Paraglider Research Vehicle (Paresev) 1-A, Gemini
name: label: Manufacturer
content: NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center
notes: label: Summary
content: From 1962 to 1964, NASA used the Paresev to develop the technology for landing the two-man Gemini capsule on land, instead of parachuting into the ocean, as had been done in Project Mercury. The astronauts would release an inflatable paraglider wing based on the work of Francis Rogallo, and maneuver to a runway or dry lake bed. Astronauts "Gus" Grissom and Neil Armstrong were among those who piloted the Paresev during several hundred flights at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The Paresev was towed by a ground vehicle or a small aircraft and released at an altitude between 5,000 and 12,000 feet. It was tested with three different wings; the 1-A is the first configuration. Before the paraglider concept could be fully developed for the Gemini program, NASA decided to stick with the proven technology of parachutes and water landing.
label: Summary
content: NASA transferred the Paresev to the Smithsonian in 1968.
label: Alternate Name
content: Gemini Paraglider Research Vehicle 1-A with Wing
place: label: Country of Origin
content: United States of America
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Air and Space Museum Collection
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: A19700076000
objectType: label: Type
content: SPACECRAFT-Crewed-Test Vehicles
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Materials
content: Tubular steel; Dacron wing; rubber wheels
label: Dimensions
content: Overall: 11 ft. 3 in. tall x 7 ft. 5 in. wide x 8 ft. deep, 485 lb. (342.9 x 226.1 x 243.8cm, 220kg)