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Author
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Topic: Gemini 7: Deployed units from retro section?
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 43576
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-26-2019 10:17 AM
   
A question on behalf of a reader...In this photo of Gemini 7, there is a small piece of hardware that appears to have been deployed from the retro-section of the spacecraft. In looking at the other photos in this set, it appears there are three of these units around the spacecraft. What were these three units?  |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3324
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-26-2019 11:00 AM
Weren't those the two acquisition lights deployed for rendezvous? |
Go4Launch
Member Posts: 549
From: Seminole, Fla.
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 07-26-2019 11:21 AM
Those protrusions are cryogenic spectrometer/interferometers, a USAF experiment to obtain spectral irradiance information about terrestrial features and celestial objects. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 43576
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-26-2019 11:23 AM
Thanks John! I have passed along your answer to the reader, who I know will be appreciative, too. |
rlobinske
Member Posts: 155
From: Crawfordville, FL
Registered: Oct 2014
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posted 07-26-2019 11:55 AM
There was the cryogenic spectrometer/interferometer, a spectrometer and a radiometer mounted on the equipment module, plus a magnetometer mounted on the aft heat shield. |
Space Cadet Carl
Member Posts: 225
From: Lake Orion, Michigan
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 07-27-2019 11:35 AM
I totally understand experiments on the outside of the equipment module... but why is the red arrow pointing to something that's mounted to the retro module? |
space1
Member Posts: 861
From: Danville, Ohio
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 07-27-2019 03:28 PM
The retro module contained only the four retro rockets mounted on a cross-shaped structure, as well as the orbital thrusters. There was ample volume for mounting experiments, which was done on several missions. |
Go4Launch
Member Posts: 549
From: Seminole, Fla.
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 07-27-2019 04:44 PM
These experiments, formally known as Celestial Radiometry and Space-Object Radiometry (D004 and D007), also flew on Gemini V. According to "The Gemini Program Physical Sciences Experiments Summary:" The radiometer and spectrometers were mounted on swingout arms in the Gemini retroadapter section. Doors in the adapter were opened pyrotechnically, and the three sensing units swung through the openings into boresight alignment with the spacecraft optical sight. After the sensing units were erected, the spacecraft was pointed at the desired region for measurement. |
Space Cadet Carl
Member Posts: 225
From: Lake Orion, Michigan
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 07-27-2019 04:54 PM
Thanks. That sounds like the answer we were looking for! |
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