Narrow Search
 
 
Advanced Search

Browse All : Agena and AGENA and Earth

Printer Friendly
1-25 of 25
     
     
Nimbus-A, Weather Satellite
Title Nimbus-A, Weather Satellite
Full Description Nimbus-A, an advanced meteorological satellite, was launched August 28, 1964, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, on a Thor-Agena B launch vehicle. The satellite was designed in two sections. The lower circular ring housed the meteorological sensors and electronics. The upper hexagonal section contained the altitude control system and had two solar panels with 10,500 individual panels on each side. Nimbus-A weighed 830 lbs. and was comprised of 40,000 components. The satellite was built by General Electric Company and remained operational until September 23, 1964.
Date 8/9/1964
NASA Center Headquarters
Artist's Concept of Seasat-A
Title Artist's Concept of Seasat-A
Full Description An artist's concept of Seasat A, the first spacecraft dedicated for oceanographic studies. Seasat A was designed for monitoring the Earth's oceans with active microwave instruments. The scientific objectives were to collect data on sea-surface winds, oceanography, sea-surface temperatures, wave heights, wavelength and direction, atmospheric water, and sea ice features. Seasat-A was launched on June 16, 1978, on an Atlas-Agena launch vehicle from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The mission ended after 116 days due to a failure of the spacecraft's electric power system. The mission demonstrated the feasibility of using microwave sensors to monitor ocean conditions, and laid the groundwork for future ocean missions. The science of oceanography began more than 100 years ago with the sailing of HMS Challenger. Challenger's round-the- world trip became the model for oceanographic voyages.
Date 5/16/1978
NASA Center Headquarters
Gemini with Agena on Earth
Title Gemini with Agena on Earth
Full Description Gemini 6 spacecraft (right) and Agena Target Vehicle (left) on the Boresight Range Tower for at the Kennedy Space Center to test the two spacecrafts? docking capability. Agena was designed to launch separately from Gemini and act as a target for astronauts in a Gemini spacecraft to rendezvous with. Gemini 6 was slated to be the first mission to dock with Agena, but a malfunction with the unmanned target resulted in new objectives for Gemini 6 calling for a one day rendezvous with Gemini 7 in December, 1965.
Date 1965
NASA Center Johnson Space Center
Thor-Agena
Name of Image Thor-Agena
Date of Image 1969-04-13
Full Description The Thor-Agena-10 launched the Nimbus III, Earth observation and meteorology satellite, on April 13, 1969.
Atlas Agena Launch
Name of Image Atlas Agena Launch
Date of Image 1966-03-16
Full Description On March 16, 1966, an Atlas booster launched an Agena Target Vehicle for the Gemini 8 mission. The flight crew for the 3 day mission, astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and David R. Scott, achieved the first rendezvous and docking to Atlas/Agena in Earth orbit.
Gemini 8 Launched by Titan B …
Name of Image Gemini 8 Launched by Titan Booster
Date of Image 1966-03-16
Full Description A Titan booster launched the Gemini 8 spacecraft on March 16, 1966 from launch complex 19 Cape Kennedy, Florida. The flight crew for the 3 day mission, astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and David R. Scott, achieved the first rendezvous and docking to Atlas/Agena in Earth orbit.
Alan Shepard in the Rendezvo …
Title Alan Shepard in the Rendezvous Docking Simulator
Description Astronaut Alan Shepard (right) was one of 14 astronauts, 8 NASA test pilots, and 2 McDonnell test pilots who took part in simulator studies. Shepard flew the simulator on November 14, 1963. A.W. Vogeley wrote: "Many of the astronauts have flown this simulator in support of the Gemini studies and they, without exception, appreciated the realism of the visual scene. The simulator has also been used in the development of pilot techniques to handle certain jet malfunctions in order that aborts could be avoided. In these situations large attitude changes are sometimes necessary and the false motion cues that were generated due to earth gravity were somewhat objectionable, however, the pilots were readily able to overlook these false motion cues in favor of the visual realism." Roy F. Brissenden noted that: "The basic Gemini control studies developed the necessary techniques and demonstrated the ability of human pilots to perform final space docking with the specified Gemini-Agena systems using only visual references. ... Results... showed that trained astronauts can effect the docking with direct acceleration control and even with jet malfunctions as long as good visual conditions exist.... Probably more important than data results was the early confidence that the astronauts themselves gained in their ability to perform the maneuver in the ultimate flight mission." Shepard commented: "I had the feeling tonight - a couple of times - that I was actually doing the space mission instead of the simulation. As I said before, I think it is a very good simulation." Shepard also commented on piloting techniques. Most astronauts arrived at this same preferred technique: Shepard: "I believe I have developed the preferred technique for these conditions and the technique appeared to me to be best was to come in slightly above the target so that I was able to use the longitudinal marks on the body of the target as a reference, particularly for a lateral translation and, of course, I used the foreshortening effect for a vertical translation, and this appeared to give me the best results. By that I mean the least number of control motions and the lowest fuel usage and the best end techniques, or the best end conditions, I should say." Engineer: "When you started to run you didn't start thrusting immediately I don't believe. It looked like you started working on your attitudes, then started closing in." Shepard: "That is correct. I did that because I felt that I wanted to get the X-axis translation in the most effective vector and for minimum fuel usage that wouldn't introduce any other lateral or vertical offsets that did not already exist.
Date 11.19.1963
Apollo
Title Apollo
Description An early lunar excursion model was designed on a Friday afternoon in early 1961 by John D. Bird and Ralph W. Stone, Jr., of Langley Research Center for project. Courtney G. Brooks, James M. Grimwood, and Loyd S. Swenson, Jr. wrote in Chariots For Apollo: A History of Manned Lunar Spacecraft: "From December 1960 to the summer of 1961, Langley continued its analyses of lunar-orbit rendezvous as it applied to a manned lunar landing. Bird and Stone among others, studied hardware concepts and procedures, ascent trajectories between the landing site and lunar orbit, and final rendezvous and docking maneuvers. Their findings were distributed in technical reports throughout NASA and in papers presented to professional organizations and space flight societies. In the spring of 1961, these Langley engineers compiled a paper proposing a three-phase plan for developing rendezvous capabilities that would ultimately lead to manned lunar landings: (1) MORAD (Manned Orbital Rendezvous and docking), using a Mercury capsule to prove the feasibility of manned rendezvous and to establish confidence in the techniques, (2) ARP (Apollo Rendezvous Phase), using Atlas, Agena, and Saturn vehicles to develop a variety of rendezvous capabilities in earth orbit, and (3) MALLIR (Manned Lunar Landing Involving Rendezvous), employing Saturn and Apollo components to place men on the moon." (p. 69)
Date 10.04.1961
Gemini
Title Gemini
Description Astronaut Neil Armstrong (left) was one of 14 astronauts, 8 NASA test pilots, and 2 McDonnell test pilots who took part in simulator studies. Armstrong was the first astronaut to participate (November 6, 1963). A.W. Vogeley described the simulator in his paper "Discussion of Existing and Planned Simulators For Space Research,""Many of the astronauts have flown this simulator in support of the Gemini studies and they, without exception, appreciated the realism of the visual scene. The simulator has also been used in the development of pilot techniques to handle certain jet malfunctions in order that aborts could be avoided. In these situations large attitude changes are sometimes necessary and the false motion cues that were generated due to earth gravity were somewhat objectionable, however, the pilots were readily able to overlook these false motion cues in favor of the visual realism." Roy F. Brissenden, noted in his paper "Initial Operations with Langley's Rendezvous Docking Facility,""The basic Gemini control studies developed the necessary techniques and demonstrated the ability of human pilots to perform final space docking with the specified Gemini-Agena systems using only visual references. ... Results... showed that trained astronauts can effect the docking with direct acceleration control and even with jet malfunctions as long as good visual conditions exist.... Probably more important than data results was the early confidence that the astronauts themselves gained in their ability to perform the maneuver in the ultimate flight mission." Francis B. Smith, noted in his paper "Simulators for Manned Space Research,""Some major areas of interest in these flights were fuel requirements, docking accuracies, the development of visual aids to assist alignment of the vehicles, and investigation of alternate control techniques with partial failure modes. However, the familiarization and confidence developed by the astronaut through flying and safely docking the simulator during these tests was one of the major contributions. For example, it was found that fuel used in docking from 200 feet typically dropped from about 20 pounds to 7 pounds after an astronaut had made a few training flights.
Date 11.01.1963
Gemini - John W. Young in Re …
Title Gemini - John W. Young in Rendezvous Docking Simulator
Description Astronaut John Young (above) was one of 14 astronauts, 8 NASA test pilots, and 2 McDonnell test pilots who took part in simulator studies. Young piloted the simulator on November 12, 1963 Arthur Vogeley wrote: "Many of the astronauts have flown this simulator in support of the Gemini studies and they, without exception, appreciated the realism of the visual scene. The simulator has also been used in the development of pilot techniques to handle certain jet malfunctions in order that aborts could be avoided. In these situations large attitude changes are sometimes necessary and the false motion cues that were generated due to earth gravity were somewhat objectionable, however, the pilots were readily able to overlook these false motion cues in favor of the visual realism." Roy F. Brissenden wrote:"The basic Gemini control studies developed the necessary techniques and demonstrated the ability of human pilots to perform final space docking with the specified Gemini-Agena systems using only visual references. ... Results... showed that trained astronauts can effect the docking with direct acceleration control and even with jet malfunctions as long as good visual conditions exist.... Probably more important than data results was the early confidence that the astronauts themselves gained in their ability to perform the maneuver in the ultimate flight mission.
Date 11.19.1963
Agena Target Docking Vehicle …
Title Agena Target Docking Vehicle photographed from Gemini 10 spacecraft
Description Agena Target Docking Vehicle 5005 is photographed from the Gemini 10 spacecraft during rendezvous in space. The two spacecraft are about 38 ft. apart.
Date Taken 1966-07-18
Gemini 10 spacecraft success …
Title Gemini 10 spacecraft successfully docked with Agena Target Docking Vehicle
Description The Gemini 10 spacecraft is successfully docked with Agena Target Docking Vehicle 5005. The Agena display panel is clearly visible as is glow from Agena's primary propulsion system.
Date Taken 1966-07-18
Gemini 10 spacecraft success …
Title Gemini 10 spacecraft successfully docked with Agena Target Docking Vehicle
Description The Gemini 10 spacecraft is successfully docked with Agena Target Docking Vehicle 5005. The Agena display panel is clearly visible. After docking with the Agena, Astronauts John Young and Michael Collins fired the 16,000 lb. thrust engine of Agena 10's primary propulsion system to boost the combined vehicles into an orbit with an apogee of 413 nautical miles to set a new altitude record for manned spaceflight.
Date Taken 1966-07-18
Agena Target Docking Vehicle …
Title Agena Target Docking Vehicle photographed from Gemini 10 spacecraft
Description Agena Target Docking Vehicle 5005 is photographed from the Gemini 10 spacecraft during rendezvous in space. The docking adapter is turning towards the spacecraft. Both vehicles are about 24 ft. apart.
Date Taken 1966-07-18
Debris on spacecraft window …
Title Debris on spacecraft window as seen from inside Gemini 10 spacecraft
Description Debris on spacecraft window as seen from inside Gemini 10 spacecraft. At this time Gemini 10 was docked with Agena Target Docking Vehicle 5005.
Date Taken 1966-07-18
Agena Target Docking Vehicle …
Title Agena Target Docking Vehicle photographed from Gemini 10 spacecraft
Description Agena Target Docking Vehicle 5005 is photographed from the Gemini 10 spacecraft during rendezvous in space. The two spacecraft are about 41 ft. apart.
Date Taken 1966-07-18
Areas of Sudan and Egypt as …
Title Areas of Sudan and Egypt as seen from Gemini 11 spacecraft
Description Libyan Desert area of Sudan, foreground, and the United Arab Republic (Egypt), at lower left, as seen from the Gemini 11 spacecraft at an altitude of 300 nautical miles during its 27th revolution of the earth. In view is the Nile River from Biba in Egypt to Khartoum in the Sudan. The Red Sea is in background. At upper left is the Arabian Peninsula. At top right is Ethiopia. Note L-band antenna of the Agena Target Vehicle.
Date Taken 1966-09-14
Gemini 11 spacecraft and Age …
Title Gemini 11 spacecraft and Agena Target Vehicle during tethering
Description A 100 ft. tether line connects the Agena Target Docking Vehicle with the Gemini 11 spacecraft during its 32nd revolution of the earth.
Date Taken 1966-09-14
Gemini 11 spacecraft and Age …
Title Gemini 11 spacecraft and Agena Target Vehicle as seen during EVA
Description The Gemini 11 spacecraft is docked to the Agena Target Vehicle in this photograph taken by Pilot Richard F. Gordon Jr. as he stood in the open hatch of the Gemini 11 spacecraft during his extravehicular activity. Note Agena's L-band antenna. Photo was taken during Gemini 11's 29th revolution of the earth.
Date Taken 1966-09-13
Gemini 11 spacecraft and Age …
Title Gemini 11 spacecraft and Agena Target Vehicle during tethering
Description The Agena Target Docking Vehicel is tethered to the Gemini 11 spacecraft during its 31st revolution of the earth. Area below is the Gulf of California and Baja California at La Paz.
Date Taken 1966-09-14
Western Australia as seen fr …
Title Western Australia as seen from Gemini 11 spacecraft
Description Western half of Australia, includeing the coastline from Perth to Port Darwin, looking west, as seen from the Gemini 11 spacecraft during its 26th revolution of the earth. Photograph was made while the spacecraft was at a record-high apogee of 740 nautical miles. Note L-band antenna of the Agena Taget Vehicle.
Date Taken 1966-09-14
Mexico, Arizona and New Mexi …
Title Mexico, Arizona and New Mexico as seen from the Gemini 12 spacecraft
Description Northern portion of Sonora, Mexico, southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, as seen from the Gemini 12 spacecraft during its 30th revolution of the earth. Includes the Tucson, Phoenix, Mogollon Rim, and Painted Desert areas. A 100 ft. tether line connects the Agena Target Docking Vehicle with the Gemini 12 spacecraft.
Date Taken 1966-11-13
View of Agena Docking vehicl …
Title View of Agena Docking vehicle and tetherline connected to Gemini 12 craft
Description A 100 ft. tether line connects the Agena Target Docking Vehicle with the Gemini 12 spacecraft during its 32nd revolution of the earth. Clouds over Pacific Ocean are in the background.
Date Taken 1966-11-13
View of the Agena Target Doc …
Title View of the Agena Target Docking Vehicle as seen from Gemini 12 spacecraft
Description Stero and side view of the Agena Target Docking Vehicle as seen from the Gemini 12 spacecraft during rendezvous and docking mission in space. The two spacecraft are 50 ft. apart.
Date Taken 1966-11-11
Gulf of California as seen f …
Title Gulf of California as seen from the Gemini 12 spacecraft
Description Gulf of California as seen from the Gemini 12 spacecraft during its 30th revolution of the earth. Baja California Sur is the peninsula on the left. At lower left is the mainland of Mexico. A 100 ft. tether line connects the Agena Target Docking Vehicle with the Gemini 12 spacecraft. View is looking south.
Date Taken 1966-11-13
1-25 of 25