The sun-i lluminated Agena, I"hen close to the astronauts, was of
blinding brightness. L'etails could be made out at a distance of 26 km.
(GT-ll, tape 216, page 2). It was nicked up visually at distances
up to 122 km. (GT-ll, tape 50, page 7). Assuming an effective diameter
of 4.0 meters, we note from equation (1) that its apparpnt magnitude
Nas about +0.3 at a distance of 122 km.
The R'ou realized you had successfully carried off rendezvous?"
Answer (Love 1J) :
I can only talk for myself, looking at it from
a passi ve point of view. I think Frank (nonnun) and
I expressed the 3ame feeling -- it was night time
just become light, we were face dmm and, coming out
of the murky blackness of the dark clouds thi~, little
point of light. The sun ~:as just corning up and it was
not iiI uminat i ng the ground yet, hut on the adapter of
6 (Gemini (J) we could sec this illumination. A~; it got
cl,)scr and closer, it became a half moon and, it ww:,
just 1 i kl' it '''as on rails. At about half a m1 Ie, \</l'
could S l'C thc' th rus tors fi ri ng like light hazes, SOIDl' -
thing Iikc a \\' at er hose coming alit . - just in front of
us Ivjthout moving it stopped, fantastic.
30~
The sun-i lluminateu A~ena, I.hen close to the astronauts, \"as of
blinding brightness. Petails could be made out at a distance of 26 km,
(GT-11, tape 216, page 2). It was picked up visually at distances
up to 122 kill. (G'f'-11. tape 50, page 7). Assuming an cffccti ve diameter
of 4.0 meters, "'e note from equation (1) that its apparpnt magnitude
Nas about +0.3 at a distance of 122 km.
The R('nde:vous of [;T-6 and GT-7
The rend":vous of these two spacecraft involved close coordina-
tion,; of radar and vi sual acquisi tions and of ground and on-board
(,rl;cul.~t i;~Il.·; . "oml' of the 1Il0st spectacular photographs of the enti ro
~Iern;ry-l~ 'l11i program were obtained durjng tne rcl1'lc<.vous and one
is Ll; this n'lJort (plate 21) .
•P of 1.l1l' drama of the rend'~zvollS ,,,h 1('h also suggests the
natur!' of the visual si~,htings is brough;; out '.n the words of astro-
nilllt Lovell durin).: tht' post-flight press conference (tape S, page 1).
The '1ue~tion h'liS asked of both ast.ronauts - "What was your fi rst
reaction "hen ;.'ou realized you had successfully carried off rendezvous?"
Answer (Love 11) :
I can only talk for mys elf, looking at it from
a passive point of view. r think Frank (!lorman) and
I exprcssu.l th{' same feeling -- it was night time
j 113 t become ligh t, we were face dO\m and, comi ng out
of t he murky blackness of the dark c1 Duds th i~; i itt I e
point of light. The sun was just corning up and it was
not iiI uminat i ng the ground yet, but on the adapter of
(1 (G~lI1ini (,) we could sec this illumination. II~; it got
cl,)scr and Cl05l'r, it became a half 1I100n and, it "'w'.
just li kl' it I\aS on rai Is. lit about hal f a mi [(', \,l'
could Sl'C the thrusters firil1~ like' light ha'zl's, SOlnl'-
thin); like a \,ater hose COOling out ,.- just ill front of
us I,j'hout moving it stopped, fantastic.