Capsule, Gemini 3
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Object Details
- Astronaut
- John W. Young
- Manufacturer
- McDonnell Aircraft Corp.
- Astronaut
- Virgil (Gus) I. Grissom
- Summary
- Gemini 3 was the first manned mission of Project Gemini, which aimed to launch a series of two-man spacecraft to test long-duration missions, rendezvous and docking between two space vehicles, and EVA or "spacewalking." Command pilot Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom and pilot John Young were launched from Cape Kennedy on March 23, 1965, atop a Titan II launch vehicle. Because Grissom's Mercury spacecraft, Liberty Bell 7, had sunk at the end of his 1961 suborbital mission, he unofficially named Gemini 3 for the "Unsinkable Molly Brown" of Broadway musical fame. The crew successfully completed the planned 3-orbit mission in just under 5 hours. Their primary objectives were to test the basic systems of the Gemini spacecraft and make the first orbit-changing maneuvers in space.
- After the mission, the Gemini 3 capsule was used for testing in the military Manned Orbiting Laboratory program before being given to the Smithsonian in 1970.
- Credit Line
- Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Inventory Number
- A19710063000
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- SPACECRAFT-Crewed
- Materials
- Structure: Titanium; cylindrical section: beryllium alloy; conical section: Rene 41 (nickel-steel alloy); heat shield: silicone elastomer
- Skin: Beryllium, Nickel Alloy
- Dimensions
- Overall: 130 in. tall x 89 in. wide (330.2 x 226.1cm)
- Other: 130 in. (330.2cm)
- Support (at base): 89 in. diameter (226.1cm)
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- See more items in
- National Air and Space Museum Collection
- National Air and Space Museum
- Record ID
- nasm_A19710063000
- Metadata Usage (text)
- Not determined
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv90700353a-6eba-40e8-81d9-87d978e13eb7
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