Capsule, Gemini VII
name: label: Astronaut
content: Frank Borman
label: Astronaut
content: James A. Lovell Jr.
label: Manufacturer
content: McDonnell Aircraft Corp.
notes: label: Summary
content: Astronauts Frank Borman and James Lovell were launched into orbit aboard this spacecraft, Gemini VII, on December 4, 1965. Their primary mission was to show that humans could live in weightlessness for 14 days, a record that would stand until 1970. Gemini VII also served as the target vehicle for Gemini VI-A, piloted by Walter Schirra and Thomas Stafford, who carried out the world's first space rendezvous on December 15. These two achievements were critical steps on the road to the Apollo Moon landing.
label: Summary
content: This module is the only part of Gemini that returned to earth. Behind the heat shield was an adapter section containing propellants for the maneuvering thrusters, fuel cells for electric power, and retrorockets. It was jettisoned before reentry. The nose section was discarded during parachute deployment. In 1968 the National Aeronautics and Space Administration gave Gemini VII to the Smithsonian.
label: Alternate Name
content: Gemini VII Capsule
place: label: Country of Origin
content: United States of America
title: label: Title
content: Gemini VII
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Air and Space Museum Collection
label: Location
content: National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
label: Exhibition
content: Destination Moon
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Air and Space Museum
identifier: label: Inventory Number
content: A19680273000
objectType: label: Type
content: SPACECRAFT-Crewed
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Materials
content: Structure: Titanium; cylindrical section: beryllium alloy; conical section: Rene 41 (nickel-steel alloy); heat shield: silicone elastomer.
label: Dimensions
content: Overall: 10 ft. 10 in. × 7 ft. 5 in., 2500lb. (330.2 × 226.1cm, 1134kg)