Space: Here Comes Gemini

The U.S. has not sent a man into space since May 1963—when Astronaut Leroy Gordon Cooper stayed in orbit for 34 hr. 20 min. Cooper's flight signaled the end of the Mercury program and the start of the Gemini series of earth orbits in a two-man capsule. Gemini fell two years behind schedule because of technical problems and congressional heel-dragging on appropriations. This year the spacemen hope to make up for lost time: a three-orbit trip is scheduled for April, a four-day attempt for this summer, and if all goes well, there will be a week-long spin in space this...

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