The Gemini Program Volume III - Gemini VI And VII: History In Text, Drawings, Photographs And Film

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced December

7, 1961, a plan to extend the existing manned space flight program by development

of a two-man spacecraft. The program was officially designated Gemini on January

3, 1962. It was named after the third constellation of the zodiac, featuring the twin

stars Castor and Pollux. The program was operationally completed with the Gemini

XII flight.

The Gemini program was managed by the Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston,

Texas, under direction of the Office of Manned Space Flight, NASA Headquarters,

Washington, DC., Dr. George E. Mueller, Associate Administrator of NASA for

Manned Space Flight, served as acting director of the Gemini program. William C.

Schneider, Deputy Director of Manned Space Flight for Mission Operations, served

as Mission Director on all Gemini flights beginning with Gemini V.

The Manned Spacecraft Center Gemini effort was headed by Dr. Robert R.

Gilruth, director of the Center, and Charles W. Matthews, Gemini Program

Manager.

The Gemini Program was conceived after it became evident to NASA officials that

an intermediate step was required between Project Mercury and the Apollo

Program. The major objectives assigned to Gemini were:


To subject two men and supporting equipment to long duration flights -- a

requirement for projected later trips to the moon or deeper space.


To effect rendezvous and docking with other orbiting vehicles, and to

maneuver the docked vehicles in space, using the propulsion system of the

target vehicle for such maneuvers.


To perfect methods of reentry and landing the spacecraft at a pre-selected

land-landing point.


To gain additional information concerning the effects of weightlessness on

crew members and to record the physiological reactions of crew members

during long duration flights.

A brief summary of the Gemini flight results reveals how successful the Gemini

Program was. All of the major objectives were met as well as many other objectives

assigned to each mission, with the exception of land landing which was canceled

from the Gemini Program in 1964. However, the precision control necessary to

achieve the land landing objective was demonstrated.


SUBJECTS by CHAPTER:


1.    TEXT - GEMINI PROGRAM OVERVIEW


2.    SPACECRAFT DRAWINGS AND GEMINI VI PHOTOGRAPHS


3.    MISSION FILM - Proud Conquest: Gemini VI and VII Rendezvous (NASA; 1966)