Gemini SC-2

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Gemini SC-2 (Spacecraft No. 2) was the second NASA Project Gemini full-up reentry capsule built. This McDonnell Gemini capsule was the first space capsule to be reused, flying twice in suborbital flights. SC-2 flew on Gemini 2 and OPS 0855 flights. The capsule is currently on display at the Air Force Space and Missile Museum at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.^[1]

Spacecraft history

The capsule is part of the collection of the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution.^[2]

On 19 January 1965, the Gemini 2 suborbital test mission was launched, with the second prototype Gemini capsule.^[3][4]

In March 1965, NASA approved the transfer of the Gemini 2 capsule to the USAF for modification into the first prototype of the Gemini B capsule.^[5]

On 3 November 1965, the first Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) and Gemini B suborbital test mission was launched.^[5] It is the first capsule to ever be flown twice in space.^[6] Several Mercury capsules were used on multiple flights, including the capsule used on Mercury-Redstone 1 and Mercury-Redstone 1A, the Mercury capsule used on test flights Little Joe 5A and Little Joe 5B, and the Mercury capsule used on flights Mercury-Atlas 3 and Mercury Atlas 4, but none of these capsules surpassed the Kármán line on two separate flights. Thus, Gemini SC-2 became the only reentry capsule of the United States to be reflown in space before SpaceX's Crew Dragon Endeavour.^[7]

The capsule was transferred to the Smithsonian Institution, as part of the National Air and Space Museum collection.^[2]

A mock-up of the Gemini B capsule was put on display in the Allan and Malcolm Lockheed and Glenn Martin Space Gallery at the National Museum of the USAF in 2016.^[2]

The flown Gemini SC-2 capsule was put on display in the exhibit hall of the Air Force Space and Missile Museum of the USAF in 2017.^[3]

Flight history

Flight No.	Mission	Launch date (UTC)	Launch	Landing	Notes
1	Gemini 2	19 January 1965			NASA Mission	[3][4][5]
2	OPS 0855	3 November 1966			USAF Mission; first reflight of a previously flown reentry capsule	[3][4][5]

See also

• Falcon 9 booster B1021 – the first Falcon 9 first stage booster to be reused for a space launch mission
• McDonnell Douglas DC-X – Prototype single-stage-to-orbit rocket developed & flown between 1991-1996
• New Shepard – Rocket developed by Blue Origin
• SpaceShipOne – American experimental spaceplane
• Dragon C106 – the first Dragon capsule to be reused for a spaceflight mission

References

Further reading

• "Gemini-B: NASA-Gemini's Air Force Twin" (PDF). Historic Space Systems Infosheet. No. 1. Historic Space Systems. September 1996.
• James M. Grimwood; Barton C. Hacker; Peter J. Vorzimmer. Project Gemini: Technology and Operations: A Chronology. NASA. SP-4002.
• Berger, Carl (February 1970). History of the Manned Orbiting Laboratory Program (MOL) (PDF) (Technical report). MOL Program Office, Department of the Air Force. BYE-68204/70. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 December 2016.

External links

• "Index, Declassified Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) Records". National Reconnaissance Office (U.S. NRO). 22 October 2015. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2017.