# Gemini 8 Target
**Wikidata**: [Q26670492](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26670492)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gemini-8-target

## Summary
Gemini 8 Target was an Agena-D target vehicle launched on March 16, 1966, for the Gemini 8 mission. It was launched atop an Atlas SLV-3 rocket and served as the docking target for the Gemini 8 spacecraft. The vehicle decayed from orbit in 1967.

## Key Facts
- Launched on March 16, 1966, atop an Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D rocket
- Served as the docking target for the Gemini 8 mission
- COSPAR ID: 1966-019A
- Object decayed from orbit in 1967
- Instance of: spacecraft
- Available in Latvian (lv) and Polish (pl) Wikipedia languages
- Has 2 sitelinks across Wikimedia projects
- Associated with rocket launch as a significant event on March 16, 1966

### FAQs

### Q: What was the Gemini 8 Target?
A: The Gemini 8 Target was an Agena-D target vehicle launched on March 16, 1966, to serve as a docking target for the Gemini 8 spacecraft. It was launched atop an Atlas SLV-3 rocket and decayed from orbit in 1967.

### Q: When was the Gemini 8 Target launched?
A: The Gemini 8 Target was launched on March 16, 1966, atop an Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D rocket. This launch was a significant event in the Gemini program's development of docking capabilities.

### Q: What happened to the Gemini 8 Target after launch?
A: After serving its purpose as a docking target for the Gemini 8 mission, the Gemini 8 Target vehicle decayed from orbit in 1967. It was an expendable launch system component.

## Why It Matters
The Gemini 8 Target vehicle played a crucial role in NASA's Gemini program, which was essential for developing the capabilities needed for the Apollo lunar missions. As a docking target, it enabled the Gemini 8 spacecraft to practice and demonstrate the critical maneuver of docking two vehicles in space - a fundamental requirement for the Apollo missions that would follow. The successful use of this target vehicle contributed to the advancement of orbital rendezvous and docking techniques, which were vital for the eventual moon landings. The Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D combination represented the state-of-the-art in launch vehicle technology of the mid-1960s, and its successful deployment of the Gemini 8 Target demonstrated the reliability of these systems for future space operations.

## Notable For
- Served as the first successful docking target for a Gemini mission
- Launched using the Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D combination, a workhorse of the American space program in the 1960s
- Contributed to the development of orbital rendezvous techniques critical for Apollo
- Represented a key milestone in NASA's progression toward lunar missions
- Demonstrated the reliability of Agena-D vehicles as space rendezvous targets

## Body
### Technical Specifications
The Gemini 8 Target was based on the Agena-D platform, a versatile upper stage and spacecraft developed by Lockheed for the US Air Force and NASA. The vehicle was launched using an Atlas SLV-3 first stage, creating a two-stage launch system capable of placing the Agena-D into low Earth orbit.

### Mission Role
As a target vehicle, the Gemini 8 Target was designed to be a passive rendezvous and docking target for the Gemini 8 spacecraft. This mission represented a critical step in developing the techniques and technologies necessary for more complex space operations, including lunar missions where spacecraft would need to dock in lunar orbit.

### Launch and Operations
The vehicle was launched on March 16, 1966, from Cape Canaveral, achieving orbit successfully. The launch was tracked with the COSPAR designation 1966-019A. After completing its mission objectives with Gemini 8, the vehicle remained in orbit until its natural decay in 1967.

### Historical Context
The Gemini 8 Target was part of a series of Agena-D vehicles used throughout the Gemini program. These vehicles were essential for practicing orbital rendezvous and docking, which were critical capabilities for the Apollo program's lunar landing missions. The success of missions involving Agena-D targets like this one directly contributed to the confidence and capability that enabled the Apollo lunar landings.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report