Determined to effect a successful rendezvous in orbit, NASA sent astronauts
Neil Armstrong and David Scott in Gemini 8 to dock with the orbiting spacecraft
Agena. The astronauts docked successfully but immediately lost control of the
combined spacecraft, which began to spin uncontrollably. Scott separated the
two vessels, but Gemini 8 only increased its rotation velocity, to a full
rotation per second.
Agena in orbit, viewed from Gemini 8
Armstrong and Scott were veteran pilots and kept their cool. Careful to hold
their heads still to prevent paralyzing dizziness, they eventually isolated the
problem, a stuck attitude adjuster. By cutting out the adjuster, they
stabilized the spacecraft and safely returned home. When asked later how he
felt during this near-disastrous ride, Armstrong commented, "I suspect you
could categorize it as anxiety."
Neil Armstrong (l) and David Scott (r),
crew of the Gemini 8, exiting craft.
Agena in orbit, viewed from Gemini 8