Astronaut Ed White performs the first space walk of an American astronaut during the Gemini IV mission

Project Gemini

The Bridge to the Moon… The Gemini program was designed as a bridge between the Mercury and Apollo programs, primarily to test equipment and mission procedures in Earth orbit and to train astronauts and ground crews for future Apollo missions.

Overview

Missions

Years

Project Gemini Missions

The Gemini/Titan-II launch vehicle #1 lifts off at Cape Kennedy, Florida.

Gemini I

Gemini 1 was an uncrewed orbital test of the Titan 2 launch vehicle, the Gemini spacecraft structural integrity, and the launch vehicle-spacecraft compatibility.

The Gemini Titan II Launch Vehicle lifts off

Gemini II

This was the second uncrewed Gemini test mission, consisting of a sub-orbital ballistic flight and reentry with the primary objectives being to demonstrate the adequacy of the spacecraft reentry module's heat protection during a maximum heating rate return, the structural integrity of the spacecraft, and the performance of spacecraft systems.

Astronauts Grissom and Young in Gemini Mission Simulator

Gemini III

Gemini 3 was the first crewed Earth-orbiting spacecraft of the Gemini series. It was piloted by astronauts Virgil "Gus" Grissom and John Young.

Gemini IV

Gemini 4 was the second crewed mission of the Gemini series and carried James McDivitt and Edward White on a 4-day, 62-orbit, 98-hr flight from June 3 to June 7, 1965. The mission included the first American spacewalk.

Astronauts Pete Conrad and Gordon Cooper, the prime crew for Gemini-Titan 5, pose for a photo

Gemini V

Gemini 5, carrying astronauts Gordon Cooper and Charles "Pete" Conrad was the third crewed Earth-orbiting spacecraft of the Gemini series.

Portrait of astronauts Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra

Gemini VI

Gemini 6A was the fifth crewed Earth-orbiting spacecraft of the Gemini series, having been launched after Gemini 7, with the intent of making rendezvous with Gemini 7 in Earth orbit.

Portrait of astronauts rank Borman and Jim Lovell, the prime crew for Gemini 7

Gemini VII

Gemini 7 was the fourth crewed Earth-orbiting spacecraft of the Gemini series, having been launched before Gemini 6A. It carried astronauts Frank Borman and Jim Lovell on the 14 day mission.

View of the Agena Target Docking vehicle in orbit above Earth as seen from the Gemini-8 spacecraft

Gemini VIII

Gemini 8 was the sixth crewed Earth-orbiting spacecraft of the Gemini series, carrying astronauts Neil Armstrong and David Scott.

Portrait of the crew for Gemini 9, Tom Stafford and Gene Cernan

Gemini IX

Gemini 9A was the seventh crewed Earth-orbiting spacecraft of the Gemini series. It carried astronauts Tom Stafford and Gene Cernan.

Astronaut John Young and Michael Collins aboard the recovery ship USS Guadalcanal following their successful splashdown.

Gemini X

Gemini 10 was the eighth crewed Earth-orbiting spacecraft of the Gemini series, carrying astronauts John Young and Michael Collins.

The 4 astronauts making up the prime and backup crews for Gemini-Titan 11 pose together for a portrait.

Gemini XI

Gemini 11 was the ninth crewed Earth-orbiting spacecraft of the Gemini series, carrying astronauts Charles "Pete" Conrad and Richard Gordon.

The prime and backup crews for Gemini 12 pose standing inside a Gemini capsule with its hatch doors open.

Gemini XII

Gemini 12 was the tenth and final crewed flight of the Gemini series, which bridged the Mercury and Apollo programs.

Featured Story

Project Gemini: Apollo’s Training Ground

On May 5, 1961, Alan Shepard’s Mercury flight was inked in history books. Twenty days later, President John F. Kennedy…

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