crbit wa~ achieved, hut cve-n then deposit5 were present on tht! inside
of till' outer pane of ~lass, I\nothcr source of contaminotion was appa-
rently the material USl'U to seal the glu.ss to the frarnes. The net
result was that the windows were nover entirely clean, and scattered
light hampered the 3::itronauts I ohservations.
There WI'T(~ OJ ff('rcnc(.~s from one fl ight to another in vi OW.1 ng
quality of the windows and from one window to the other on the same
fl ight, For example on (iemini 7, the command pi lot in the left scat
was able to identify stars to magnitude 6 JUlinR satellite night,
while the pilot in thl' r:ght seat was limited to magnitUde 4.4. The
difference of 1.6 magnitudes (a factor of 4.4) was undoubtedly due to
a difference ill window transmis:iion. It should be noted that stars
as faint a~ ma~nitude 6 can be identified from the ground only under
superb condi tiolls (absence of artificial lights and moonUght plus
a very clear sky) ,
rh~ astronauts wh~ had relatively clean windows often referred
to the appearfll\c('~ of tht, night sky as seen in orbit. as simiL.n' to
that seen by the pilot of a jet aircraft at 40,000 feet.
The smudged windows affected the visibility of objects during satel-
lite night due to the dt'crease in the window transmission, but the
~ffcct w~ even Illore serious during satell i tc daytime when the g 1I1re
from the light scattered by the smUdge of:cn was so bright as to
destroy the contrast by which objects could he easily distinguished.
3. artHtal Dynamics
SAtl'l1ites in orbit are subjected to '!tlnospheric Jrag, which
ul tintat,nly causes them to reenter the earth's atlllosphere, often produc-
ing Ii brillia.nt display l3.!'i they do so. l~eentric5 are sometimes
Tl'portcd as UFO~. Dill' Tcct'nt case ill particular stands as {ill eXtltnpL~
of t1 reentry rt>pol-tC'J u.; all two flnd later itlentiflcd tentatively as
the reentries 0f hgena uf Gemini 11 (Case 11) and Zund IV (sec Section
\'1. Chapter 2),
276
Grhit wa!l achieved, hut cv<'n then clep()sit3 were preSl'nt on thlJ inf;idc
of tlw oute:r parw of lo! lass. '\:lother source of contamin(l bot! was app<l-
l'c-nt 1)' the matl'rial WH'U to St'al the g lu.~s to the frames. The nct
re~u1t was that the windows were nuVcr untire ly ell'a.n, and scattered
light hampered the 3strona1lts I ohservations.
There Wt'T(~ U.l ffcrcnct's from one fl ight to another in vi cw.i ng
quality of the windows and from one window to the other 011 the same
flight. For example on (iemini 7, the command pilot in the left seat
was able to identify stars to hlagnitude (, uUlinR satellite night,
while tIlt' pilot in thl' r:ght seat was limited to magnitude 4,4. The
difference of 1.6 magnitudes (a factor of 4,4) was undouhtedly due to
a difference ill window transmisc;ion, It should be noted that stars
as faint a~ magnitude 6 Can he identifiad from the grolJlld only under
superb condi t'ions (absence of al'tificial lights and moonllght plus
a very clear sky) .
Thl' astronauts \vh'J hau relatively clean windows often "eferred
to the appearflnC(~ of thl' night :;ky as seen in orhit, as simiLlT to
that seen by the pilot of a jet aircraft at 40,000 feet.
The smudged willuows affrctcu the visib.i 1i ty of objects during satc1~
lite night due to tht' cit'crease in the window trsnsrnissjon, but the
effect WEIS even more serious during satell i te daytime when the g 191"('
from the light scattl;'red by the smudge of~l'n '"as so bright as to
destroy the contrast by which objects could he easily distinguished.
3. Orbltlll Dynamics
Sntl'llJtes in orbit are subjC'ctcd to 'jtmospheric drag, which
ul ti01at",ly causes them to reenter the earth I ~ atlno5l'herl'. often produc-
ing a bri!.li£lllt \.Ii~play a.~ th{'y do so. Heentl'ics arC' ;;onletimcs
Tl'portcd as UFO,;. On(' TccC'nt eng" in particular stunds as (HI QXtilllpl·;.!
of a reC'ntr), rl'pOl'tC'J 11<; an tWo find later iuentifLC't! tentatively as
the reentries ()f AgE-not vi' Gemint 11 (Cast' 11) and ZunI! tV (see Section
\'1. Chapter 2).
276