The first docking in the history of spaceflight

Gemini 8 launched on March 16, 1966, at 16:41:02 UTC from Launch Complex 19 atop a Titan II GLV. The crew was Command Pilot Neil Armstrong and Pilot David Scott — the first spaceflight for both.

Nearly seven hours earlier, at 15:00:03 UTC, the Agena Target Vehicle (GATV-5003) launched on an Atlas rocket. Armstrong docked with it at 23:14 UTC — the first-ever linkup of two spacecraft in orbit. Scott radioed Mission Control: "Flight, we are docked! Yes, it's really a smoothie" — the docking had gone smoothly.

The linked spacecraft remained docked for about half an hour. At approximately 23:45 UTC, the Agena executed a stored command to roll the combined vehicle 90°. Shortly after, Scott noticed the combined spacecraft was rolling uncontrollably — the start of the mission's most dramatic phase.

FROM THE FLIGHT TRANSCRIPT"Flight, we are docked! Yes, it's really a smoothie."— David Scott, po prvním dokování v historii

Start rakety Titan II GLV s lodí Gemini 8 (NASA).

◉ REÁLNÉ FOTOStart Titanu II GLV s lodí Gemini 8.

KEY CHAPTER DATA

Čas startu16. 3. 1966, 16:41:02 UTC

NosičTitan II GLV

Čas dokování23:14 UTC

sources: NASA — Gemini 8 Mission Report · NASA — On the Shoulders of Titans: A History of Project Gemini · NASA Image and Video Library — full list on Gemini 8

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