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

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First Steps into Space: Projects Mercury and Gemini
slackening the drive toward the objective. Time and again Gemini responded to
such a situation in a manner that can only be described as outstanding.
A few comments are in order on what the Gemini accomplishments
mean in terms of value to other programs. There is almost no facet of Gemini
that does not contribute in some way to the Apollo Program. Aside from the
actual proof testing of such items as the manned space-flight control center,
the manned space-flight communications net, the development and perfection
of recovery techniques, the training of the astronauts, and many others which
apply directly, the Gemini Program has provided a high level of confidence in the
ability to accomplish the Apollo Program objectives before the end of this decade.
The Apollo task is much easier now, due to the outstanding performance and
accomplishments of the Gemini team.
Similarly, the Apollo Applications Program has been inspired in large
part by the Gemini experiments program, which has sparked the imagination
of the scientific community. In addition to the contributions to Apollo hardware
development which provide the basis for the Apollo Applications Program,
it has been discovered, or rather proved, that man in space can serve many
extremely useful and important functions. These functions have been referred
to as technological fallout, but it is perhaps more accurate to identify them as
accomplishments – that is, accomplishments deliberately sought and achieved by
the combined hard labor of many thousands of people. Some of these people
have reviewed their work in this report.
The Manned Orbiting Laboratory Program has been undertaken by
the Department of Defense for the purpose of applying manned space-flight
technology to national defense and is making significant use of the Gemini
[3] accomplishments. This may be considered as a partial repayment for the
marvelous support that NASA has received and continues to receive from the
DOD. The success of the NASA programs is in no small measure due to the direct
participation of the DOD in all phases of the manned space-flight program. This
support has been, and will continue to be, invaluable.
The combined Government/industry/university team that makes up the
manned space-flight program totals about 240,000 people. In addition, thousands
more are employed in NASA unmanned space efforts, and in programs of the
Department of Defense, the Department of Commerce, the Atomic Energy
Commission, and other agencies involved in total national space endeavors. These
people, in acquiring new scientific knowledge, developing new techniques, and
working on new problems with goals ever enlarged by the magnitude of their task,
form the living, growing capability of this Nation for space exploration.
For the last quarter century, this Nation has been experiencing a
technological revolution. Cooperative efforts on the part of the Government, the
universities, the scientific community, and industry have been the prime movers.
This cooperation has provided tremendous capability for technological research
and development which is available now and which will continue to grow to
meet national requirements of the future. The influence of this technological
progress and prowess is, and has been, a deciding factor in keeping the peace.