Counting Down to Apollo

One American's account of watching humanity reach the Moon

Mission Log: Gemini

The Gemini program — spacewalks, rendezvous, and the bridge to Apollo

Gemini November 15, 1966

Gemini Is Over — And I Can’t Believe What We Did

Gemini 12 splashed down yesterday and the Gemini program is over. Ten missions. Ten crews. Every major skill required for a Moon landing has been demonstrated. Rendezvous, docking, long-duration flight, spacewalks. We started two years ago not knowing if any of this was possible. We know now.
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Gemini March 17, 1966

Neil Armstrong Almost Died Up There

The Gemini 8 mission nearly ended in catastrophe yesterday. Neil Armstrong and David Scott were in an uncontrolled spin — one revolution per second — when Armstrong managed to use the reentry thrusters to stop the tumbling. They had to abort the mission. Armstrong is home. But reading the account…
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Gemini December 15, 1965

Two Ships in the Same Sky

Gemini 6 and Gemini 7 rendezvoused in orbit yesterday — two American spacecraft flying within a foot of each other, 185 miles above Earth. Nobody has ever done anything like this. The pilots waved at each other through their windows. I couldn't understand why I was so moved until Betty…
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Ed White Walks in Space
Gemini June 3, 1965

Ed White Walks in Space

An American walked in space today. Ed White opened the hatch on Gemini 4 and floated outside for twenty-three minutes, tethered to the spacecraft, floating over Earth. The mission commander had to order him back inside. White said it was the saddest moment of his life.
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