# Gemini 3

> 1965 American crewed space mission

**Wikidata**: [Q682628](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q682628)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini_3)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gemini-3

## Summary
Gemini 3 was the first crewed mission of NASA's Project Gemini, launched on March 23, 1965. Crewed by Commander Gus Grissom and Pilot John Young, the mission completed three orbits around Earth, marking a pivotal step in American human spaceflight.

## Key Facts
- **Mission Name:** Gemini 3 (Call sign: *Molly Brown*)
- **Launch Date:** March 23, 1965
- **Landing Date:** March 23, 1965
- **Duration:** 292 minutes
- **Crew:** Gus Grissom (Commander) and John Young (Pilot)
- **Backup Crew:** Wally Schirra (Commander) and Thomas P. Stafford (Pilot)
- **Orbits Completed:** 3
- **Spacecraft Mass:** 3,236.9 kg (launch weight)
- **Launch Vehicle:** Titan II GLV
- **Operator:** National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- **Manufacturer:** McDonnell Aircraft Corporation
- **COSPAR ID:** 1965-024A

## FAQs
### Q: Who were the crew members of Gemini 3?
A: The crew consisted of Commander Gus Grissom and Pilot John Young. The backup crew included Wally Schirra and Thomas P. Stafford.

### Q: When did Gemini 3 launch and land?
A: Gemini 3 launched and landed on the same day, March 23, 1965. The total mission duration was 292 minutes.

### Q: What was the call sign for the Gemini 3 spacecraft?
A: The crew named the spacecraft *Molly Brown*.

### Q: Where did Gemini 3 land?
A: The mission concluded with a splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean, where the crew was recovered by the USS Intrepid.

## Why It Matters
Gemini 3 holds a distinct place in aerospace history as the inaugural crewed flight of Project Gemini. Following the uncrewed Gemini 2 mission, Gemini 3 demonstrated the operational capability of the Gemini spacecraft and the Titan II GLV launch vehicle to support human spaceflight. The mission successfully completed three orbits, providing critical data on orbital mechanics and spacecraft handling. It served as a foundational proof-of-concept for the rendezvous and docking procedures that would be essential for the upcoming Apollo lunar missions. By successfully testing the two-man crew configuration, Gemini 3 validated the systems that would allow the United States to bridge the gap between the Mercury and Apollo programs.

## Notable For
- **First Crewed Gemini Mission:** Gemini 3 was the first flight of the Gemini program to carry human astronauts.
- **First Flight of John Young:** This mission marked the space debut of John Young, who would go on to have a long and distinguished career at NASA.
- **Call Sign "Molly Brown":** The spacecraft was nicknamed *Molly Brown*, a reference to the "unsinkable" Titanic survivor, chosen by Grissom following the loss of his previous Liberty Bell 7 capsule.
- **Short Duration, High Impact:** Despite lasting less than 5 hours (292 minutes), the mission successfully tested orbital maneuvering capabilities.
- **Specific Landing Coordinates:** The mission ended with a splashdown at coordinates 22.4333°N, 70.85°W in the Atlantic Ocean.

## Body

### Mission Profile and Operations
Gemini 3 launched from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 19 on March 23, 1965, atop a Titan II GLV rocket. The mission was operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and utilized a spacecraft manufactured by the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation. It was classified as a human spaceflight and a satellite of low Earth orbit.

The primary objective was to test the crewed operations of the Gemini spacecraft. The flight achieved a perigee (periapsis) of 161.2 kilometers and an apogee (apoapsis) of 224.2 kilometers relative to Earth. The spacecraft maintained an orbital inclination of 32.6 degrees with an orbital period of 88.3 minutes. During the flight, the crew completed three full orbits before initiating re-entry.

### Crew and Personnel
The mission was commanded by Gus Grissom, with John Young serving as the pilot. The backup crew consisted of Wally Schirra as the backup commander and Thomas P. Stafford as the backup pilot.

### Recovery and Landing
Gemini 3 concluded its mission with a splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean on the same day it launched. The landing occurred at coordinates 22.4333° N, 70.85° W. The recovery operation was conducted by the USS Intrepid.

### Technical Specifications
- **Spacecraft:** Gemini spacecraft
- **Launch Mass:** 3,236.9 kilograms
- **Launch Site:** Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 19
- **Identifiers:** COSPAR ID 1965-024A; SCN 01301

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. [Source](http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1965-024A)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013