Gemini 7 Technical Debriefing, 1965

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that our timing was good on-board.
They did come through
but not until TR-10 seconds. At TR equals zero the s/c
attitude was 20 degrees down. s/c rates were easy to con­
trol, but I thought that the thrust fro.m those retro-rockets
was high.
I really had a sensation of being accelerated.
Didn't you Jim?
Lovell
Well, it was different from what I had expected because we
were so used to zero g fli ght.
Borman
The only thing I could do was fly instruments, the needles
and the ball. Trying to hold it right on the ball.
I was vecy glad that I was in RATE COMMAND.
I had to con­
trol it in RATE COMMAND a. little bit,particularly on the
fourth retro rocket. The first three went bing, bing, bing.
Then there was a pause of about ½ a second and the fourth
one went.
The fourth one seemed like it was a little mis­
aligned, I think it was left yaw.
I had to bring it back.
I would like to emphasize this. I thought those retros were
really powerful, and that you were holding on to something
that if you really didn't have good control it could get
away from you pretty easily.
Lovell
But, I was sure happy to hear them go.