Agena

American  

[uh-jee-nuh] / əˈdʒi nə /

noun

Rocketry.

1. a U.S. upper stage, with a restartable liquid-propellant engine, used with various booster stages to launch satellites into orbit around Earth and send probes to the moon and other planets: also used as a docking target in the Gemini program.

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Example Sentences

Agena narrated the audiobook for “Meet Me at Luke’s,” a guide that draws life lessons from the series, and is featured in the upcoming “Gilmore Girls” documentary “Drink Coffee, Talk Fast.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2025

Collins used a handheld gas thruster to get himself under control and after Young moved the Gemini capsule closer, tried again, this time successfully grabbing hold of some wires on the Agena to steady himself.

From Scientific American • Apr. 28, 2021

The three-day mission saw him and crew mate John Young, a spaceflight veteran, establish a new orbital altitude record and rendezvous with two unmanned Agena target vehicles.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 28, 2021

Mr. Choi and his future co-host, the former “Gilmore Girls” actress Keiko Agena, worked on programming the improv and sketch performances.

From New York Times • Jul. 19, 2018

It was time to free ourselves from the other Agena, the one on our nose, so we released it and said goodbye as it slowly sailed off into the distance.

From "Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut's Story" by Michael Collins