Mockup, Capsule, Gemini Development Test Vehicle

Project Gemini was the second U.S. human spaceflight program. In 1965-66, NASA launched ten two-man Gemini spacecraft into orbit, gaining crucial experience for the Apollo lunar-landing program. Gemini astronauts walked in space, practiced rendezvous and docking, and endured missions up to fourteen days long.

The Gemini Development Test Vehicle is the only surviving example of the complete spacecraft as it appeared in orbit. It had three modules: the black reentry module, which held the crew cabin and the heat shield, the retrograde module, which had the retrorockets for returning to earth, and farthest to the rear, the equipment module, which had life-support equipment, batteries and fuel cells for electric power, and propellant tanks for the rocket thrusters. The vehicle was used in testing, and was later refurbished by the Gemini manufacturer, McDonnell, for the company museum. In March 1978 NASA transferred title to the National Air and Space Museum.