Scenes from Project Gemini Trivia Quiz

Answer: Titan II

The Gemini spacecraft was launched into orbit using a Titan II rocket which was initially designed as an intercontinental ballistic missile by the Glenn L. Martin Company. The Titan II GLV (Gemini Launch Vehicle) was first launched with the unmanned Gemini 1 mission on April 8, 1964.

The Gemini capsule itself was designed by McDonnell Aircraft, who also designed the Mercury capsule. The Gemini capsule could accommodate two astronauts, but its comfort level was described as having to spend two weeks in the front of a Volkswagen Beetle.

Answer: Molly Brown

Gemini 3 was launched on March 23, 1965 with Gus Grissom and one other astronaut aboard. Gus Grissom's previous flight was the Liberty Bell 7 mission during Project Mercury (July 21, 1961). The capsule ended up sinking after its hatch blew prematurely upon splashdown. Gus Grissom was recovered, but the spacecraft would not retrieved until 1999.

Gus Grissom then decided to name his Gemini spacecraft Molly Brown after the Broadway musical "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" to hopefully prevent a similar fate with Gemini 3. As shown in the photograph, much to Gus Grissom's delight, Gemini 3 did not sink. However, NASA was not thrilled about the name and would not allow another ship to be named until Apollo 9.

Answer: Ed White

Gemini 4 was launched on June 3, 1965, and featured James McDivitt and Ed White as its crew members. One of the mission's main objectives was to perform the first extra-vehicular activity (EVA / space walk) by an American astronaut. Soviet Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov had already become the first human to walk in space nearly three months earlier.

Ed White was the astronaut chosen for the first EVA. He exited the spacecraft and remained outside for approximately 23 minutes while tethered to the vehicle. Ed White was apparently enjoying the experience too much as NASA and his crewmate McDivitt had to yell at him to get back into the spacecraft since he went about 10 minutes longer than what had been planned.

Answer: "8 Days or Bust"

Gemini 5 was launched on August 21, 1965 with astronauts Gordon Cooper, Jr. and Pete Conrad. The primary goal of the mission was simply to extend the time in orbit around the Earth.

The original mission patch for Gemini 5 had the words "8 Days or Bust" inscribed on the wagon. However, NASA officials felt that putting the slogan on the official patch would have been bad publicity if the mission had failed to reach the eight day goal. The capsule splashed down on August 29, 1965 about an hour shy of eight full days in space.

Answer: No

Gemini 6 was originally scheduled to be launched on October 25, 1965. However, mission critical equipment was destroyed during launch which forced NASA to delay the mission. Gemini 7 became the next mission to fly and was launched on December 4, 1965 with Frank Borman and Jim Lovell as its crew.

Gemini 6 would eventually be launched with a different mission objective which would be to perform the first rendezvous with another spacecraft using Gemini 7 as its target. Gemini 6 was eventually launched on December 15, 1965 with astronauts Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford aboard. The rendezvous was successful and Gemini 6 returned the next day. Gemini 7 returned on December 18, 1965 after being in space for nearly 14 days.

Answer: Agena

The Agena Target Vehicle (the object in the photo) was a device designed to allow astronauts to practice docking in preparation for the Lunar Module. An Agena was supposed to have launched with Gemini 6, but it was destroyed during launch. Another Agena would be launched via an Atlas rocket ahead of Gemini 8 on March 16, 1966 which featured Neil Armstrong and David Scott in their first missions.

When Gemini 8 arrived in orbit, the crew successfully docked with the Agena for the first time. However, after the spacecraft docked, the combined vehicles began to spin uncontrollably. Neil Armstrong disconnected from the Agena, but the Gemini capsule continued to violently spin nearly causing the astronauts to black out. Neil Armstrong was forced to use the spacecraft's re-entry thrusters in order to help stabilize the vehicle. This forced NASA to abort the mission and Gemini 8 returned safely to Earth after only 10 hours in space.

Answer: Angry Alligator

Gemini 9 was the first mission to be flown by its backup crew (Tom Stafford and Gene Cernan). The original crew members were supposed to have been Elliot See and Charles Bassett, but they were killed in a plane crash on February 28, 1966.

Gemini 9 was initially scheduled to be launched on May 17, 1966, but the Agena Target Vehicle that was to accompany it was again destroyed during launch. The mission was delayed until June 3, 1966. A backup device known as the ATDA (Augmented Target Docking Adapter) was launched ahead of Gemini 9 so that the astronauts could continue to practice docking in orbit. Upon reaching orbit, the ATDA's payload fairing failed to separate (as shown in the photo) and the device could not be used. The astronauts described the object as looking like an "Angry Alligator".

Answer: John Young

John Young was Gus Grissom's crewmate aboard Gemini 3, and later flew with Michael Collins on Gemini 10, which was launched on July 18, 1966. John Young would also fly to the Moon twice aboard Apollo 10 (May, 1969) and Apollo 16 (April, 1972) and walked on the Moon during the latter mission.

John Young would later serve aboard the first official mission of the Space Shuttle on April 12, 1981. The mission was officially known as STS-1 (Space Transportation System-1) using the Space Shuttle Columbia. Robert Crippen also served aboard STS-1, but it was his first mission after becoming an astronaut. Ken Mattingly, who flew with John Young aboard Apollo 16 would later fly on the Space Shuttle during STS-4 (June, 1982).

Answer: Highest sustained orbit above the Earth.

Gemini 11 was launched on September 16, 1966, and featured astronauts Pete Conrad and Dick Gordon. As with previous Gemini missions, it was tasked with docking with and practicing maneuvers with an Agena Target Vehicle. In addition to being a docking target, the Agena was equipped with an engine of its own to allow the combined spacecraft to change orbits.

Using the Agena's engine, the Gemini 11 crew took the combined spacecraft up to an altitude of approximately 850 miles (1,370 km) above the Earth, the highest orbit ever to be achieved by a manned spacecraft. The record has stood up until the date this quiz was written, but given the recent advancements in the private space industry the record will inevitably be broken in the near future.

Answer: Jim Lovell and Buzz Aldrin

Jim Lovell and Buzz Aldrin served aboard Gemini 12, which launched on November 11, 1966. Gemini 12 was the last mission of Project Gemini, after which NASA would move on to Project Apollo. As shown in the photograph, the crew of Gemini 12 were able to observe a solar eclipse during the mission.

Clifton (C.C.) Williams and Bill Anders were selected to serve in Project Gemini, but neither flew on a mission. C.C. Williams was later killed in a plane crash on October 5, 1967. Bill Anders would eventually serve aboard Apollo 8. Alan Shepard, John Glenn and Deke Slayton were part of the original Mercury Seven astronaut team. Alan Shepard was grounded with an ear ailment throughout Project Gemini and did not fly again until Apollo 14. Due to health reasons, Deke Slayton did not fly on his first mission until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (July, 1975). John Glenn did not fly on another mission until STS-95 (October, 1998).