Rendezvous With Tomorrow: Historic Gemini VIII Pictures
Rendezvous With Tomorrow: Historic Gemini VIII Pictures
The most dramatic adventure in Space history ends southwest of Okinawa as Astronauts Neil Armstrong and David Scott bring their Gemini Eight capsule down safely. There were three bad hours after the near disaster 185 miles above the earth. Motion pictures made from the capsule show the sighting and linkup with Agena rocket, the movies showing dramatically how space travel will be accomplished in the future. Then the violent gyrations of Agena and Gemini as the Number 8 Thruster on Gemini short circuits and the Astronauts wrestle their capsule back under control. A happy ending to what might have been a disaster. Pacific Ocean POV - Looking out the window of an Air Force military plane you see Gemini VIII floating in the water. ECU - Looks like the face of the navigator on the plane as he looks down at the water below. POV - Ocean, rubber rafts and Gemini VIII. MS - Naval recovery officers on board ship. LS - Astronauts and Navy Seals. Aerial Shot - The bow of the Mason, Gemini VIII and rubber raft in the water. High Angle Shot - Commander Neil Armstrong on the right and on the left Astronaut David Scott. Medium Shot to Close Up - Gemini hoisted up to the deck of the US Mason, Naval officer standing watch and guiding the Gemini on board the deck. CUS - The two Astronauts are given praise and commander of the Mason shaking their hands. Cape Kennedy, Florida MS - A big banner at the airport "Welcome Back Neil & Dave. MS - Two Astronauts disembarking an Air Force plane. CUS - Neil Armstrong and David Scott. Outer Space Films made by cameras on board Gemini VIII - Site of the Agena Rocket in space, 85 miles above the earth. MS - The Agena Rocket turning. MS - Command pilot Armstrong moves Gemini slowly towards the docking collar of the Agena Rocket. As the lights disappear that is the actual docking taking place. For a half hour both crafts held steady. Astronauts told the ground that everything was very stable and then the No 8 thruster acts up. Oscillation sets in - shaking the Gemini. Armstrong wrestles the Gemini free and the Gemini starts spinning. It took the Astronauts a full 30 minutes to gain control.