was essentially an enlargement of the familiar Mercury capsule. It was 18.6 feet high, had a diameter of 10 feet, and had just enough volume (90 cubic feet) for two men to live and work comfortably.

The Gemini spacecraft had most of its power, propulsion, and life-support systems in a detachable module below the main capsule. Many components in the capsule itself were reachable, each through its own small access door.

Unlike Mercury, which could only change its orientation in space, the Gemini capsule could alter its own orbit. It could also dock with other spacecraft. Gemini was the first American manned spacecraft to include an onboard computer to facilitate management and control of mission maneuvers.

The original intention was for Gemini to land on solid ground instead of at sea, using a paraglider rather than a parachute, and for the crew to be seated upright controlling the forward motion of the craft before its landing. This system was ultimately rejected, however.

The Gemini Program

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This page was last updated on 08/10/2011.