Space missions are often remembered for their dramatic moments, but sometimes the key story is how quickly a mission can change. Gemini VIII went from achieving a major spaceflight milestone to facing a serious in-flight emergency within the same mission. NASA's account describes how Neil Armstrong and David Scott completed the first docking between two spacecraft in Earth orbit before a malfunction sent their joined spacecraft into an uncontrolled roll.
On 16 March 1966, the Agena target vehicle lifted off from Cape Kennedy at 10 a.m. EST on an Atlas rocket. One hour and 41 minutes later, Armstrong and Scott launched aboard Gemini VIII on a Titan II rocket. Their task was to rendezvous with the separately launched Agena and complete the first docking between two spacecraft in orbit.
