Exploring the Unknown: Selected Documents in ... - The Black Vault

266
First Steps into Space: Projects Mercury and Gemini
Document I-52
Document Title: Flight Crew Operations Division, NASA, “Gemini Familiarization
Package,” 3 August 1962.
Source: NASA Collection, University of Houston, Clear Lake Library, Clear
Lake, Texas.
The Project Gemini Familiarization Manual was a document published by the McDonnell
Aircraft Company as a training aid for Gemini astronauts. The first section dealt with
a mission description, while a second section related to Major Structural Assemblies. The
remaining sections described the Cabin Interior Arrangement, the Sequence System, the
Electrical Power System, the Environmental Control System, the Cooling System, the Guidance
and Control System, the Communication System, and the Instrumentation System. This
“Gemini Familiarization Package” served as a brief summary of the more extensive manual.
[CONFIDENTIAL] [DECLASSIFIED]
GEMINI FAMILIARIZATION PACKAGE
Prepared by the Flight Crew Operations Division
Crew Engineering
August 3, 1962
(This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the
United States, within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title 18 US. C., Sections
798 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an
unauthorized person is prohibited by law)
[1]
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this familiarization package is to provide documentation
describing the operation, system designs, and crew station arrangement
of the two man Gemini spacecraft. These notes are complementary to the
contractor furnished pilot’s manual which deals primarily with the details
of each display and control inside the spacecraft cockpit.
To best appreciate the significance of displays, controls, and manual operational
procedures, one should have a thorough knowledge of the mission
profile and system functions which are described in detail in the
body of this document. First, however, the Gemini program objectives will
be listed for reference and a summary description given of the guidelines
used to divide crew tasks.
1.1 Program Objectives
(a) Accomplish 14 day earth orbital flights.
(b) Demonstrate rendezvous and docking in earth orbit.