Gemini 7 Technical Debriefing, 1965

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134
Big Dipper. It was definitely a satellite, and ~e tracked it
on the IR and we used the recorder. It will be interesting
to see if they got any data of it. We were never close
enough to see any satellites and to pick them out as far as
definite features.
Lovell
They were just points of light.
Borman
Just light points.
There certainly was not any problem
viewing the ground. As we have already mentioned over the
radio, we were able to see the Astrodome.
The horizontal
markings, or the east west markings, on the S-8/D-1, pattern
stood out loud and clear when we acquired it. It is very
akin to flying an ai rpl ane at high altitude.
Roads stood
out well, rivers stood out well, and beaches particularly
well.
Towns were a little more difficult to determine, but
when you had them you could easily see the l ayout and appar­
ent size. Also, the atmosphere made a vast difference. If
there was any sort of haze or cloud, it definitely cut down
your vision.
When we finally got over the Himalayas in
daylight, it was easy to see why it was so clear.
lovell
Haze does affect sightings from space as well as it does from
airplanes. It is very similar. If the area is pretty hazy,
it is goi ng to decrease tr:e contrast of the ground, and
makes viewing ground objects very difficult. Where you have