Gemini SC-2 (Spacecraft No. 2) was the second NASA Project Gemini full-up reentry capsule built. This McDonnell Gemini capsule was the first space capsule to be reused, flying twice in suborbital flights. SC-2 flew on Gemini 2 and OPS 0855 flights. The capsule is currently on display at the Air Force Space and Missile Museum at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.[1]
| SC-2 | |
|---|---|
 Gemini SC-2 on display | |
| Type | Reentry capsule Test article |
| Class | Gemini |
| Manufacturer | McDonnell |
| History | |
| First flight |
|
| Last flight |
|
| Flights | 2 |
Spacecraft history
editThe capsule is part of the collection of the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution.[2]
On 19 January 1965, the Gemini 2 suborbital test mission was launched, with the second prototype Gemini capsule.[3][4]
In March 1965, NASA approved the transfer of the Gemini 2 capsule to the USAF for modification into the first prototype of the Gemini B capsule.[5]
On 3 November 1965, the first Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) and Gemini B suborbital test mission was launched.[5] It is the first capsule to ever be flown twice in space.[6] Several Mercury capsules were used on multiple flights, including the capsule used on Mercury-Redstone 1 and Mercury-Redstone 1A, the Mercury capsule used on test flights Little Joe 5A and Little Joe 5B, and the Mercury capsule used on flights Mercury-Atlas 3 and Mercury Atlas 4, but none of these capsules surpassed the Kármán line on two separate flights. Thus, Gemini SC-2 became the only reentry capsule of the United States to be reflown in space before SpaceX's Dragon.[7]
The capsule was transferred to the Smithsonian Institution, as part of the National Air and Space Museum collection.[2]
A mock-up of the Gemini B capsule was put on display in the Allan and Malcolm Lockheed and Glenn Martin Space Gallery at the National Museum of the USAF in 2016.[2]
The flown Gemini SC-2 capsule was put on display in the exhibit hall of the Air Force Space and Missile Museum of the USAF in 2017.[3]
Flight history
edit| Flight No. | Mission | Launch date (UTC) | Launch | Landing | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gemini 2 | 19 January 1965 | 
|
|
NASA Mission | [3][4][5] |
| 2 | OPS 0855 | 3 November 1966 | 
|
USAF Mission; first reflight of a previously flown reentry capsule | [3][4][5] |
See also
edit
- Falcon 9 booster B1021 – the first Falcon 9 first stage booster to be reused for a space launch mission
- McDonnell Douglas DC-X – Prototype single-stage-to-orbit rocket developed & flown between 1991-1996
- New Shepard – Rocket developed by Blue Origin
- SpaceShipOne – American experimental spaceplane
- Dragon C106 – the first Dragon capsule to be reused for a spaceflight mission
References
edit- ^ USAF (23 May 2020). "Gemini Spacecraft". National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.
- ^ a b c USAF (4 April 2016). "Gemini Spacecraft". National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.
- ^ a b c d USAF (2017). "Gemini Capsule". Air Force Space and Missile Museum. Archived from the original on 2017-02-15. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
- ^ a b c "Gemini-B: NASA-Gemini's Air Force Twin" (PDF). Historic Space Systems Infosheet. No. 1. Historic Space Systems. September 1996.
- ^ a b c d Amy Shira Teitel (3 November 2015). "The Manned Orbiting Laboratory the Air Force Failed to Launch". Popular Science.
- ^ Terry Roen (3 November 2016). "Air Force celebrates 50th anniversary of Gemini launch". Orlando Rising.
- ^ James Dean (3 November 2016). "50 years ago, Air Force 'MOL' program launched only mission". Florida Today.
Further reading
edit- "Gemini-B: NASA-Gemini's Air Force Twin" (PDF). Historic Space Systems Infosheet. No. 1. Historic Space Systems. September 1996.
- James M. Grimwood; Barton C. Hacker; Peter J. Vorzimmer. Project Gemini: Technology and Operations: A Chronology. NASA. SP-4002.
- Berger, Carl (February 1970). History of the Manned Orbiting Laboratory Program (MOL) (PDF) (Technical report). MOL Program Office, Department of the Air Force. BYE-68204/70. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 December 2016.
External links
edit
- "Index, Declassified Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) Records". National Reconnaissance Office (U.S. NRO). 22 October 2015. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2017.