1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910300539003321

Autore

Shayler David J

Titolo

Gemini Flies! : Unmanned Flights and the First Manned Mission / / by David J. Shayler

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cham : , : Springer International Publishing : , : Imprint : Springer, , 2018

ISBN

3-319-68142-7

Edizione

[1st ed. 2018.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (358 pages)

Collana

Space Exploration

Disciplina

629.45

Soggetti

Technology

Aerospace engineering

Astronautics

Space sciences

Popular Science in Technology

Aerospace Technology and Astronautics

Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics, Space Exploration and Astronautics)

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di contenuto

Author's Preface -- Acknowledgements -- Dedication -- Foreword by Colin Burgess -- Abbreviations and Acronyms -- Prologue: Molly Brown is on her way -- Chapter 1: Mercury Mark II -- Chapter 2: A "Clean and Green" Flying Machine -- Chapter 3: Ramming the Atmosphere -- Chapter 4: Preparations -- Chapter 5: Guts and John -- Chapter 6: All Systems Look Go -- Chapter 7: Molly Brown "Performing Nicely" -- Chapter 8: Got Your Seat Belts Hooked? -- Chapter 9: The Unsinkable Molly Brown. Chapter 10: Gemini Operational -- Appendix I -- Appendix II -- Appendix III -- Bibliography -- About the author -- Other works by the author -- Index.

Sommario/riassunto

In May 1961, President John F. Kennedy committed the United States to landing a man on the moon before the end of the decade. With just a handful of years to pull it off, NASA authorized the Project Gemini space program, which gathered vital knowledge needed to achieve the nation’s goal. This book introduces the crucial three-step test program



employed by the Gemini system, covering: The short unmanned orbital flight of Gemini 1 that tested the compatibility of launch vehicle, spacecraft and ground systems. The unmanned suborbital flight of Gemini 2 to establish the integrity of the reentry system and protective heat shield. The three-orbit manned evaluation flight of Gemini 3, christened ‘Molly Brown’ by her crew. A mission recalled orbit by orbit, using mission transcripts, post-flight reports and the astronauts’ own account of their historic journey. The missions of Project Gemini was the pivotal steppingstone between Project Mercury and the Apollo Program. Following the success of its first two unmanned missions and the exploits of Gus Grissom and John Young on Gemini 3, NASA gained the confidence to plan an even bolder step on its next mission, as described in the next book in this series on Gemini 4.