Merritt Island in Brevard County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Learning to Drive

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, June 24, 2021

1. Learning to Drive Marker

Inscription.
The Atlas rocket gave us the power to reach orbit, but it was the Agena on top that bridged the huge gap between getting there and getting down to work. The Agena was powered by an engine we could turn on and off at will. It was also the first to have a steering system to control yaw, pitch and role. Combined, we now had the controls needed to meet the Gemini Program’s mission objectives. To rendezvous and dock with other spacecraft.

Up to this point, the brute force of Russia’s rocket technology had earned them all the trophies, but the Atlas-Agena brought us to the turning point in the space race. America’s leadership in the electronic and systems technology would keep us driving circles around the Russians from here all the way to the moon.

Erected by Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Exploration • War, Cold.

Location. 28° 31.406′ N, 80° 40.978′ W. Marker is on Merritt Island, Florida, in Brevard County. It can be reached from the intersection of Space Commerce Way and

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NASA Parkway West, on the left when traveling east. The marker is located within the Rocket Garden exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 405 NASA Pkwy W, Merritt Island FL 32953, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Florida’s Space Coast.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Sun Rides a Workhorse (here, next to this marker); Aiming at the Heavens (a few steps from this marker); Global Television Arrives (a few steps from this marker); Shooting the Moon, Dreaming of Stars (within shouting distance of this marker); Chasing the Russian Bear (within shouting distance of this marker); Learning to Phone Home

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, June 24, 2021

2. Learning to Drive Marker

(within shouting distance of this marker); Swords Into Plowshares (within shouting distance of this marker); 1957: Cold War Cooperation (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Merritt Island.

Also see . . .
1. Gemini Agena Target Vehicle. (Submitted on July 7, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Submitted on July 7, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Agena Target Vehicle image. Click for full size.

Photographed by National Aeronautics and Space Administration

3. Agena Target Vehicle

Credits. This page was last revised on July 12, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 7, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 233 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 7, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.