Question about Gemini and Apollo Hardware in Orbit

[backspace]

Is anyone aware of any Gemini or Apollo hardware, adapters, boosters, etc. that may still be in orbit? I've found stages as far back as Vanguard, but I really don't feel like slogging through the entire OIG catalog to see if any of these objects is still present... unless I have to... <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br />

 

[mikejz]

I known that many of the Apollo third stages are in solar orbit, in addition I remember a glove from a Gemini Astronaut is still up there.

 

[backspace]

I've been going through the Geosync section of the report... I cannot believe how many SL-12 bodies the Russians left up there... I wonder how that affects avaliable space.... and, a lot of these were up before the Russians adopted venting on rocket bodies... could be a bigger mess in GEO than we think.

 

[drwayne]

There was an SIVB that went from solar orbit to Earth orbit a couple of years ago. Don't know if its still there.<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[drwayne]

A couple of the lunar module ascent modules ended up in temporary lunar orbits, but would have eventually crashed. Status sheets say location unknown.<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[drwayne]

You might find this page interesting:<br /><br />http://apollomaniacs.web.infoseek.co.jp/apollo/locationse.htm<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[mikejz]

Umm... I wounder if it would be possible to go out and maybe dredge up some parts for the Saturn first stage in the Atlantic

 

[drwayne]

I asked a somewhat similar question a couple of months ago. I asked whether there was any observation ships near the drop zone.<br /><br />Given the very light weight construction of the stage, how hard it hit the ocean, and how long they have been down, I suspect that there is not much left.<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[drwayne]

Ran across this wrt Gemini:<br /><br />http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/G/Gemini_Project.html<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[drwayne]

I wonder how good a tracking information they had on them?<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[drwayne]

While hunting for whether Gemini related Agena hardware was still in orbit, ran across this interesting piece on some stuff in orbit.<br /><br />http://www.aoe.vt.edu/~cdhall/Space/archives/000289.html<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[steve82]

"in addition I remember a glove from a Gemini Astronaut is still up there."<br /><br />Ed White's famous lost glove that was seen floating out the door of his Gemini while he was space walking reentered the atmosphere within days of it's release. <br />

 

[halman]

backspace,<br /><br />I wouldn't be surprised if at least one of the Agenas used on a Gemini flight were still up there. I seem to recall that an Agena was used to boost a Gemini capsule to an altitude of nearly 600 miles before the craft seperated prior to the Gemini rentry burn. If the orbit was fairly circular, it is quite possible the Agena would still be there.<br /><br />There was a thread going shortly before the 'meltdown' regarding how to clean up Low Earth Orbit. I suggested using a robot in a highly elliptical orbit to snag larger pieces of hardware, and transfer them to a higher altitude parking orbit for collection later. Another idea was to use a ground based laser to alter the orbits somehow. Definitely is something which is going to have to be addressed before a space elevator can be constructed. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> The secret to peace of mind is a short attention span. </div>

 

[mikejz]

It still would be neat to pull up a few of the F-1 Engines though

 

[drwayne]

googling on <br /><br />"ed white" orbit lost glove<br /><br />brought up a number of hits - here is one example:<br /><br />http://satobs.org/seesat/Apr-2000/0214.html<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[backspace]

What's weird to me about the needles is it's a great example of no foresight. Early on, when there was a launch rate that came close to 10 per month, it looks like very little consideration was given to orbital debris and traffic in general.

 

[drwayne]

An interesting post with rough information on orbital lifetimes:<br /><br />http://yarchive.net/space/orbits/orbital_lifetimes.html<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[thecolonel]

If you want to see something REALLY cool, grab that StarryNight program that Space.com has created. There is STILL an Atlas-Centaur test vehicle in Earth orbit and it is visible even with the naked eye! I saw it myself a few weeks ago even admist the lights of the city. You do have to look very carefully to find it, and you couldn't see it without a deliberate search. StarryNight is invaluable in finding it.<br /><br />It ranges greatly in visible magnitude, but at its brightest it is definitely visible. It truly does look like a falling star hauling across the sky.<br /><br />http://www.astronautix.com/chrono/19634.htm<br /><br />Launch Date: Nov 27 1963, notice the lack of decay date!

 

[backspace]

There are TONS of those atlas-centaurs still up there, according to OIG. What's weird is seeing the absolutely MANIC launch schedules from 59-78 and getting a clear picture of how much was actually put up there. There is a lot of stuff still in orbit.

 

[drwayne]

I figured there were a lot of Atlas Centaurs up there from satellite launches. I am curious if any of the Centaurs are Gemini related....haven't found anything on that front...<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[drwayne]

God, I must have had a stroke there....I meant Agena...<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

Is that starrynight program good? I'm looking for something descent. I used watch ISS and the Shuttle chasing eachother, alas no more, and the way things are heading, maybe never again. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>

 

[najab]

><i>Would a thermal glove be able to survive re-entry?</i><p>Actually, it might. It would have a large surface area and not much mass, so it should slow down quickly enough that it wouldn't burn.</p>

 

[thalion]

I know at least one of the Thor-Agenas is up there, and it's one of the brighter satellites.

 

[najab]

Data point: Some of the little flags survived Columbia's breakup even though the locker they were in was destroyed.