Project Gemini

Project Gemini was the second human spaceflight program in which the United States of America sent humans into space, between Projects Mercury and Apollo, during the years 1963-1966. Its objective was to develop techniques for advanced space travel, notably those necessary for Apollo, whose objective was to land men on the Moon. Gemini missions involved extravehicular activity and orbital maneuvers including rendezvous and docking.

Missions

Gemini involved 12 flights, including two unmanned flight tests of the equipment.

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Unmanned

• Gemini 1 - First test flight of Gemini; April 8-12, 1964
• Gemini 2 - Suborbital flight to test heat shield; January 19, 1965

Manned

• Gemini III , MOLLY BROWN

March 23, 1965

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Virgil "Gus" Grissom, John W. Young

Related Topics:
Virgil "Gus" Grissom - John W. Young

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04 hours, 52 minutes 31 seconds

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First manned Gemini flight, three orbits.

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The only major incident during the mission involved a contraband corned beef sandwich that Young had snuck on board. The crew each took a few bites before the sandwich had to be restowed. The crumbs it released could have wreaked havoc with the craft's electronics, so the crew were reprimanded when they returned to Earth.

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• Gemini IV

June 03-07, 1965

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James A. McDivitt, Edward H. White II

Related Topics:
James A. McDivitt - Edward H. White II

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4 days 1 hour 56 min 12 seconds

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Included first extravehicular activity (EVA)

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by an American; White's "space walk" was a

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22 minute EVA exercise.

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• Gemini V

August 21-29, 1965

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L. Gordon Cooper, Jr., Charles Conrad, Jr.

Related Topics:
L. Gordon Cooper, Jr. - Charles Conrad, Jr.

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7 days 22 hours 55 min 14 seconds

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First week-long flight

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First use of fuel cells for electrical power;

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evaluated guidance and navigation system for

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future rendezvous missions. Completed 120

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orbits.

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• Gemini VII

December 04-18, 1965

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Frank Borman, James A. Lovell, Jr.

Related Topics:
Frank Borman - James A. Lovell, Jr.

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13 days, 18 hours, 35 minutes 1 seconds

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When the original Gemini VI mission was scrubbed because

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its Agena target for rendezvous and docking

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failed, Gemini VII was used for the rendezvous

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instead. Primary objective was to determine

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whether humans could live in space for 14 days.

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• Gemini VI-A

December 15-16, 1965

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Walter M. Schirra, Jr., Thomas P. Stafford

Related Topics:
Walter M. Schirra, Jr. - Thomas P. Stafford

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1 Day 1 hour 51 min 24 seconds

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First space rendezvous accomplished with

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Gemini VII, station-keeping for over five hours

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at distances from 0.3 to 90 m (1 to 295 ft).

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• Gemini VIII

March 16, 1966

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Neil A. Armstrong, David R. Scott

Related Topics:
Neil A. Armstrong - David R. Scott

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10 hours, 41 minutes 26 seconds

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Accomplished first docking with another space

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vehicle, an unmanned Agena stage. A malfunction

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caused uncontrollable spinning of the craft; the

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crew undocked and effected the first emergency

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landing of a manned U.S. space mission.

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• Gemini IX

June 03-06, 1966

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Thomas P. Stafford, Eugene A. Cernan

Related Topics:
Thomas P. Stafford - Eugene A. Cernan

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3 days, 21 hours

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Rescheduled from May to rendezvous and dock with

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augmented target docking adapter (ATDA) after

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original Agena target vehicle failed to orbit.

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ATDA shroud did not completely separate, making

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docking impossible. Three different types of

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rendezvous, two hours of EVA, and 44 orbits were

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completed.

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• Gemini X

July 18-21, 1966

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John W. Young, Michael Collins

Related Topics:
John W. Young - Michael Collins

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2 days 22 hours 46 min 39 seconds

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First use of Agena target vehicle's propulsion

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systems. Spacecraft also rendezvoused with

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Gemini VIII target vehicle. Collins had 49

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minutes of EVA standing in the hatch and 39

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minutes of EVA to retrieve experiment from

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Agena stage. 43 orbits completed.

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• Gemini XI

September 12-15, 1966

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Charles Conrad, Jr., Richard F. Gordon, Jr.

Related Topics:
Charles Conrad, Jr. - Richard F. Gordon, Jr.

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2 days 23 hours 17 min 8 seconds

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Gemini record altitude, 1,189.3 km (739.2 mi)

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reached using Agena propulsion system after

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first orbit rendezvous and docking. Gordon made

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33-minute EVA and two-hour standup EVA. 44

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orbits.

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• Gemini XII

November 11-15, 1966

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James A. Lovell, Jr., Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin

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3 days, 22 hours, 34 minutes 31 seconds

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Final Gemini flight. Rendezvoused and docked manually

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with its target Agena and kept station with it

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during EVA. Aldrin set an EVA record of 5 hours,

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30 minutes for one space walk and two stand-up

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exercises.

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