Gemini 10

Key facts

Mission & specifications

Mission

Gemini 10 turned the Agena target from a docking partner into a tool. John Young and Michael Collins launched on 18 July 1966, docked with their own Agena, and then did something new: they fired the Agena's powerful engine while still attached, using it as a stage to boost themselves to a record altitude and chase down a second, dormant Agena left in orbit by Gemini 8. It was the first double rendezvous, and the first time a crew used a target vehicle's propulsion to travel. Collins then spacewalked over to the drifting Agena to retrieve a micrometeorite-collection package — a rare in-space recovery from another object. Both men went on to Apollo: Collins would orbit the Moon alone aboard Apollo 11 while Armstrong and Aldrin walked below, and Young would walk on it himself on Apollo 16.

1. 1966Gemini 10 launchesLaunch

   Young and Collins fly to dock with their Agena target.

2. 1966First use of a target's engineMilestone

   Docked to the Agena, the crew fire its engine to climb higher and chase a second, dormant Agena — the first double rendezvous.

3. 1966Spacewalk to another spacecraftMilestone

   Collins spacewalks over to the drifting Gemini 8 Agena to retrieve its micrometeorite package.

4. 1966SplashdownMission end

   Down after 43 orbits, recovered by USS Guadalcanal.

Images

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