Gemini IX-A, 1966: um meteoro verde-esbranquiçado, as "faíscas" que não apareceram e a dúvida sobre a luz na janela

NASA ROUTING SLIP. [Form columns: CODE, NAME (if necessary); ACTION, APPROVAL, CONCURRENCE, FILE, INFORMATION, INVESTIGATE AND ADVISE, NOTE AND FORWARD, NOTE AND RETURN, PER REQUEST, RECOMMENDATION, SEE ME, SIGNATURE, REPLY FOR SIGNATURE OF] 1. Shirley [handwritten] - [check mark at] FILE. REMARKS: Gemini IX Debriefing notes. Summary writeup [handwritten]. FROM: [handwritten initials, illegible] DATE: 10/18 [handwritten]. NASA Form 26 (Rev. Jan. 1963).

DRAFT [stamp] 7/7/66 [handwritten]. Gemini IX Debriefing [held at] MSC Bldg 4 Rm 277, June 16, 1966. Attendance: about 40 off and on. Experiments: S-5: (from Mr. Underwood while waiting for the session to begin.) 300 or more pictures were obtained on Gemini 9. Peru was almost completely covered because it was CLEAR. A new lake(?) was seen on one picture which did not appear on any existing map. Peruvian Embassy was called and they sent a military plane to investigate this lake which could be a possible hazard to villages below by producing an avalanche. Wm. Fisher, USGS, has put out a small technical paper on the GT-4 pictures. S-12: Hemenway and Gene Flaherty. Micrometeorite Collection on Gemini, Agena. S-10: The astronauts reported they could see the collection box. Sorry they could not go to it to open it. But there it was bright and shiny. S-12: Biological analysis (1) Swabs- taken both pre-flight and post-flight. Pre-flight were dirty. Post-flight " sterile. 3 locations inside the S/C. (2) 5 organisms tested. 2 did not survive. 2- penicillium and T-1(?) survived/ bacteriophages. The biological results are easier to get at and so the results will come out earlier. Micrometeorite collection had 18hrs. with two exposures-two openings and closings of the box from the panel and final recovery by EVA. The S/C was in drifting flight, looking in all directions, but actually not so much yaw as pitch to quote the astronauts. Some artifacts were present -how made is beyond our understanding. "You've done for us a really fine job." Astronauts- No problem in recovering S-12. Had to pull it off, but it didn't stick. Didn't use lanyard (meaning?) We heard the squib when it closed. We were quiet one day and didn't fire the thrusters. Zeitler has the times of opening and closing the control box which were called down from the S/C. Hemenway to astronauts: Can you tell me about any discarding of material? Astronauts- At end of first day we had used 80% of fuel (600#). We purged the fuel cells and had a urine dump which gave snowballs. - During EVA I noticed that the S/C was clean. Stafford says estimate was that for 30 mins it was absolutely clean. in? * Stafford- Saw meteors looking down at the earth

p.2. We saw a very bright meteor- way, way out (going) from left to right, whitish-green in color. Material was dumped between exposures-- mass of water and urine- we know the mass to barely and ounce-- Hemenway- To assume that all the holes are real- we count 9 holes in 5 sq. cm. in 7x10^4 secs with no corrections..this gives a point on the curve (see file) in the middle of many other results. Serious diffemence with Pegasus. Stafford- Is the pressure suit we have adequate? Hemenway- the velocities range from 0 to 70 km/sec; those recorded hits proably were not very high. Dubin- (this) is a portion of sample we've looked at, the scanning prodess is slow.. would like to investigate the gold visor--gold is soft.. Luminous particles... at sunrise on blunt end (S/C) they always show at sunrise. Roach- Could they cause what S-12 sees? Hemenway- Stains show when we open the collection box. Much more was collected (guest investigator portions) and we are worried about contamination between these separate portions. Stafford- At one time there was an N2O4 yellow drop right on my window.. Go to p.3.

Gemini 9 Debriefing- p.3. Hemenway- About S-10, we feel it is very important todo this because of the length of exposure. Agena 8 would really be worthwile to get at- * * * * * S-1 Zodiacal Light, Ney and Huch and John Lintott (tech. monitor). Astronauts to Ney- We have a message- we did the expt inside... Ney to astronauts- How did you hold (guide) it so well? Ciernan- We felt there would be a problem in holding 30 secs. in EVA. I had practiced leaning on a car and 30 secs. was toomuch! During EVA - drifting so much.. During EVA just maintaining position is our most difficult task... restraining the feet. Stafford- Gene produced so much torque when he stepped out of the S/C, that he rolled me 150 degrees, etc... I don"t think we could do it (the expt) outside.. Ciernan- We turned out all the lights except 3 red lights inside the S/C. I put the camera again the(?) and slid it against the frame so I could hold it hard against the frame and then Tom went for the (proper) part of the horizon... The pitch was difficult- to sight the horizon over the (nose) and vertically to get the Milky Way on the window. [crossed out by hand:] We saw a very bright meteor, way, way out (going) from left to right, whitish-green in color. Material was dumped between exposures- mass of water and urine; we know the volume (mass) to barely an ounce. We took 18 pix, Moon on the last one; then sunrise.. 17 were godd.. The first picture was taken toward the north. Ney- Would you like a sight? Would give finite-- 15 secs, 30 secs in center. (Your) worst holds only represent 1 or 2 degrees...are the null rates for orbital or inertial? How well did you think you held??? and then I'll show you the pictures.. Ciernan- Didn't need a handle on the camera- it's on right and down. I feel camera was held real well. Problem was rates were even harder than in S-11.. Ciernan- It was still difficult to line up the camera with the black horizon, etc. I concentrated on looking in the right direction. (0.8 deg. in each direction.) Problem- the windwo is at an odd angle

4. Ciernan- I cleaned my window- mine had clear area in center but ridge all around- Stafford- I couldn"t even see ... Ciernan- A world of stars when put out all the lights-- THere is alight leak inside the capsure from the attitude control.. * Lights were out in the room to see the pictures and it is difficult to read the notes. They saw the zodiacal light visually. Day after full moon.. Lightning? Magellanic clouds? (I think the ans. was no.) Stafford- When the sun goes down, you see the lightning everywhere. Ciernan- the top edge of the airglow is sharper (than the lower edge). Pictures #9,12 were shown. Camera was turned off between each exposure. Twilight and zodiacal light in the sunrise photos (Venus)..like Gordo Cooper's description of visual view. Roach- Could you hold on a bright star? Stafford- If could use a reticle and a boresight, could really be on the needle. Ney- Should we never think of a 2 minite exposure? Ciernan- 30 secs seems a long time. Ney- Voice tape? Are time hacks on each? Ans/ NO. Zeitler- I didn't see anything on that. Ciernan: Maintaining position was a major problem. Ney: How to do it outside? Stafford: Mount camera clamped to forward hatch. (Did you see the ATDA?) THe ATDA was 20 mins. away, about 10x diam. of Venus....never saw any flashing lights. Roach: Did you ever see "sparkles" coming of the ATDA? Stafford: No, none.. WHitish-blue and then whitish-orange..(?)

5. John Lintott: a boresight would cut down the field of view.. Ney: the velcro was a night light trap.. and he ended his remarks with "It was a great job!" Ciernan: We'd like some pictures.. Ney: We'll get you some.. * * * * * S-11: Martin Koomen, NRL. Koomen: "After hearing the voice tape, I wan't sure whether to come without my hard hat!" Ciernan: We haven't heard them yet.. How good were the rates? Koomen: I thought they were very good. Ciernan: the points about boresighting would be the same as for S-1. Stafford: The platform was up all the time.. Ciernan: the sight would give you more control. C: lost.. S: lost.. Ciernan: We took the "timer" off as it wasn't working..used time hacks.. Stafford: It was a very difficult operation and (he) was in a terrible position.. --our hands were cramped and sweaty afterwards (from the effort). Koomen: the control was too coarse? Ciernan: Make lever arm as short as possible on the pitch control.. Hard to get in these positions in zero G. Koomen: You were holding on to what you were supposed to guide.. Ciernan: No finger prints because of way things were handled.. Koomen: Was bracket on the window from orbit to orbit? Ciernan: Yes took it off prior to EVA.. DIdn't get the last 2 pictures because the camera was stowed before S-1 and they...

6. Koomen- (on some pictures) the airglow is sometimes sharper than other times. There are 45 good pictures; the thruster frame is black. Ciernan- Does the bright moon help the airglow? Koomen- We don't think the moon affects the airglow at all.. - There is evidance of differences in intensity and altitude using (comparing) the two filters. Stafford- Dr. Ney's experiment (is) learning curve for S-11. - lightning flashes. Koomen- Last 4 pictures/ 2 extra sets of exposures, 5 and 10 secs. with filters. Stafford- Decision not to go. We had 6 (numbers) of frame(panel?) left. Ciernan- Just 2 dots were what you need, not 3 (on camera or panel or what? Koomen- Could you adjust brightness of points? Ciernan- Not as fine as I'd like-- I'd like to go dimmer.. Koomen- Did you use ring on shaft? Ciernan- Yes, with my fingernail.. Koomen- Were you pressed for time? Ciernan- As a matter of fact we had time to wait for sunrise.. - It was slower because we were saving fuel. Stafford- Boresight would reduce time by 25%. Koomen- Was the estimate to take the twilight pictures ok? Ciernan- We took what you gave, and apparently they were.. Koomen- Would it be better just to use your own judgment? Ciernan- No, I was glad to have the times.. - We were glad to have the time so we knew what to shoot at.. Koomen- Did you see and color in the twilight airglow. Ciernan- No, just grey or NO COLOR. - I would use milky to describe the appearance.. (Koomen showed slides of many of his pictures which were very good.) Koomen- Na filter and minus Na filter show somewhat differeent levels. Lintott- What about boresighting? Ciernan- Yes, it could bring yaw on *********

7. Discussion on S011 was folloed by a film showing (Quick Look at Gemini IX). 15 mins. UHF-VHF Polarization experiment: 51/2 orbits of data. * * * * * 11:40 A.M. M-5 Bioassays of Biomedicals ANalysis of Body Fluids. * * * * * GENERAL SCIENTIFIC OBSERVATIONS. 11:45 A.M. Ney: Any stars in the daytime? : No. Stafford: In twilight as we crossed the sun line, (saw) Antares. Ciernan: Sunrise on the adapter and on the nose are quite different for the two of us (two different windows, two different views). : He could see stars while I was in daylight. Stafford: (Schirra saw) 3 stars in Orion's Belt during Gemini VI, and Sirius and Rigel. Lowman: 50 or 60 useful pictures of S. America; only had a few before. Ciernan: Could only see streams flickering through (the jungle?) Very dark above the rain forest. "Greens," no..Black tempered with green. Lowman: Any blues off the NW coast of S.America? Stafford: Can't answer. Ciernan: Hasselblad with filter.. Stafford: Maurer (camera).. Did not have the GT-10 (terrain photography) fligth plan, no onboard data (to direct this picture taking). : Maurer worked well, better than the Hasselblad. A strip over Africa was taken. Dunkelman: Use faster speed, 1/500th sec..why not try? Towering decks of clouds.. MSC ques. re STRAPS. Ciernan: I'm against straps, lanyards and tethers.. If have to get up, you will need restraint because your feet will start floating...

8. Ciernan: Couldn't see out my window obliquely.. Stafford: Window covers did help some (protected on launch and jettisoned in flight did help cleanliness of windows). Roach: You did see the zodiacal light several times? How close to the Sun? Ciernan: No chance to look for these phenomena as such because we had to sleep or look for ATDA. Color PICTURES: Some good limb shots.. (Underwood). Dubin: Moon? Ney: Could you occult the moon behind the ATDA? Roach: Could wash out stars with the moon.. Underwood: ATDA and moon in some pictures.. Ciernan: I had a plan to observae a number of things, but when the time came (during EVA) I was so fogged up that I couldn't proceed (with the plan.) Roach: It is important to find out whether the problem is with stuff "in space" or whether it is on the window.. Stafford: It't my impression that it's something outside.. Ney: Was sun ever occulted by the ATDA? Stafford: WE didn't stay with it too long.. Ciernan: WE closed hatch while outside (during EVA). Ney: Did you see stars as well then (Sun visible to Ciernan) as at night? Stafford: As black then as .. Ney: Earthlight might cause the problem.. We are trying to distinguish between 1. Daytime with earthlight 2. Daytime without earthlight 3. Nighttime. Dunkelman: We need to understand each other and for others to undestand what we mean. We need to clarify what is meant by "local daytime." (question often of semantics..) Roach: Will you see stars on the moon trip? Stafford: (When) black I saw 5th or 6th magnitude stars. Sun was 2 or 3 degrees above the horizon. Roach: Open the hatch and look out (so get rid of window problem). Stafford: I could not see through Gene's hatch (when he emerged for EVA). E N D of this section/ Lunch.

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Memorandum. TO: SM/Director [handwritten initials], Manned Flight Experiments Office. DATE: June 21, 1966. FROM: SM/Jocelyn R. Gill. SUBJECT: Report on Gemini 9 - STAFFORD & CERNAN [handwritten]. Gemini 9 - Performance [handwritten over "Perfection"] on our experiments was impressive. S-1 - Zodiacal Light Experiment (Ney) - This was done inside the capsule. Pictures were taken of the zodiacal light and the Milky Way. Guiding was quite good even for the 30 second sweep. Tri-x film was used, and best pictures yet of the zodiacal light. S-11 - Airglow Horizon Photographic Experiment (Koomen) - Naval Research Laboratory - About 40 usable pictures of the airglow with a split field picture were obtained. Some of the same star field were shown in S-1. Guiding was very good even though Cernan had to take pictures in a very awkward position. S-12 - Micrometeorite Collection (Hemenway) - Showed several pictures which were greatly magnified - enlargement of the micrometeorite experiment. Only a small portion of the exposed surface has been analyzed. Nevertheless 9 important ones are recorded on these films. Hemenway is investigating possible contamination between experiments before sending individual portions to guest experimenters. Biological Experiments - Results of these come out faster. Part A: 3 swabs were taken inside of spacecraft. Preflight were dirty. Postflight: Some areas were sterile. Part B: Penicillium and T-4 bactericidal specimens survived the spaceflight. Two other specimens did not. 30 day report may have more results but micrometeorite experiment will take some time. [Margin, handwritten: "Gill (file)", "Gemini IX", "inside", "on Gemini? Yes"] Buy U.S. Savings Bonds Regularly on the Payroll Savings Plan.

2. S-5 & S-6 - These were not officially carried, but Stafford and Cernan took over 300 colored pictures using the Hasselblad and Maurer camera. A photographic strip was taken over Peru where weather was excellent. Some features show up, for example, glacial lake in the Andes which do not show on any existing map. Peruvian embassy has been informed of this lake which may portend for avalanch hazard to villages located below this lake. Military plane was sent into area to investigate. AMU - This was unsuccessful. Proves to be "too much work" under present arrangements during EVA. It takes two hands to control the body positioning. Hand held photography during EVA for experiment looks out of the question at present time. Jocelyn R. Gill