#project gemini

Come on out! Pete Conrad emerges from the Command Module following splashdown of Gemini 11 in the Atlantic Ocean, Sept 1966. The penultimate mission of Project Gemini saw Conrad & Richard Gordon perform the 1st direct-ascent rendezvous with an AGT (Agena Target Vehicle). The G11 craft docked with the AGT on 1st orbit, just 94 minutes after launch. Backup crew for the mission were Neil Armstrong & William Anders.

Before Apollo 17 & being the last man on the moon, astronaut Gene Cernan undergoes training for Gemini 9A, April 1966. During his space career, Mr. Cernan flew on G9A, Apollo 10 & A17. He spent 23 days & 14 hours in space, 24 hours of that on moon walks & EVAs. He served as a backup member on Gemini 12, Apollo 7 & A14. A wonderful documentary on his life is ‘The Last Man on the Moon’; it’s an excellent watch.

We have lift off! Frank Borman & James Lovell blast off for their rookie spaceflight in Gemini 7, Dec 1965. The pair orbited Earth 206 times during their 14 days in space in their tiny Gemini capsule. It was the world’s longest spaceflight until Jun 1970 when Soyuz 9 broke it. G7 also achieved the first rendezvous between 2 spacecraft as Gemini 6A with Wally Schirra &

Tom Stafford came within 1 foot of G7 & could have docked had the crafts been equipped to do so. Ed White & Michael Collins served as backup for G7.

Currently seated, soon to fly. Pete Conrad & Richard Gordon take a load off their feet prior to their near 3-day Gemini 11 mission, Sept 1966. The pair performed the 1st ever direct-ascent rendezvous with an AGT (Agena Target Vehicle) as they docked with it just 94 minutes after launch (& during the 1st orbit). Gordon also performed a pair of EVAs on the mission for a total of 2 hours & 41 min. The duo went on to fly to the moon together during Apollo 12 in Nov 1969. Conrad became the 3rd human to walk on the lunar surface on the mission while Gordon orbited above in the Command Module. A historic pair of astronauts.

Suited & ready. Frank Borman trains for his space age marathon mission with astronaut Jim Lovell on Gemini 7, Dec 1965. The pair set a space endurance record at the time; 14 days in space in a tiny Gemini capsule; about ½ the size of a VW Beetle. Mr. Borman later went on to fly with Lovell & William Anders on the historic first lunar orbit via Apollo 8 in Dec 1968. Chosen in the Next Nine (2nd Group of astronauts in 1962), Borman was also the NASA liaison to the White House during Apollo 11 & watched the moon landing mission with President Nixon.

Astronaut thru a window. Buzz Aldrin prepares for Gemini 12, Nov 1966. The mission marked the end of Project Gemini. The first crewed launch of the Gemini Program began in March 1965 with Gus Grissom & John Young via Gemini 3. The spacewalks by Mr. Aldrin on Gemini’s final mission demonstrated an astronaut could work outside the spacecraft for extended periods of time. New handles on the outside of the craft & the introduction of underwater training assisted in improving an astronaut’s EVA ability. Buzz became a pioneer in extended spacewalks; his 3 EVAs on G12 totalled 5.5 hours. Becoming the 2nd human to walk on the moon 3 years later during Apollo 11 further cemented his legacy.

1/72nd scale McDonnell Corned Beef Sandwich Container

Built and painted this a couple weeks back! I just had to have a spacecraft in-scale with all my astronaut fighter jets!