With 12 flights designed to finetune NASA’s spaceflight procedures, the Gemini program followed Project Mercury and was an essential precursor to the Apollo program. While the Mercury program proved that the U.S. could get people to space, Gemini was the bridge to keeping people in space for days at time – a necessity, if humans were going to the Moon.
Gemini 1, an uncrewed mission, launched in April of 1964, proving that the Titan II rocket could safely get the spacecraft into orbit. After Gemini 1 was successful, it remained in orbit; the next step was to demonstrate that the capsule could safely return to Earth. Gemini 2, another uncrewed mission, would particularly test the spacecraft’s heat shields and retrorockets, as well as the parachute system for splashdown. Although a series of delays ranging from hurricanes to engine malfunctions plagued the mission’s schedule, Gemini 2 eventually successfully lifted off on Jan. 19, 1965. Eighteen minutes later, it returned to Earth. The testing completed on the mission laid the groundwork for Gemini 3, which would be the first crewed Gemini flight.
