Today in the history of astronomy, a major precursor to the Apollo missions is making its journey.
Gemini 2 was launched on January 19, 1965 from Complex 19 at Cape Kennedy. Credit: NASA
With 12 flights designed to improve 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 America could take people to space, Gemini was the bridge to keeping people in space for several days – a necessity, if humans were going to the Moon.
Gemini 1, an unmanned mission, launched in April of 1964, proving that a Titan II rocket could safely carry spacecraft to orbit. After Gemini 1 succeeded, it remained in orbit; The next step was to demonstrate that the capsule could return to Earth safely. Gemini 2, another unmanned mission, will specifically test the spacecraft’s heat shield and retrorocket as well as the parachute system for splashdown. Although a series of delays ranging from storms to engine failure affected the mission schedule, Gemini 2 ultimately flew successfully on January 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.
