Gemini Program

Gemini was the second Human Space flight program

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Gemini was an early NASA program.
  • Their missions were flown in 1965 and 1966.
  • Gemini missions flew between the Mercury and Apollo programs.
  • Gemini helped NASA get ready for moon landings.
  • Gemini was named after a constellation.
  • The name means “twins.” This name was used because the Gemini capsule would carry two people.

What Happened on the Gemini Missions?
Gemini crews did many jobs. The new vehicle had to be tested. Astronauts had to learn how to walk in space. Some missions stayed in space for a longer time. Other crews practiced flying near other spacecraft. One of the last crews even connected to another spacecraft!


Why Was The Gemini Program Important?
Before Gemini, NASA had only flown in space a few times. The Mercury missions proved that astronauts could fly in space. NASA had to learn what happens when people spend more time in space. It had to learn how astronauts could go outside a spacecraft in a spacesuit. It had to learn how to connect two spacecraft together in space. All of these things had to be done so we could go to the moon. Before Gemini, NASA had not done any of them. Gemini proved NASA could do them all.

MISSIONS

ASTRONAUT 1 ASTRONAUT 2 MISSION/CAPSULE    
GUS GRISSOM JOHN YOUNG GEMINI 3
JIM MCDIVITT ED WHITE GEMINI 4
GORDON COOPER PETE CONRAD GEMINI 5
FRANK BORMAN JIM LOVELL GEMINI 7
WALLY SCHIRRA TOM STAFFORD GEMINI 6A(6)
NEIL ARMSTRONG DAVID SCOTT GEMINI 8
TOM STAFFORD GENE CERNAN GEMINI 9A(9)
JOHN YOUNG MICHEAL COLLINS GEMINI 10
PETE CONRAD RICHARD GORDON GEMINI 11
JIM LOVELL BUZZ ALDRIN GEMINI 12

 

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