Declassified UAP case filesNASA-UAP-D022DECLASSIFIED · R03

NASA-UAP-D022, Gemini 9 Debriefing, 1966

Incident date
June 3-6, 1966
Incident location
Low Earth Orbit
Agency
NASA
File type
Document
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Official description

Gemini IX (renamed Gemini IX-A) was the seventh crewed flight of the Gemini series, launched on June 3, 1966. The mission’s primary objectives included a spacewalk and multiple scientific and medical experiments. This document, dated June 16, 1966, is a transcript of a NASA debriefing of astronauts Thomas Stafford and Eugene Cernan. Pages 2-5 of this document contain the astronauts’ accounts of their observations of “flashing lights” and “sparkles” during the mission.

AI summary

This document is an administrative case file (not a crew debriefing transcript) documenting the science/experiments side of the Gemini 9-A mission (June 1966, astronauts Thomas Stafford and Eugene Cernan), assembled by NASA's Manned Flight Experiments Office (Dr. Jocelyn R. Gill, Director Willis B. Foster). It consists of NASA routing slips, internal memoranda, telegraphic (TWX) messages, and a Naval Research Laboratory newsletter (NRL Labstracts), covering: the docking failure with the Augmented Target Docking Adapter (ATDA, described by Stafford as 'an angry alligator' due to a shroud that would not release, scrubbing the planned docking); the status of the OSSA science experiments carried on the mission — S-10 (Agena/ATDA Micrometeorite Collection, largely lost since the collector could not be retrieved), S-11 (Airglow Horizon Photography, ~40 usable images obtained despite a broken camera-timer cable requiring manual operation by Cernan during EVA), S-12 (Gemini Micrometeorite Collection, successfully retrieved during Cernan's spacewalk), and S-1 (Zodiacal Light Photography, described as the best images yet, surpassing Gemini V); opportunistic Earth-surface photography (S-5/S-6) that captured an uncharted glacial lake in the Andes over Peru, prompting Peru to send a military reconnaissance plane to investigate avalanche risk; and the failed AMU (Astronaut Maneuvering Unit) EVA experiment, deemed impractical due to workload. NASA congratulatory telegrams to the crew are included. No UAP or anomalous-phenomena content of any kind appears in this document — it is purely administrative/scientific correspondence.

Generated with AI from the official file — may contain errors.

Transcript(59 of 78 pages legible)

[PAGE 1] CODE NASA ROUT NAME if 11tm1ary LIP ACTION APPROVAL CURRENCE INFORMATION INVESTIGATE AND ADVISE NOTE AND FORWARD NOTE AND RETURN PER REQUEST RECO-ENDATION SEE ME SIGNATURE REPL FOR SIGNATURE Of REMARKS CODE FROM NAME DATE JJ GOVERNMENT PR I NTIN FF ICE 1963 OF-671845 NASA Form 26 Re Jan 1963 [PAGE 2] [PAGE 3] [PAGE 4] [PAGE 5] a I [PAGE 6] [PAGE 7] [PAGE 8] [PAGE 9] [PAGE 10] NASA ROUTI SLIP ACTION CODE NAME if 11,wsar APPROVAi I C~Rl£NCE LE INFORMATION INVESTIGATE ANO ADVISE NOTE AND fORWARO NOTE ANO RETURN PH REQUEST 11£COMMEN0ATION SEE ME SIGNATUllE UPI FOi SIGNATURE Of REMARKS 61?,vpt or ll ri AtOM I CODE I NAME I DA i I US GOVE.NJlllt:HT 11NTING o,r,c 1913 o,-'71145 NASA Form 26 Rev Jan 1963 [PAGE 11] [PAGE 12] 6/66 Memorandum to the File From Gill Subject Experiments Debfiefing of Gemini IX held in Bldg MSC at 8:30 A.M June 16,1966 Gemini IX performance on the 0SSA experiments was impressive The guiding performed for S011 and S001 was the best that has yet been done on a manned spacecraft In all 40 usu.able pictures of the airglow were made with the filter split field arrangement attached to the wide angle Maurer lens NRL experiment ee1 was done inside the capsule since it was not possible to attempt it during the EVA THey got pictures of the zodiacal light and the Milky Way and the guiding was good even for the 30 sec sweeps On Tri-X these are the best pictures yet of the zodiacal light surpassing the results achieved on Gemini S011 About 40 usable pictures of the airglow were obtained THese contain some of the same star fields pictured in S00l Guiding was very good even though Cernan had to do the experiment from a very awkward position S012 Hemenway showed several pictures which were enlargements up to 35 000 exposed times Only a small portion aJf the surface has been a.na.lyzed but on this portio portion impacts are recorded Hemenway is investigating possible contamination between experiments before sending the individual sections to guest investigators On the biological experiments where the results come ou:b faster a swabs taken insid the s/c re flight were dirty post-flight these same areas were sterile the bacteriophages and he penicilliumspeciroens [PAGE 13] survived the spaceflight two other sp eciment The 30-day report on this experiment will contain more results but the full micrometoerite analysis will take some time and These experiments were not officially carried but nonetheless it was done as operational procedure In all some 300 color pictures were taken with the Hasselblad and Maurer cameras both of which were carried for the first time The Maurer is eventually planned to replace the Hasselblad but this has been slow in evolution A strip was taken over Peru where the weather happened to excellent Features show up in these pictures which do not appear on any existing map for example a glacial lake in the Ange which do not appear on any existing maps The Peruvian Embassy has been informed of this lake which may portend an avalanche hazard for villagesilocated below The Peruvians have sent a military p-l,ane into the area to investigate THis indicates the possible current use of such pictorial information THe AMU exercise was unsuccessful It proved to be too Im.lCh work under the present arrangements It takes two hands just to control the body peeitionang Hand-held photography duri ng EVA for experiments looks out of the question at res en oc lyn Gi ll [PAGE 14] 6/66 MMmorandum to the File I [PAGE 15] cJ 1-pf a [PAGE 16] J_,._---'-----l-!:1 Tw-C...- H-a.- -1"'r-+-J--- --<wl--"JIE- i-t [PAGE 17] OPT tONA.L FORM NU 10 MAY INZ ED IT(ON SA PMR CFR t01-11 NITED STATES GOVERNMENT Memorandum TO SM Directo DATE June 21 1966 Manned Fli k-'t periments Office FROM SM/Jocelyn Gill SUBJECT Report on Gemini Gemini n~e ct:xon on our experimen was impressive a Zodi~al Light Experiment This was done inside the capsule Pictures were taken of the zod~cal light and the Milky Way Guiding was quite good even for the 30 second sweep Tri film was used and best pictures yet of the zodi~cal light S-11 Airglow Horizon Photographic Experiment Koomf Naval Resear ch Laboratory About 40 us~ble pictures of the airglow with a split field picture were obtained Some of the same star field were shown in Guiding was very good even though Cernan had to take pictures in a very awkward position S-12 Micrometeor ite Collection Hemenway Showed several pictures which were greatly magnified enlargement of the icrometeorite experiment Only a small portion of the exposed surface has been analyzed Nevertheless important ones are recorded on these films Hemenway is investigating possible contamination between experiments before sending individual portions to guest experimenters Biological Experiments Results of these come out faster Part A swabs were taken inside of spacecraft Preflight were dirty Postflight Some areas were sterile Part Penicillium and bactericidal specimens survived the spaceflight Two other specimens did not 30 day report may have more results but micrometeorite experiment will take some time Buy U.S Savings Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Savings Plan [PAGE 18] These were not officially carried but Stafford and Cernan took over 300 colored pictures using the Hasselblad and Maur er camera A photographic strip was taken over Peru where weather was excellent Some features show up for example glacial lake in the Andes which do not show on any existing map Peruvian embassy has been informed of this lake which may portend for avalanch hazard to villages located below this lake Military plane was sent into area to investigate AMU This was unsuccessful Proves to be too much work under present arrangements during EVA It takes two hands to control the body positioning Hand held photography during EVA for experiment looks out of the question at present time Jocelyn Gill [PAGE 19] NAVAL RESEARCH AB RATORY WASH INGTON 20390 Code 7020 21 Jun 1966 Dr Homer Newell Associate Administrator Space Science and Applications National Aeronautics and Space Ad.ministration Washington 20546 Dear Homer ir in behalf of the NRL GSFC collaborators in Gemini Experiment I want to express deep gratification at he st rong in erest in and conc ern for the success of our experiment shown by you and by Dr eorge Mueller The substan tia help that both of you and your associates in NASA have given us is mu ch appreciated The proposal to include two high altitude orbits in the fligh plan for Gemini mission XI has been carefully exam in ed by physicists at MSC Houston as well as by our jo in NRL Goddard group At a meeting in my office ester day with off icial from NASA Headquarters and from MSC Houston we agreed that the experiment would not be hurt if the flight plan included wo ellipt ic orbits bavine an altitude of 75 nautical miles at apogee appro xi mately over Australia during th 26th and 27th orbits ur emulsion stack apparatus would be retrieved from the retroadapter se ction during the first EVA and stored inside the Gemini capsule in a manner suggested by Messrs Joseph Li ll and Peter Higgins of MS ith an orientation that would inimiz the effec of background radiation incident on the window face of the package In shor we elieve that the proposed high altitude orbits are compatible with th experiment May I digress say that we in the NRL group are looking forward to favora bl considerati on by the Manned Space Flight Experiments Board of our recent Apollo proposals for cosmic ray tudi es outside the magnetosphere and for observations of cosmic rays in earth orbiting Apollo vehicles With wa rm regards Sincerely J.><urice 3hi ef Scientist Laboratory for Cosmic Ray Physics Principa Inv est igator A list of those attending the meet i ng in my office yesterday is a ttach ed In an earlier meeting several weeks ago we benefited from participation by Astronauts Charles Conrad and William Ander ff I cc Dr eorge Mueller Mr Leroy To.y [PAGE 20] In attendance at meeting in Dr Sh apiro office Naval Research Laboratory 20 une 1966 NASA Headquarters Washington Eldon Hall Vearl Huff MSC Houston Wyendell Evans Joseph Lill Peter Higgins GSFC Greenbelt Carl Fichtel Donald Reames NRL Maurice Shapiro Bertram Stiller Francis Dell Rein Silberberg Chen- Hsiang Tsao [PAGE 21] LABSTRACTS No 23 NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY WASHINGTON D.C June 10 1966 USRL Joins RL Effective July the Navy Unde rwater Sound Ref erence Laboratory USRL in Or land Florida will be disestablished and become a di i i of NRL It will be designated as the Underwater Sound Reference Division USRD As a division of NRL USRD in its program of standards and instrumen tation development for imderwater sound measure ment will be re-enforced by the spec i a zed capabilities of related elements of the NRL research staff Th i an i a management and support services requirements will be backed up by the service organizations of NRL The new division will continue und er the imme diate supervision of the Chief Scientist Mr Ows ley Mr Owsl ey will report directly to Capt Ow en Director of NRL for the management of the operations and the effective prosecution of the program He will be guided as appropriate and in the ir resp ective areas by NRL's Dir ect or of Research Director of Support vi and Comptroller continued page NRL Signs Labor Contract for Guard Unit The U.S Naval Research Laboratory and Colum bia Lodge No 174 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers have nego tiated a comprehensive agreement covering all non supervisory security guards in the Laboratory's Security and Administrative Services Division Following a grant of exclusive recognition to th Union on January 19 1966 negotiations began on March 31 1966 and were concluded on May 26 Th Laboratory's negotiating team was beaded by Capt Matheson Director of Support Services and inc uded LCdr DalPian Se i and Administrativ Ser vices Officer and Mr Garn tt Jr of the Personnel Division The chief negotiator for the Union was Mr Fauntleroy Business Re presentative of Columbia Lodge No 174 Mr Fauntleroy was assisted by Mr Bunner and Mr Brooks both members of the Laboratory's guard force The completed agreement was signed at 3:00 on Wednesday June in the Office of th Director of Support Services Th effective date of the agreement is June 1966 It is anticipated that the agreement will remain in effect for on year with the possibility of its subsequent extension continued pa ge Chair of Cosmic Ray Physics Established Effective May 11 the Laboratory established a Chair of Cosmic Ray Physics for Dr Maurice Shapiro who recently es igne from the Superin tendency of the Nucleonics Division after 12 years in the latter position The post of Chair of Scienc was eat by the Laboratory to confer special recognition on the incumbent as a distinguished scientist of exceptional accomplishment The staf of the former Cosmic Ray Branch which Dr Shapiro organized and led since 1949 will constitute the ab oratory for Cosmic Ray Physics with Dr Shapiro as Chief Scientist The Laboratory for Cosmic Ray Physics is en gaged in studies of the primary cosmic radiation its composition energy spectra and other proper ties This group of physicists composing the Lab oratory has become es pecially well-known for its significant contributions to our knowledge of the helium component and the heavier primary nuclei of the cosmic radiation as well as for its earlier work on elementary particles Dr Shapiro is also Principal Investigator for the Gemini Cosmic Ray Experiment a collaborative enterprise of the Laboratory and the Goddard Space Flight Center The emul sion stack designed for this experiment was lost on the ill-fated Gemini VIIl but th ex periment is re-scheduled to be flown on emini Flight XI Savings Bond Campaign Extended The Federal Savings Bonds Chairman Postmas ter eneral Lawrence O'Brien has announced that he is extending the 25th Anniv er sary Savings Bonds Campaign for ede ral Employees through continued page [PAGE 22] NRL LABSTRACTS USRL continued As a part of NRL the new di vision's work will remain essentially unchanged Its mission now incorporated into the mission of NRL is to conduct research and development furthering the science of underwater sound measurement to provide to other naval activities the resulting scientific knowledge new or improved i and standardized instrumentation and to provide facilities and ser vices for the accurate calibration of standard in strumentation and th wibiased determination of performance characteristics of development pro totype or operational underwater sound devices used by the Naval Establishment Several of NRL's key personnel including Capt Owen the Director and Dr Cleeton the Associate Director of Research for Electronics have visited tbe facility to arrange for the transition The 10 acres of LabOratory ground occupied by USRD are located alongside Lake Gem Mary one mile south of the city limits of Orlando It has a personnel complement of 98 people 97 civilian and military The Laboratory extends a hearty Welcome AbOard to its new staff members and looks forward to publication of articles about the new di vision CONTRACT SIGNED continued for one additional year Significant provisions con cerning promotion he du ling of annual leave hours of work and a grievance procedure with pro visions for advisory arbitration are among the seventeen articles included in the agreement This is the second agreement covering Labora tory employees negotiated within the framework of the al Employee-Management Cooperation Program as set forth in Executive Order 10988 The first agreement covering all wigraded non supervisory employees at the Washington complex of NRL became effective on December 21 1964 Re-negotiation of the latter agreement is expected to begin in the early fall of this year SAVINGS BOND CAMPAIGN continued June He said that the additional month is needed to assure that every civilian and military employee of the Federal Government throughout the world is given an opportunity to sign up for regular pur chases of Savings Bonds through the Payroll Savings Plan The Postmaster General expressed confidence that the campaign goal of 75 percent participation by Federal employees will be achieved So far in NRL Savi ngs Bond Campaign 94 people have i ea their Bond allotments and 157 people have signed up for Bond deductions making a total of 1,628 Bond savers The Laboratory's percentage of participation is now over 50 This extra month affords you the ex 11 en opportunity of signing up for Bonds Why not jump on the Bond Wagon today Elected Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Dr Richard Tousey Head of the Rocket Spec troscopy Br an Atmosphere and Astrophysics Division was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences at the Academy's 186th Annual Meeting held May 11 in Boston Mass The American Academy of Arts and Sciences was founded in Boston in 1780 by John Adams and other revolutionary leaders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony Among the prominent members of the past have been George Washington Oliver Wendell Holmes Horace Mann Sir Winston Churchill and John Kennedy Dr Tousey who is a member of over a dozen major scientific and professional societies is now a Fellow in four of them Previously he had been elected Fellow by the American Physical Society the Optical Society of America and the American Geophysical Union Moreover Dr Tousey's work here has earned him numerous special honors and awards including the Navy Award for Distinguished Achievement in Science 1963 the Henry Draper Medal of the National Academy of Sciences 1963 and the Frederic Ives Medal of the Optical Society of America 1960 Scrap Material Wasn't Scrapped The following items were evidently mistaken for scrap material and were picked up in Building 49 The equipment should be returned so that formal transfer procedures may be followed Pulse Generator H.P Mod 212A Ser 549 P.A 243091 Pulse Generator H.P Mod 212A Ser 4496 P.A 248572 Flow Meter,Burton,Mod 200 Ser 200-6069 A 245683 [PAGE 23] NASA RO ACTION CODE NAME if r1ms4ry CONCURRENCE INFORMATION INVESTIGATE ANO ADVISE NOTE ANO FORWARD NOTE ANO RETURN l'fR REQUEST SEE ME SIGNATURE REPlY FOR SIGNATURE OF REMARKS A Q-t\..- lJs ATE ANO AO\IISE NOTE ANO fORWAIO NOTE ANO RETURN PER REQUEST ltfCOM.MfNOA TION SEE ME SIGNATURE REPI.Y fOR SIGNATURE Of REMARKS I.A FROM I COOE I NAME M:21 IOATt St NASA Form 26 Rev Jan 1963 US G0\IIINWlHT I I NTING 0P'FICI ttll 0,-11110 [PAGE 39] HQ£729 PP MS:KSCF OE NASAHQ 162 ZNR UUUUU 072027Z FM NASA HEADQUARTERS ASHDC TO KENNEDY SPACE CENTER FLA NASA BT UNCLAS SM•162 GEtHNI IX ASTROOAUTS LT COLONEL LT C<llfMANDER E:UGENE CERNAN ASTRONAUTS OFFIC TALK ABOOT AN ACE THE HOLE CONGRATULATIONS TO GEMINI IX CARRYING OUT A r~osr DIF£ICU~T AND T~YING MISSICN YOUR PATIENCt AND COURAGE WERE REWARDED WE ARE PLEASED THAT YOO WERE ABLE TO CA"'tRY our MOST OF.THE EXPERIMENTS AND LOOK FORWARD EAGERLY TO IHE RESULTS TriANK YOO so r1ucH YOlJR OUTSTANDING COOPERATION Ai1D EFFOH iN THIS REGARD A S~tCIAl MESSAG TO THE PILOT FRQ.'tl DR JCCEL YN GILL A FELLOW PR IS OITE WHO PRECED£0 HIM BY A COl~OBS TO GEMINI IX ON li OUT A MOST DUFICUUl AND TRYING MISSION YWR P.ATIE?~CE WERE REWARDED WE ABE PIEASED THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO Cl CARRY OlJI MOST OF THE EXPEBIMEN'1'S LOOK FORW EAGERLY TO THE BESUill'S THANK YOO SO MUCH FOR OUTSTANDING COOPERATIO AND EWORT IN THIS REGARD A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO THE PILC.r FROM DR JOCELYN GILL A FELUlW PBOVISOITE WHO PRECEDED HIM A FEW YEABS WABM CONGRATUIATIOBS ON THE I£>NG SP WAI.K--IT W.AS EXPEm'E OF COURSE THAT PROVISO COULD ACCOMPLISH IT WILLIS FOOTER DIRECTOR MANNED FLIGHT EXPERIMENTS OFFICE PAGE NO ORIGINATOR'S TEL NO DATE A.NO TIME PREPARED NAME AND Til\.E Of ORIGINATOR Type Dr Jocelyn Gill x206ll I certi.fr fhal lhh mes10ge is official bu1i11ou 1101 penonol ond is in the interest of lhe Govern on UNCLASSIFIED [PAGE 41] N.AMEOF AG&K:Y PRECEDENCE ACTION INFO tl TYPE OF MESSAGE CLASSIFICATION t-AC_C_OUN- Tt-lG--a.AS--Slf_lCA_T_ION------------------1 Iii SINGLE IIOOIC STANDARD FORM REV MARCH 15 1957 MUlTI...-.DORESS GSA REGULATION IX -203 04 14-303 THIS 81.0CK FOIi USE Of COMMUNICATIONS UNIT TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGE OFFICIAL BUSINESS GOVERNMENT THIS COL FOR AGENCY USE MESSAGE TO BE TRANSMlmo Use double spacing and all copltal letters i II II Iii II II --l'T ignolu,e NAME AND Tlll.£ Of ORIGINATOR ORJGl!-IATOR'S ru NO OAT£ ANO TIME PREPARED [PAGE 42] cc Dr Roacb/ESS/Boulder Mr Dunkel.man/GSFC Mr Piland/MSC Mr Smistad/MSC Mr Eaton/MSC Mr Slayton/MSC 206ll 6/6/66 [PAGE 43] OPTIONAL fOI.M NO I M.AY 1'62 fDITIOH GSA PPMI U.I Cfl IOl-11.6 Manned Flight Experiments ffice SM/Manned Flight Experimen ts Office DATE une 1966 TED STATES GOVERNMEN Mem or andum SM/Director TO FROM Sci entific Experiments carried out oh Gemini IX SU BJECT The Gemini IX mission carried the following OSSA experiments 10 Agena Micrometeorite Collection 11 Air glow Horizon Photography 12 emini Microme teor ite Collection In sp i te of a slight flurry la st Friday night to brow in additional experiments as a possible backup in the event of failure of the ATDA no new experiments were introduced Thi was a consequence of the decis i on to i ntroduce no additional film packs which could have acconnnodated some more expe rimental activity Ref TWX to Dr John Clark re 28 support for Gemini IX 5/27/66 and TWX to experimenters and their directors re S-28 and S-29 5/31/66 Nonetheless i is anticipated that some photographs will have been taken for and Syn optic Pho tography on the operational film carr i ed even though this experiment was not scheduled for Gemini IX As of Sunday June 5th at ll 30 telephone contact with Norman oster office indicated the following on experiments Ta lked with Ed Ze it ler MSC both Saturday and Sunday He i the editor on the experiments status report The efforts to di slodge the shroud from the ATDA call ed by Tom Staff ord as an angry alligator we re in vain so docking with the ATDA was scrub ed from the mission At this point there was some concern over the fuel supp ly and a thought that i might not be po ss ible to carry out all the experiments The status of sc i ent ifi experimental activity is gi en below 10 Agena Micrometeorite ollect i on Dr Hemenway Dudley Ob servator The 10 wa carried on the ATDA but it was impo ss i ble to get near i or to retrieve i The 10 was also ca rr i ed on the Agena and there wa no activity with it ei ther The 10 i st il on the ATDA and con ceivabl could be retrieved on a later mi ss i on Bu U.S Savings Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Savings Plan $010-101 [PAGE 44] 11 Airglow Horizon Photograpby Koomen Naval Research Laboratory The astronauts made night passes on this experiment and reported bno problemshso it is assumed tha the experiment went off as planned They may be able to devote more night pass to it during the mission They are still planning the 1/2 hour EVA At the start of the experiments they had 50 lbs of fuel left and at the end so it is reported they still had 50 lbs GET 27 hrs 29 hrs 31 hrs for ll -12 Gemini Micrometeorite Collection Dr Hemenway Dudley Observatory The collection box was activated and had five hrs exposure before closing it so jets could be freely used The decision was made to reactivate it during the astronauts 10 hr sleep period It was closed again and retrieved by Cernan during his space walk So 12 collection box is being returned in the Gemini IX capsule The experimenter was asked whether it would be safe to try a second exposure and asked whether the astronauts could recall whether the closing cycle on the box had taken about 30 secs They apparently could not hear it and so could not make this determination GET 12 to 17 hrs and Synoptic PhotograJ?hl Dr Paul Lowman and Nagler There is no word on how many pictures have been taken The newspapers have made reference to a picture of Baja California and since there was a good deal of operational film aboard it is expected that there may be quite a few Cernan during EVA was asked whether he had the Hasselblad camera outside and the reply was 11 yes 11 In talking with Dr Lowman I learned that this is probably the wide angle 90 deg Hasselblad and may very well produce some spectacular pictures From the standpoint of our experiments this seems to be a good mission We should have results from 12 and ll as well as and Many more pictures for the successive volumes of the Earth Atlas a Jocelyn Gill Manned Flight Experiments Office [PAGE 45] NASA ROUTING SLIP ACT ION CODE NAME if llt Wi APPltOVAl r+~~JUL ONCURREN CE FILI INFORMAT I ON I NVES TI GA TE AND ADV I SE NOT ANO FORWARD NO TE ANO RETURN PER REQUEST RECOMMENDATION SEE ME SIGNATURE REPLY FOR SIGNATU RE Of REMARKS a FROM I O0E NAME Cf I OA G.OVEIN'MIE NT fl'.RlltTJNG o.-FICt 1963 OF-111845 ASA for 26 Rev Jan 1963 [PAGE 46] 6/6/66 Memo to PolJt J'_;romJ JI Gill Subj ct ieo.tifl.o er1mcit Carri out on Gemini lX ee1on carr1 following OSSl ta 11g•aa 1111.cro eorite Oollectton Airglov nzon fhoti>itra:ntIV 12 Gemini Miej;Vll•~:iurite COllection ln spit ot aalight flurry last h14'V Di to throw in t1olial experiments po 1ble in th event ot f'ailure o't the A no new e:x;per:lmmta 1ntroctuc-e4 ia vaa a con.eequ ce ot th deo1 ion to~troduce no &dditio tum...--- vhich coul.d have acco acne mre a:perlm.ental actt'rltity flt NX to Dr,Jobn C1&:l'k re s-28 aupport tor G9min1 ll.~5/'ZT/66 1WX t:O ters and their directors re 8-5 8-6,S-28 and S-29,-/.5/'31/66 nethelea it ia anticipated that ao tographe vil1 hav been taken and Synoptic fhotograpbY th operational tum carried even thougb th1 en,er:1.mtm.t was no schedul.ed tor Oe:m1n1 IX Aa ot tNDDAY Juue 5th at lls30 te1~one contact with nl!ID Poster's offl.e 1n41cat i'olloving on lll!rl'~U!llll!m::ta ed with Zeitler,MBC both Sat/and Sun Re ia the editor on the ta statue report Ettorte to d1tllodge the ebroud the ATDA,f by Tom st.ttora en angry al11ptor wen in vain ocldng with th AT!» vaa Scrubbed bom mission At th1AI point there vu aome concern over the f\iel aμppl.y and DDCIWD:(1 tbat it might not be po aible to carry CNt all the imeilta Iha atatua of cientUic e.rimental activity given bel.ow Ml~eortite llect1on Dr J>u.dl.97 Observatory ib vu cd that tbere be quite a Ceman during WA vaa aillked vhet had the Buaelblad c:amera out41de tbe vu In aJJdng with J)r Lc,wman a&nili4 that th1 tably the vide-angle(90 deg Hanel very ll produce aoae pictures Pl'0Jll the ot eaq w.a aeema to a good miaaion wa ahould S-12 and S-11 Yell 8•5 and Dm'tt pic:turee vol ot tli Karth ATl.u Joe ft ll ed nigh Ottiee [PAGE 48] NASA HEADQUARTER ROUTING SLIP ACTION CODE NAME if n«tssary APPROVAL I A CONCURRENCE -:..Mv FILE INFORMA TI ON IN VE TI GATE AN AD ISE NOTE AND FORWARD TE AN RfTU RN PER REQUEST RECOMMENDATION SEE ME SIGNATURE REPLY FOR SIGNATURE OF REMARKS fr'- f,t oP ROM I CODE I NAMf DATE ASA form 26 Rev July 19,9 GO N»IN 1NG lrtccl i ol [PAGE 49] S733 PP WO SA HOUMSC AH 7722 1512235 uuuuu 3t2229Z ASA ASHI TO DC TO TECYWU WEATHER UREAU TF.LLITE CE TER SUITLA MD NA SF'C GOODARD SP ACE FLI HT CENTER GR BELT MD ONASA/U OLOGICAL SURVEY BRA CH OF ASTROGEO LOGY FLAGSTAFF ARIZONA HOU SC/MANNED SPACECRAFT CENTER HOUSTON TEX IS BT U~CtA -7722 ATT ATELLITE CE TER-DIRECTOR CMA INFO KENNETH NA LER ATTN GSFC DI RECTOR CM A INFO RRY Dt KELM AN 28 AND DR PAUL LOW A JR ATTN US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY-DIRECTOR CM A INFO ELLIOTT ORRIS 29 ATTN MSC -DIR ECTOR AT 16 10 EDT CMA FRI AY CMA MAY 29 woRD CAME TH ouaH TO xr MANNED FLIGHT EXPERIME TS OFFICE CM OSSA TOR ADY EXPERIMEt-TTS CMA CMA CMA A S-29 FOR FLIGHT PA'RTI AL CKUP OJ THE GEM I NI IX A MISSION IN THE EVENT OF AN ATDA FAILURE TH£ EXPERUlENTERS CON CERNED WERE PR PTL INFOR MED BY TEL EPHONE AND THEY PAGE RUEDHQA7722 UNCLAS PREP~RED TO COMPLY ITH NY BRI FIN RE IREMENTS AT TH CAPE OR FOR REAL-TI MISSION PL NI AT MSC OVER THE EEK THF Pt TO THES ADDITIO EXP RIMENTS AS A PART OF TH AC UP FOR THE GEMINI IX A MISSIO AS ALTERE TH RE IS JND RLINED CHA NGE TO EE MADE I THE FILM PACKS CA IE JCE a AD ITIONAl PHOTOG PHIC EXP IMENTS ACCO PLISHED IT IS JCEIV TH SOME PHOTOS FO A MAY BE TAKEN A PP ORTU ITY BASIS OPERATIO AL FIL CARRI THt UEST FOR THE FOU SI CT EXP RIMENTS FOR GEMINI IX A IS THEREFOR OFrICI Alt WITHDRA AT THIS THE THE FOUR EXP RIM Et TERS A TH EIR A SOC ATES VIZ DR LO WM A CM A JR CM A NAGLER CM A MR DU KEU AN CM A MR MOR~IS CA ARE TH NK FO THEIR LLI ESS TO I PLY VITH THIS RE UEST IT ts RE -T.ED THAT IC IE WAS CAUSED CH OF YOU OV HIS HOLIDAY WEEK HOMER NEWELU ASSOC ATE A A CE CIENCE AND APPLICATIONS SI BT [PAGE 50] [PAGE 51] NAME Of AGENCY PRECEDENCE ACTION INFO PRIORITY TYPE Of MESSAGE CL ASS IFIC AT I ON ACCOUNTING CLASSIFICATION SINGLE BOOKIR ASSOCIATES VIZ DR LOWMAN JR MR NAGLE MR DUNKELMAN MR MORRIS ARB THANKED FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO COMPLY WITH THIS SUDDEN REQUEST IT IS REGRETTED THAT INCONVENIE CE WAS CAUSED EACH OF YOU OVERT I HOLIDAY WEEKEND HOMER NEWELL PAGE NO NO OF PAGES NAME ANO TITlE OF ORIGINATOR Type ORIGINATOR'S TEl NO DA TE ANO TIME PREPARED Signotu1'1 GOVERHM£N PRINT I NG O,F Cl 961 ZC 47 [PAGE 53] NASA HEADQUARTERS ROUTING SLIP ACTION CODE NAME «maf APPROVAL er./L8 CONCURRENCE SM Mia Fll.E INFORMATION Dr Newell INVESTIGATE AND ADVISE NOTE AND FORWARD NOTE AND RETURN last PER REQUEST SM Kathy ltECOMMENDATION SEE ME SIGNATURE REPlY FOR SIGNATURE OF REMARKS Subject Request for attendance of Mr Dunkelman at Gemini IX Experime ts Debriefing MSC d)i rC(tJ kle~le TL rt Di a,,.L i JJ FROM I CODE 1,1 I r.i 11 I DATE Jf..f ASA form 26 Rev July 19~9 GOVfllt MIIIII I MT TI JC t,H uo [PAGE 54] MAY 1966 M-(J rector Odda.rd Sac li nt OM A oc ce dm1n1 Science trator for pl cation J•CT ue for ance or ir Lawreno lman at ni IX xp ri briefing nned Sp craft Center ed 1ni IX Exp ri nt ill be ld th er ft Ce approx1 nine ya followwg recovery I te sts of continuit the o-Astronom1cal Ob rv ion Program Dr ill eked th Dunk an be permitted to rt1c1p since th has of co derabl 1st in days of the Ad oo Committee an4 m.ont in tru ntal in formul ting solid well a vi ual ta Yo coo tion in arran or his rt1o1pat1on will be eatl appreo Original Signed by Homer Newell 11 drn1n1strator for Sp Scienc nn Applic tion Concurrence tJif/4 cc S/Newell Subject File GT-9 file SM Reading Files SM:JRGill:kby 20611 5/13/66 rewritten SM:WBFoster:kby 35886 5/19/66 [PAGE 55] NASA HEADQUARTE ROU11NG SLIP I ACTION CODE NAME if nt ms ary APPROVAL I CONCURRENCE FILE INFORMATION I NVEST I GATE AND ADVISE NOTE AND FORWARD NOTE AND RETURN l'fR REQUEST RECOMMENDATION SEE ME SIGNATURE REPlY FOR SIGNATURE OF REMARKS fr FROM CODE I NAM Ati DAYE ASA For 26 v.July 19S9)V u.s GO VUt NW(HT IU til TI NG OPf ltSI or suou [PAGE 56] #NASA HEADQUARTE ROUTING SLIP CODE NAME if ntmsary ACTION APPROVAi CONCURRENCE Foster flLE NFORMATION INVESTIGATE ANO ADVISE NOTE ANO FORWARD NOTE ANO RETURN PEit REQUEST RECOMMENDATION SEE ME SIGNATURE REPLY FOi SIGNATURE Of REMARKS Mr Dunkelma.n suggests that a simple communication on this single item might be helpful in taking care of the next crisis on the horizon the Gemini IX Debrei!fing which will come about near the end of Mey The 29th Sunda is the earliest date re Dunkel.man in general he says that Townsend is ta.king the problem up the line I interpret Townsend this to mean that he/is communicating the content of your telephpne call with Townsend to the Direc"t·"'r Perhaps re ill hear further on Monday FROM CODE NAME Gill I OATE 13/66 NASA form 26 ev Jul 1919 US GOVUIHlillNT PJIIH"TrKG o,r,c1 I Ht OP'-111011 [PAGE 57] re Only scientific experiment affected by scrub is 10 Micrometeorite Collection on the Ag eaa ATDA does not have capability to be placed in a parking orbit Therefore its life expectancy is quite low compared to Ag ena orbit Plans to retrieve 10 ot to be activated)r Another problem stowage within reentry vehicle The other scientific experiments remain unaffected Camera equipment ill be reload prior to launch on 31 ay ay 20 1966 telephone call to Eaton SC Y'"o,- w,l'l1l CJ Mr Eaton plans to call you again the first of next week with additional information I crJ I [PAGE 58] ay 20 1966 re telephone call to Eaton SC Only scientific xper1ment a fected by scrub is s.1O crometeor1te Collection on the A aa ATD does not have capability to be placed in a park1n orbit Therefore its life expectancy uite low compared to A en orbit Plans to retrieve y-10 Not to be activated Another probl stowage within reentry vehicle The other scientific experiments in unaffecte Ca equipment removed 1111 be reload prior to launch on 31 ay Mr Eton plans to call you again the first of next week with additional information [PAGE 59] GT-§ BM/Dir ctor Manned J'ligbt Experiments ottice BM/Maimed Fllgbt Experlmeuts Office ttect OD Sci title Bxperlnlenta OD Gemini IX saion as a reaul.t of t.allure of IX The tollowing OSSA e:z:perimG'ts are a siped to Gem1n1 ll 8-1 -l.O -ll and S-12 Detail f'ollaw ZOd1acal Light PhotoPflq Bey uninni.tz of Minn BOta chaug xp cted tbis experlllent Provided that GT-9 la abl.e to through the planned INA tbi experiment ought to be &cCOIIPlia.bed written miss~on plaa S~l.O c~~r1te Collecticm on the Agena Hemenw.z DUdlez Observatory The collection box attached to the Agena IX i.a lo back-up u'liit at the Cape ready to be attached to the ATDA target fth:lcl.e The cant:lngency m1tus1on p.J.an written f'or tbe J!l'Ill C&l:l tor bos to retr1.eved 1£P!:ned condition -Tb1a e,ms tbat collection of pa.rtiele11 would be confined to the outaide portion Vh1ch waa planned for tbe 8-10 It hieldecl on launch The miasion plan call8 tor retrina-1 of the box ud toring inside tbe Gali1ni apacecraft before reentry S-11 Airglow RoriEon PbotoE!Jlbl Kocaen aval Bbe&rcb I.Al,orator In the tllpt p,l.an for tbe ATDA tbere the poea1bU1ty of an increase f'rom niCht I'UD.8 for th1 uperiment So doea not that wUl l.1ff'er crometeorlte Coll.ection on the Gem!l:d Dud.lez Obsenatorz rhi_s QperiDlent abould be unaf'f'eete the failvre Age_,tja It planned to retrieTe the collection box after IISQlDe hour of exposure and to return 1.ui.de the Gemini apa.cect'&ft 1na1J7 it ie pointed out tl:at general ef'tect to place more concern on opel"&tional pro"bl.ema po a1.bJ,y ehortening the time an ettort ror exp r1mettt ll!fl:1'1-'ift AIIJIII TOI.G OFPICE 6-77210- CONCURRENCES FFI CI III FI i OPY SIGNATURE DATE [PAGE 60] OJlTICNAl F-O NO I MAY 1t,a ITl°'1 GSA f-lMl 41 Cf.ll 101 -11..6 NI TE TA TE GO VE ME NT Memorandum TO MEMORANDUM TO THE FILE DAT ay 13 1966 FROM SM Manned Flight xperiments Office SU BJE CT Bulletin on 11 experiment for Gemini IX The extended timer-on the aurer camera has failed ill operate the sequence manually The command pilot will mark off the exposures for the pilot and the experiment will proceed in this fashion The principal investigator Koomen NRL feels that the experiment will come off The story is that one of the ba kup pilots using the flight model in the simulator and the cable broke Then Eu ene Ce nan the pilot took the 11 flight backup amera and this broke also eedless to say this cable in the cam ra is a ve weak link Seal and Koomen were at he Cape while this was in progress In an effort to alleviate this problem for future Gemini fligh SC is trying to develop a timer for the 13 experiment which will include the film advance hey feel that it is comin along ell and that they ill accomplish this Jo elyn Gill anned li ht Exp eri ents Office Ett U.S Savings Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Savings Plan 01 [PAGE 61] uta Tho St rrord nd Eu Cern IX lay 12 1966 ed light xperime ts Office A tro om.1.cal Phe uring the Fli ht or IX ar clip pe clip of ceurr 4th at hi type of art1 lunar usu lly gos completely unnoticed cause it ctable ut to we later on 20th when moon new an nular or rL cli se oft un will occur This ill obs cie tit dot er able to it occa ion 11 only rtiallY cove byte aa to leav bri ri nulus aroWld it central clip~e pt oes over orth Af'r-1 tot sout or Italy into diterr ov sout rn Gree It will din th USSR Te ill se over a der ar a of eart than is lt os le you mi ee thi aspect The cir st thi ecl1 are as follow Y.1T at Te ly det cli se gi.n y2'o 6:51 Ce tr clipee gins 7:55 tral clip egin at local noon 52 Central Ecl.1pse ends 11:23 Ce tra1 cl1pse dB 12:27 ere will be sev 011 the he case you a arious radio look dif to be ditions to observe fl event Ao thes tio 1.1 KC 135 at and also ex d1t1o in ational Ob tory or Athen nferene to olar problems ground die sun during the ecl1 Jut a ted you to know ky so wn dar in time nd had occasion to otice it [PAGE 62] i th t1on You nclo ur to th to or I sh tin ood luc at1 Jocelyn Rt 11 Gill ht nt glo sy ri cc SM/Mr Foster MSC/Major Lehr ESSA/Jar Roach GSFC/Mr Dunkelman MSC/Mr Slayton SC/Mr McKee MSC/Cdr Carpenter sM$loM kby 20611 5/12/66 [PAGE 63] NASA ROUT SLIP CODE NAME if 11«,ssary ACTION MPltOVIJ SM oster CONCURRENCE FILE I INfORMATION INVESTIGATE Ainvitees to attend subject debriefing The next day 4/20 66 I submitted the following list by telephone as per request The names were Dr Frankl in oach Mr Dunkelrnan Mr Dub in Dr Henry Smith and Dr Jocelyn Gill Before lacin these names on the list I informed the individual or his office of this action and the likely date when this would happen There is of course nothing binding about the list and others may be added later r?.f---U Jocelyn Gill Manned li gh xperiments Office Office of Space Science and Applications Buy U.S Savings Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Sa vi ngs Plan so,0-10 [PAGE 65] NASA HEADQUARTER SLIP CODE VESTI GA TE A ND ADVISE NOTE AND HURN PER REQUEST RECOMMENDATION SEEM£ SIGNATURE REPL fOR SIGNATURE Of REMARKS FROM CODE NAME DATE NASA Form 26 Rev July t9,9 GO'tUt NM I NT PIIIMTI NG [PAGE 66] fu vJ i AJ- e;;::J fLJ....:;_._;.:::..1- 12.a r-L 1s-e- J,i -tf4 cf ft w-hr- J.a.- I Y'h r--+;-.J T""R I [PAGE 67] ctor AP 1966 Fl Ex eri Office to -ia.nn peri nt Of f1c St tu.s of I el Ex er ents In are forte IX J.11 Zodiacal Li 11 Airg er er Photogr Colleo or1te Collect ir ayn ton port by lco ril 21 19-66 co dl.t1 ft jct ti factory tails follo out by re satisf io units 00 ap io Thi nd ing or day rs in indf pl and bri fin or te conversation 11 it cently traini no enclature as th uni has seen tne fl iff tra unit is that it tual filt sh le butt it ot i ntical tot wi et to ra tot ly a [PAGE 68] tot 1ew a.c a sh nt on con nri pal te ori a ntly rp thi -11 XII rim been oonstru atory Thi Ok is 1ncor tra1n1ng itn or 1ni IX in will od Th ot what ed for four ui for re 1.1 s-10 u-12 eked out fit-o eo upp dl a.a S/C in oy an ht-h nd ed adv rte t:1.on oth ked at the then rat rvatory or is room ac for Or He at a lso -12 111 10 box he A a ed to in er on SEDR at to Dudl for lo ocordin to th -12 collection box 11 tr1 f'or th fir of eion In ry ei our of sci nt flo or th BC duled for Gemini I on -1/2 Vila ror erime cc st Office SC Th in tli ht plan oul ad on th 18th ad I have req at a co 1oc..1yn ill cc SM Foster/Calio 111 SM Subject Files GT- ri fie S-12 S-11 rincip oad1.ng Th wh there IX th from -10 f-1rs fo 11 om SM eading Files [PAGE 69] I ir co ann an j::"r l-e.- ti to AP 71 66 io 1e1 ts i [PAGE 70] [PAGE 71] [PAGE 72] NASA ROU LI CODE NAME if 11 ma ry ACTION APPIIOVAL SM liiH Post.err CONCURRENCE fllf INFORMATION IN ES TI GATE AND ADVISE £JA I NOTE AND FORWARD NO TE AND RET RN ig,- PU REQUEST llfCOMMfNDATION SEE ME SIGNATURE REPLY FOR SIGNATURE Of REMARKS I CODE AtOM SM I NAME Gi ll kb I DAT3 66 G0\llf Oi MI.NT P-ll TI NG OPF I CI ltU or-171145 A SA For 26 Rev Jan 1963 [PAGE 73] OPTION.Al fOI.M NO 10 MAY lf'2 fDffi OH SA fPMt 41 fl 101-11.6 ITED ST ATES GO ERNME Memorandum SM/Director Manned Flight Experiment Office DA March 1966 ROM SM/Jocelyn Gill SU BJE CT Status of Scientific OSSA Experiments on Gemini IX The following scientific xperimen ts are scheduled for Gemini IX Zodiacal Light Photography 10 Micrometeorite Collection on Agena 11 Airglow Horizon bbtography 12 Micrometeorite Collection on Gemini related to 10 and Dim Light Photography being presented to SSSC as 28 on Friday March 1966 Dunkelman GSFC Zodiacal Light Photography Ney Univ of Minnesota Astronaut briefing Ney reports that one briefing has been held in Houston and another will be scheduled for the Planetarium Elliott ee Charles Bassett and James Lovell were present for the first briefing Tom Stafford was not Under th circumstances it is likely that the briefing will have to be repeated Equipment The camera equipment is now at the Cape Documen ta tion has presented some problems mainly the insistence on a new serial number for the camera since it now has a handle on it The handle is mounted with boles on the camera Tri film will be used with and without the win dow With hatch open and using the spacecraft as an occulting disk the astronaut will place himself in the shadow of the s/c and see how far out he can trace the xten ion of the solar corona He will also take pictures of the airglow and a picture of the Milky Way The principal investigator commented that he was very pleas ed with the enthus iastic reception from See and Bassett for the equipment and experiment They have been the most interested in this experiment of all the astronauts who have been associated with it Since Tom Stafford bas been very coopera ti ve in the experimental program I personally have confidence that he will pick up where See and Bassett have left off and that the experiment can go off as planned 10 Micrometeorit Collection on Ag na It employs the same bracket as 12 This modus operandi has cost more than a new design and has gi en much trouble GSI government service in pection has been a problem since i was not written into the contract The problem is with the fairing with the handle in the open position Lubrication bas also been a problem since the contractor has applied it in 11 glops 11 instead of following instructions The experiment is all ready so far as equipment is concerned Bu U.S Savings Bonds Regularly on the Pa roll Sa ings Plan so,0-10 [PAGE 74] 11 Airglow Horizon Photography Koomen NRL No difficulties in the schedule are anticipated This is the first flight of this experiment and the flight hardware is on schedule The equipment has passed environmental testing The experiment is mounted on a movable bracket and is 11 pointed 11 by the astronaut The first briefing of the astronauts See and Bassett has been held and another is to be held later in the Morehead Planetarium The astronauts seemed reasonably happy with the experiment according to the principal investigator 12 Micrometeorite Collection on Gemini S/C On schedule No probl ms reported by the principal investigator This is the first flight of this experiment having be en canceled out on GT -28 Dim Light Pbotograpl¾ Dunkelman This experiment was first carried on Gemini VII and VI as operational procedure Af'ter processing by SSSC and M3FEB this month it is hoped that it will assume full experiment status It uses cameras already assigned to the s/c and sensitive black and white film already qualified Some further briefing will be required probably at the Planetarium and possibly can be accomplished at the same time as Planetarium briefing Jocelyn Gill [PAGE 75] BM/Director Manned Flight Experiments Of':fice March 1966 JoceJ.yn Gill Status or Scie t11"ie OOSA Experiments on Gem:ini IX The i'ollovi.ng scientii'ic ex:perim.ent are schedule for Gemini IX S-l Zodiacal Li&}lt Photography s-10 1Ucrometeor1.te Collection on Agena S-ll A1rglow Horizon Photography S-l2 Mic:rometeorit Col.lect.ion on Gem.1111 rel.ated to S-10 and Dila Ligllt Photography being presented to SSSC as S-28 on 1day Ma.rcb 1.966 Dunkel.man GSJ'C Zodiacal Light Pbotograpey tronaut briefing repc,rts th one briefing be been held in Houston and another will be scbedul.ed for the Pl.alletari\D Elliot-t See Charles Bassett and Lovell were present for first briefing Tom Stafford -wa not er the circumstances it is likel.T the brl t'1ng w:11..l have ta eated uipaent,- The ra uipaent is now e.t Cape Documen a.Uon has problems mai.nq the insi.st nee on a l\eV erial number for th ra since it now has a handl on it l'be ba.mlle i.s mounted with bole on the l'a rri-X film will be used with and without the Yindo With batch open nd 1ng the cecraf't as an oceul.t di the tronaut vlll place b:1.mself int shadow o-f the s/c see how far out bi trace the exten ion of the solar corona Be will al.so take pictur o:f th a.irglow and a picture of the J0.1k;r Way Th priiicipe.11.ilvestigator commen that he was very pl ased with th entbuai tic reception fr See end ssett for the equipmen't end in erested in bis eJI>eriment of been sociated th it Since st-afford bas ri- iment The7 have been tb been very cooper in the experiment pro I personal..ly ha confi.dence that he vill pi up Yb re Bassett have l.ef't off and that experilllent go off e.s pl.anned It employs the same bra.ck.et S-12 Th modus o'1randi has cost more tba nev design and has given much trouble GSI government service inspection has been problem since it was not wrl ten into the contraet The p:robJ.em is with tbe ring w:1.t the b.endle tbe open pcsit1.on Lubrication bas al.so been a problem since the contractor ha applied it g1o inst ad ot follovi.ng instructions The experiment is all reaccy- far equi nt concerned [PAGE 76] s-111 Aiz:glow Bori~on l'hotoF:!JlbYt 14 Koomen NRL ditt1ault sc antic l'll1s ie the f'int[PAGE 70 [PAGE 71] [PAGE 72] NASA ROUTING SLIP FROM SM/Jocelyn Gill SIGNED J.R Gill 3/7/66 [PAGE 73] Memorandum TO SM/Director Manned Flight Experiments Office DATE March 1966 FROM SM/Jocelyn Gill SUBJECT Status of Scientific OSSA Experiments on Gemini IX The following scientific experiments are scheduled for Gemini IX Zodiacal Light Photography S-10 Micrometeorite Collection on Agena S-11 Airglow Horizon Photography S-12 Micrometeorite Collection on Gemini related to S-10 and Dim Light Photography being presented to SSSC as S-28 on Friday March 1966 Dunkelman GSFC Zodiacal Light Photography Ney Univ of Minnesota Astronaut briefing Ney reports that one briefing has been held in Houston and another will be scheduled for the Planetarium Elliott See Charles Bassett and James Lovell were present for the first briefing Tom Stafford was not Under the circumstances it is likely that the briefing will have to be repeated Equipment The camera equipment is now at the Cape Documentation has presented some problems mainly the insistence on a new serial number for the camera since it now has a handle on it The handle is mounted with bolts on the camera Tri-X film will be used with and without the window With hatch open and using the spacecraft PAGE 73b as an occulting disk the astronaut will place himself in the shadow of the s/c and see how far out he can trace the extension of the solar corona He will also take pictures of the airglow and a picture of the Milky Way The principal investigator commented that he was very pleased with the enthusiastic reception from See and Bassett for the equipment and experiment They have been the most interested in this experiment of all the astronauts who have been associated with it Since Tom Stafford has been very cooperative in the experimental program I personally have confidence that he will pick up where See and Bassett have left off and that the experiment can go off as planned S-10 Micrometeorite Collection on Agena It employs the same bracket as S-12 This modus operandi has cost more than a new design and has given much trouble GSI government service inspection has been a problem since it was not written into the contract The problem is with PAGE 73c the fairing with the handle in the open position Lubrication has also been a problem since the contractor has applied it in glops instead of following instructions The experiment is all ready so far as equipment is concerned [PAGE 74] S-11 Airglow Horizon Photography Koomen NRL No difficulties in the schedule are anticipated This is the first flight of this experiment and the flight hardware is on schedule The equipment has passed environmental testing The experiment is mounted on a movable bracket and is pointed by the astronaut The first briefing of the astronauts See and Bassett has been held and another is to be held later in the Morehead Planetarium The astronauts seemed reasonably happy with the experiment according to the principal investigator S-12 Micrometeorite Collection on Gemini S/C On schedule No problems reported by the principal investigator This is the first flight of this experiment having been canceled out on GT-6 S-28 Dim Light Photography Dunkelman This experiment was first carried on Gemini VII and VI-A as operational procedure After processing by SSSC and MSFEB this month it is hoped that it will assume full experiment status It uses cameras already assigned to the s/c and sensitive black and white film already qualified Some further briefing will be required probably at the Planetarium and possibly can be accomplished at the same time as S-1's Planetarium briefing Jocelyn Gill [PAGE 75] near-duplicate draft of the March 1966 status memorandum heavily OCR-garbled same content as pages 73-74 status of experiments S-10 S-11 S-12 S-28 for Gemini IX [PAGE 76] continuation of the garbled draft memorandum S-11 Airglow Horizon Photography and S-12 Micrometeorite Collection status cc MGS/Mr Liccardi MGS/Mr Frandsen MGS/Mr Hall SM:JRGill:kby 20593 3/7/66 [PAGE 77] Copies to A Liccardi A Frandsen Eldon Hall DRAFT Memo to Director Manned Flight Experiments Office From J.R Gill Subject Status of Scientific OSSA Experiments on Gemini IX The following scientific experiments are scheduled for Gemini IX Zodiacal Light Photography S-10 Micrometeorite Collection on Agena S-11 Airglow Horizon Photography S-12 Micrometeorite Collection on Gemini related to S-10 and Dim Light Photography being presented to SSSC as S-28 on Friday March 1966 Dunkelman GSFC Zodiacal Light Photography Ney Univ of Minn Astronaut briefing Ney reports that one briefing has been held in Houston and another will be scheduled for the Planetarium Elliott See Charles Bassett and James Lovell were present for the first briefing Tom Stafford was not Under the circumstances it is likely that the briefing will have to be repeated Equipment The camera equipment is now at the Cape Documentation has presented some problems mainly the insistence on a new serial number for the camera since it now has a handle on it The handle is mounted with bolts on the camera Tri-X film will be used with and without the window With hatch open and using the spacecraft as an occulting disk the astronaut will place himself in the shadow of the s/c and see how far out he can trace the extension of the solar corona He will also take pictures of the airglow and a picture of the Milky Way The principal investigator commented that he was very pleased with the enthusiastic reception from See and Bassett for the equipment and experiment They have been the most interested in this experiment of all the astronauts who have been associated with it Since Tom Stafford has been very cooperative in the experimental program I personally have confidence that he will pick up where See and Bassett have left off and that the experiment can go off as planned S-10 Micrometeorite Collection on Agena It employs the same bracket as S-12 This modus operandi has cost more than a new design and has given much trouble GSI govt service inspection has been a problem since it was not written into the contract The problem is with the fairing with the handle in the open position Lubrication has also been a problem since the contractor has applied it in glops instead of following instructions The experiment is all ready so far as equipment is concerned [PAGE 78] S-11 Airglow Horizon Photography Koomen NRL No difficulties in the schedule are anticipated This is the first flight of this experiment and the flight hardware is on schedule The equipment has passed environmental testing The experiment is mounted on a movable bracket and is pointed by the astronaut The first briefing of the astronauts See and Bassett has been held and another is to be held later in the Morehead Planetarium The astronauts seemed reasonably happy with the experiment according to the principal investigator S-12 Micrometeorite Collection on Gemini S/C On schedule No problems reported by the principal investigator This is the first flight of this experiment having been cancelled out on GT-6 S-28 Dim Light Photography Dunkelman This experiment was first carried on Gemini VII and VI-A as operational procedure After processing by SSSC and MSFEB this month it is hoped that it will assume full experiment status It uses cameras already assigned to the S/C and sensitive black and white film already qualified Some further briefing will be required probably at the Planetarium and possibly can be accomplished at the same time as S-1's Planetarium briefing Jocelyn Gill

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Source: U.S. Department of War / AARO — public domain · war.gov/ufo

Entities in this document

Gemini 9NASAThomas StaffordEugene CernanPeru

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