Gemini Docking Mechanism
The
Augmented Target Docking Adapter
. It was the first American craft that could dock to another in space.
The Gemini side of the mechanism consisted of 3 latch receptacles around the forward end (the rendezvous and recovery section) of the spacecraft.[1] The Agena side of the mechanism consisted of a truncated cone to guide the nose of the Gemini spacecraft into 3 corresponding latches. A notch in the cone aligned with the "indexing bar" on the Gemini spacecraft to orient the two spacecraft in roll.[2]
Unlike the later Apollo Docking Mechanism, the Gemini docking mechanism did not provide internal access between the docked spacecraft; it only locked them together and provided an electronic umbilical to control the Agena from the Gemini capsule.
References
- ^ McDonnell Technical Data Dept (1 July 1966). "Docking System". NASA Project Gemini Familiarization Manual (PDF). McDonnell.
- ^ McDonnell Technical Data Dept (1 July 1966). "Target Docking Adapter". NASA Project Gemini Familiarization Manual (PDF). McDonnell.