Abstract :
The next step toward lunar landings may be the accomplishment of a rendezvous between two vehicles in space — the alternative method to reaching the moon by direct flight. One of the vehicles will be the 2-man spacecraft Gemini now being developed for the purpose of docking with another vehicle while in orbit around the earth. The 2-man craft will be capable of earth orbital flights of a week or more, providing pilot training for future circumlunar flights of long duration. The flights are expected to yield data on how man functions under prolonged conditions of weightlessness, and to set the stage for continuing scientific investigations in the space environment.
