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Agena Target Vehicle
Agena Target Docking VehicleCredit: © Mark Wade. 13,666 bytes. 572 x 257 pixels. |
Manufacturer's Designation: Lockheed. Class: Manned. Type: Logistics. Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Manufacturer: McDonnell-Douglas. To provide the Gemini spacecraft with a rendezvous and docking target, Agena D rocket stages were modified with the addition of a docking collar, status panel display, and restart capabilities for the Gemini program. After docking, the Agena had sufficient fuel reserves to boost the Gemini into high earth orbits, to the edge of the radiation belts.
SpecificationTotal Length: 6.0 m. Maximum Diameter: 4.9 m. Total Mass: 3,260 kg.
Gemini Agena Target Vehicle Chronology
25 October 1965
GATV 6 Program: Gemini. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: SLV-3 Atlas / Agena D. FAILURE: Exploded 6 minutes after takeoff. Failure. Mass: 3,261 kg.
16 March 1966
Gemini 8 Agena Target Program: Gemini. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: SLV-3 Atlas / Agena D. Mass: 3,175 kg. Perigee: 285 km. Apogee: 299 km. Inclination: 28.9 deg.
 | Gemini-Agena - Gemini docked to Agena Credit: © Mark Wade. 3,073 bytes. 460 x 140 pixels. |
Target vehicle for Gemini 8.
12 April 1966
Gemini Agena target vehicle 5005 completed modification and final assembly with the installation of a number of electrical and electronic components for which it had been waiting. These included the guidance module, flight control junction box, and flight electronics package. The vehicle was transferred to test complex C-10 at Sunnyvale to begin Vehicle Systems Tests. Preliminary test tasks were completed by April 23, with preliminary inspection on April 26-27.
17 May 1966
Gemini 9 Agena Target Program: Gemini. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: SLV-3 Atlas / Agena D. FAILURE: Control system failure. Mass: 3,248 kg.
18 July 1966
Gemini 10 Agena Target Program: Gemini. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: SLV-3 Atlas / Agena D. Mass: 3,175 kg. Perigee: 290 km. Apogee: 296 km. Inclination: 28.9 deg. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
12 September 1966
Gemini 11 Agena Target Program: Gemini. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: SLV-3 Atlas / Agena D. Mass: 3,175 kg. Perigee: 298 km. Apogee: 298 km. Inclination: 28.8 deg. Docking target for Gemini 11.
11 November 1966
Gemini 12 Agena Target Program: Gemini. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: SLV-3 Atlas / Agena D. Mass: 3,175 kg. Perigee: 243 km. Apogee: 310 km. Inclination: 28.8 deg. Docking target for Gemini 12.
Bibliography:- 26 - Baker, David, The History of Manned Spaceflight, Crown, New York, 1981.
- 126 - Bramscher, Robert G, Spaceflight, "A Survey of Launch Vehicle Failures", 1980, Volume 22, page 351.
- 205 - Hall, Edwin H, "Memorandum to Deputy Director, Gemini Program, "Circumlunar Missions"", June 29, 1965.
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Last update 12 March 2001.
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