Capsule, Gemini #3A, Thermo-Vac Test Article
Object Details
- Manufacturer
- McDonnell Aircraft Corp.
- Summary
- Thirteen flight-quality Gemini spacecraft were built, but only twelve were launched into space. The thirteenth was spacecraft 3A, which began life as a boilerplate vehicle. Early in 1963 NASA decided it needed a replacement for spacecraft 3, which would be used for the first Gemini manned flight rather than altitude chamber tests. 3A was employed in hatch-opening tests and then was rebuilt as a flight-qualified vehicle, lacking only a heat shield and flight ejection seats. It was subjected to the extreme thermal and vacuum conditions of space in the McDonnell altitude chamber from December 19, 1964, to February 19, 1965, in a test series called Project Orbit. Spacecraft 3A underwent three test runs simulating over 220 orbits, resulting in the modification of the spacecraft coolant system.
- The Smithsonian received 3A from McDonnell in 1971 as part of a shipment of surplus Gemini hardware from the military Manned Orbiting Laboratory program.
- Credit Line
- Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- 1964-1965
- Inventory Number
- A19711529000
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- SPACECRAFT-Crewed-Test Vehicles
- Materials
- Structure: Titanium; cylindrical section: beryllium alloy; conical section: Rene 41 (nickel-steel alloy); heat shield: silicone elastomer
- Skin: Beryllium, Nickel Alloy
- Dimensions
- Overall: 130 in. tall x 89 in. diameter (330.2 x 226.06cm)
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- See more items in
- National Air and Space Museum Collection
- National Air and Space Museum
- Record ID
- nasm_A19711529000
- Metadata Usage (text)
- Not determined
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9e02425fd-0b94-4d81-9c74-808bfa263b06
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