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This is a Rendezvous and Recovery (R&R) section from a Gemini capsule. Located at the forward part of the capsule, this section housed the radar equipment for rendezvousing with the Agena target vehicle and the drogue, pilot, and main parachutes. At about 10,500 feet altitude during the reentry, the deployed drogue parachute was released, the pilot parachute was deployed, a pyrotechnic device severed all 24 bolts attaching the section to the Reentry Control System section, and the R&R section fell away as the main parachute deployed. This R&R section was part of a test capsule and was not flown. It does not have the antennas, radar equipment, parachutes, or thermal insulation and has aluminum instead of beryllium shingles. McDonnell Aircraft made this artifact and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration transferred it to NASM in 1968.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type SPACECRAFT-Crewed-Parts & Structural Components Manufacturer McDonnell Aircraft Corp.
 Dimensions Storage (Rehoused on aluminum pallet with three additional objects): 123.8 × 174.6 × 145.4cm, 231.3kg (48 3/4 × 68 3/4 × 57 1/4 in., 510lb.)
 Materials Aluminum, Phenolic Resin, Synthetic Fabric, Steel, Stainless Steel, Teflon, Mylar (Polyester), Cadmium, Plating, Titanium, Inconel
 Inventory Number A19731039000 Credit Line Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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