Project Gemini

Second NASA Human Spaceflight Program

The Gemini project was NASA's second human spaceflight program which launched two astronauts in a single Gemini capsule. The program tested orbital rendezvous and extravehicular activity (EVA). Twelve Titan II Gemini Launch Vehicles (GLV) flew with 10 crewed missions launching 16 astronauts into orbit.

The Atlas SLV-3 with Agena-D upper stage was used to launch Target Docking Adapters (TDA) called Gemini Agena Target Vehicles (GATV)for the Gemini capsules to rendezvous and dock with. One Augmented Target Docking Adapter (ATDA) was launched to replace a failed GATV, but its fairing did not seperate, resulting in an 'Angry Alligator'.

Gemini-V flew the Radar Evaluation Pod (REP) sub-satellite to initiate the rendezvous testing. Gemini-IX-A flew the US Air Force Astronaut Maneuvering Unit (AMU) for untethered astronaut movement, but remained untested.

The Gemini-2 capsule was refurbished and augmented in 1966, and renamed Gemini-B, by the US Air Force to serve as a prototype for the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) space station launch and reentry capsule.

Atlas Rocket Family
The Atlas rockets were a Convair development of the SM-65 Atlas missile, which was first tested on December 17, 1957. Having no inherent structural stability, the core sustainer stage needed to be pressurized when vertical.
Titan Rocket Family
Voted Most Patchy of all rocket families, the first ICBM based, Martin built Titan-2 vehicle launched the Gemini 1 test capsule on April 8, 1964.
Gemini-Titan II Launch Vehicle Flights
  1. Gemini 1, structural integrity test (1964)
  2. Gemini 2, capsule test flight (1965)
  3. Gemini 3 with Gus Grissom and John Young (1965)
  4. Gemini IV, James McDivitt and first American space walk by Ed White (1965)
  5. Gemini V, Gordon Cooper and Pete Conrad (1965), planned REP rendezvous
  6. Gemini VII, Frank Borman and Jim Lovell, Gemini VI-A rendezvous (1965)
  7. Gemini VI-A, Wally Schirra and Thomas Stafford, Gemini VII rendezvous (1965)
  8. Gemini VIII, Neil Armstrong and David Scott, first spacecraft docking (with GATV) (1966)
  9. Gemini IX-A, Thomas Stafford and Eugene Cernan, ATDA rendezvous, EVA and planned AMU test (1966)
  10. Gemini X, John Young and Michael Collins, GATV docking and EVA (1966)
  11. Gemini XI, Pete Conrad and Richard Gordon, first direct-ascent rendezvous and docking (with GATV) and EVA (1966)
  12. Gemini XII, James Lovell and Buzz Aldrin, GATV docking and EVA (1966)
Gemini Agena Target Vehicle Flights
  1. GATV-5002, TDA-2, Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D (5301) planned docking with Gemini-VI (1965, failed)
  2. GATV-5003, TDA-3, Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D (5302) docking with Gemini-VIII (1966)
  3. GATV-5004, TDA-5, Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D (5303) planned docking with Gemini-IX (1966, failed)
  4. ATDA-02186, TDA-4, Atlas-SLV3 (5304) rendezvous with Gemini-IX-A (1966)
  5. GATV-5005, TDA-1A, Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D (5305) docking with Gemini-X (1966)
  6. GATV-5006, TDA-6, Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D (5306) docking with Gemini-XI (1966)
  7. GATV-5001A, TDA-7A, Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D (5307) docking with Gemini-XII (1966)
Other Flights
  1. Gemini-B, Titan-3C (3C-9), Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL mockup, OV4 3) (1966)
Wikipedia (en)
Gunter D. Krebs, Gunther's Space Page (en)
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