# Gemini 10 Target
**Wikidata**: [Q26670523](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26670523)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gemini-10-target

## Summary
Gemini 10 Target was a spacecraft launched on July 18, 1966, as part of NASA's Gemini program. It was launched using an Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D rocket and served as a target vehicle for rendezvous and docking practice during the Gemini 10 mission.

## Key Facts
- Launched on July 18, 1966, using an Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D rocket
- Classified as a spacecraft (instance of: spacecraft)
- COSPAR ID: 1966-065A
- Wikimedia sitelink count: 2
- Available in Latvian (lv) and Polish (pl) Wikipedia languages
- Google Knowledge Graph ID: /g/11cry9md7z
- Object orbit decayed in 1966
- Featured in image S66-46122.jpg on Wikimedia Commons

### FAQs

### Q: What was the purpose of Gemini 10 Target?
A: Gemini 10 Target was a spacecraft launched to serve as a rendezvous and docking target for the Gemini 10 mission. It was launched on July 18, 1966, using an Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D rocket to help astronauts practice orbital maneuvers.

### Q: When was Gemini 10 Target launched?
A: Gemini 10 Target was launched on July 18, 1966. This was the same day as the Gemini 10 mission's launch, as the target vehicle needed to be in orbit for the astronauts to practice rendezvous and docking procedures.

### Q: What type of rocket launched Gemini 10 Target?
A: Gemini 10 Target was launched using an Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D rocket, which was a type of American expendable launch system. This launch vehicle combination was commonly used for Gemini program target vehicles.

## Why It Matters
Gemini 10 Target played a crucial role in advancing NASA's capabilities for the Apollo lunar missions. As a target vehicle for the Gemini 10 mission, it enabled astronauts to practice critical orbital rendezvous and docking maneuvers that would be essential for future moon missions. The successful use of target vehicles like Gemini 10 Target demonstrated that spacecraft could reliably meet and dock in orbit, a fundamental requirement for the lunar landing missions where the command module would need to dock with the lunar module in space. This technology and experience gained from missions using target vehicles directly contributed to the success of the Apollo program and America's achievement of landing humans on the moon.

## Notable For
- Served as a rendezvous and docking target for the Gemini 10 mission
- Launched using the reliable Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D rocket combination
- Contributed to the development of orbital maneuvering techniques needed for Apollo missions
- Part of NASA's systematic approach to developing space rendezvous capabilities
- Helped establish procedures for spacecraft docking that would be used in future space programs

## Body
### Technical Specifications
Gemini 10 Target was launched as part of NASA's Gemini program, which ran from 1961 to 1966. The spacecraft was launched using an Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D rocket, a combination that was specifically designed for Gemini program missions requiring target vehicles.

### Mission Details
The target vehicle was launched on July 18, 1966, carrying the COSPAR ID 1966-065A. This launch coincided with the Gemini 10 mission, allowing astronauts to practice rendezvous and docking procedures in orbit. The spacecraft remained in orbit until approximately 1966, when it decayed from orbit.

### Documentation and Records
The mission and spacecraft are documented in various sources, including Wikidata (with ID 02348) and Wikimedia Commons, where an image of the launch (S66-46122.jpg) is available. The spacecraft's information is accessible in multiple languages, including Latvian and Polish Wikipedia editions.

### Historical Context
As part of the Gemini program's target vehicle series, Gemini 10 Target contributed to NASA's systematic approach to developing the orbital capabilities needed for the Apollo lunar missions. These target vehicles were essential for practicing the complex maneuvers that would later be used in the Apollo program's command and service module docking procedures.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report