Gemini 9 Debriefing, 1966

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A new bracket, satisfactory to both MSC and the experimenter, has been constructed at the Naval Research Laboratory. This new bracket was seen at the meeting in St. Louis, is incorporated in the training unit, and MSC is well satisfied with it.

There is just one night pass for accomplishment on Gemini IX in view of extra operational considerations of S-11. This will make it possible to get 14 exposures and a sunrise period. This is not what Koomen, principal investigator, requested. He asked for four (4) night passes originally. Apparently, navigational equipment will have to usurp this time on IX. S-11 is scheduled for reflight on Gemini XI and XII.

S-10, S-12:

Both units have been checked out and fit-checked with the S/C. S-12 is opened from inside the cabin by an upper right-hand toggle switch designed to prevent inadvertent activation. Both pieces of equipment will be fit-checked at the Cape and then returned to the principal investigator at Dudley Observatory for flight loading. There is "clean room" space for Dr. Hemenway at the Cape also.

On Gemini IX the first activity will be to activate the S-12 which is done from inside the cabin. The second activity will be to open the S-10 micrometeorite box on the Agena. The S-10 box is fastened to the Agena by a velcro patch. (Just which Agena will be approached is unknown at this time; S-10 was attached to the Agena belonging to Gemini VIII; if all goes as planned there will also be one on the Agena belonging to Gemini IX. The SEDR H460 is scheduled for May 2nd and Wayne Eaton from MSC will be there. After that the collection boxes will be returned to Dudley for loading for flight.

According to the present plan the S-12 collection box will be retrieved first during the EVA planned for the first day of the mission.

In summary, there are some eight (8) hours of experiments (scientific experiments are only part of the total complement) scheduled for Gemini IX and there are only 4-1/2 hours in toto available for experiments according to O. Smistad, Experiments Office, MSC.

The final flight plan should be ready on the 18th and I have requested a copy.

Jocelyn R. Gill

cc: SM/Foster/Calio
SM Subject Files: GT-9
S-1, S-12, S-11
SM Reading Files

Jocelyn R. Gill
Manned Flight Experiments Office