This film depicts the NASA manned space Gemini Program; specifically the rendezvous missions which took place in the mid-sixties. It depicts the lead up to the mission as well as equipment to be used and provides demonstrations as to how it was to be carried out. It also has an animated look forward at the proposed Apollo lunar missions. The film opens with the first phase of the program with the unmanned Titan II/Gemini flight launched on April 8th, 1964 (:34) from complex 19. The primary objective of the program was to test long term duration flight as well as set an unmanned Gemini capsule into low earth orbit (:47). The Titan launch vehicle was built by the Glenn L. Martin Company (1:01). The LEM target vehicle consisted of the modified Agena-D vehicle built by Lockheed Martin (1:18). The Atlas launch vehicle is viewed (1:30). The study of the results from these flights were to be used for manned Apollo missions (1:52). A simulation follows of the rendezvous and docking maneuvers (2:04) An animation of the LEM vehicle is shown (2:24) as well as the planned flight path (3:05). The radar-computer method is highlighted (3:56). A demonstration of the target vehicle launching from Cape Kennedy is depicted (3:53). Changes in orbit and use of search radar are demonstrated (6:45). Flight controls which were to be utilized are shown (8:33). The location where the rendezvous was to take place is pointed out (8:59). The final docking operation was to happen here (9:59). The Optical method follows (11:33). The Direct Ascent method is demonstrated (12:49) as well as a mid-course correction maneuver (13:49). The LEM rendezvous simulation follows (14:25). The Agena target vehicle was to be located by Gemini radar (14:56). Docking would be completed here (15:33). The LEM abort simulation follows (15:41). Information gathered from these studies would further progress for future NASA and DOD projects (17:32).
Project Gemini (1961-1966) was NASA’s second human spaceflight program. The Gemini spacecraft carried a two-astronaut crew. Ten Gemini crews and 16 individual astronauts flew low Earth orbit (LEO) missions during 1965 and 1966.
Gemini’s objective was the development of space travel techniques to support the Apollo mission to land astronauts on the Moon. In doing so, it allowed the United States to catch up and overcome the lead in human spaceflight capability the Soviet Union had obtained in the early years of the Space Race, by demonstrating: mission endurance up to just under 14 days, longer than the eight days required for a round trip to the Moon; methods of performing extra-vehicular activity (EVA) without tiring; and the orbital maneuvers necessary to achieve rendezvous and docking with another spacecraft. This left Apollo free to pursue its prime mission without spending time developing these techniques.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
