Gemini 4 Experiment Debriefing, 1967

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M-913-65-04
will trail 16 miles behind the booster.
At this point, a spacecraft retardation
maneuver of 13 feet per second will initiate the visual rendezvous sequence.
The spacecraft will approach the booster from behind and below.
Because of
unknown variation in the atmospheric density and drag of the slowly tumbling
booster, the exact approach trajectory cannot be predicted.
The flight crew
will measure elevation angles of the booster and wil I initiate rendezvous
maneuvers when the booster is approximately 45 degrees elevation angle above
the spacecraft.
By observing the movement of the booster with respect to the
star background and with respect to the spacecraft inertia l platform display, the
crew can determine the proper lateral maneuver to null the lateral component
of velocity thereby resulting in a spacecraft velocity vector which is directly
toward the booster.
After removing the lateral velocity difference, the pilot
will apply a series of breaking maneuvers with the forward firing thrusters to
reduce the closing velocity.
The flight crew will measure with onboard
instruments the total maneuvering velocity required for the rendezvous procedure.
The spacecraft should be back in close proximity of the launch vehicle over
the Northeast coast of South America at the beginning of the fifth orbit.
After the rendezvous operation is complete, the spacecraft will again separate
from the booster - this time using a maneuver which will place the Gemini
spacecraft on an orbit with a predicted lifetime of four days.
The EVA suit is the new G4C suit which replaces the G3C suit used so
successfully by the GT-3 flight crew.
The G4C suit has the following new
features:
a.
Helmet - incorporation of triple lens shield (visors) for visual, thermal,
impact, and micrometeorite protection.
b.
Torso ­
1.
Change to Nomex (HT-1)
11 Linknet11 in restraint layer for increased
structure I strength.
2.
Incorporation of strain relief zipper in sealing closure.
3.
Incorporation of redesigned ventilation inlet and outlet fittings with
automatic locking and redundant sealing features.
4.
Replace Nomex (HT-1) coverlayer with integrated thermal and
mi crometeori ty cover layer.
c.
Gloves - Incorporate new design with increased mobility, abrasion
resistance and thermal protection.
d.
Bio-connector - Self-alighment, pin protective design.
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