resulting in a launch within 3.7 seconds of the scheduled time. The first-stage flight was normal with all planned events occurring within allowable limits. Staging was nominal. The crew reported that the flame front caused by staging had some effect on the visibility through the spacecraft windows. The second-stage flight was also normal and resulted in the nearest-to-nominal orbital-insertion conditions yet achieved in the Gemini Program. Immediately after the spacecraft separated from the launch vehicle, the crew turned the spacecraft around and began maneuvering back toward the expended Gemini launch vehicle second stage. They then successfully conducted station keeping maneuvers, maintaining distances from 60 to 150 feet for about a 15-minute period. During station keeping, the crew reported profuse second-stage fuel venting which was apparently causing it to tumble at rates of approximately 2 rpm. The crew reported no difficulty in station keeping with the second stage; however, a minimum distance of 60 feet between vehicles was maintained because of the high tumble rates of the launch vehicle. At the completion of station keeping, a separation maneuver was performed and the spacecraft was powered down in preparation for the 14-day mission.”
Above at/from:
tothemoon.ser.asu.edu/files/gemini/gemini_7_mission_repor...
Credit: “March to the Moon”/Arizona State University website
Last, but NOT least, thanks to fellow Flickr user Peter Duncan's astute input, 16mm footage during the station keeping can be seen at the following, commencing at the 4:27 mark:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZB7NOWDvw0
Credit: Retro Space HD/YouTube