Project Gemini was the second human spaceflight program of the United States of America. It was conceived after it became evident to NASA officials that an intermediate step was required between Project Mercury and the Apollo Program.

Its major objectives were:

*To subject man and equipment to space flight up to two weeks in duration;

*To rendezvous and dock with orbiting vehiclesand to maneuver the docked combination by using the target vehicle's propulsion system;

*To perfect methods of entering the atmosphere and landing at a preselected point on land.

Its goals were met, with the exception of a land landing, which was cancelled in 1964.

Unlike Mercury, which could only change its orientation in space, the Gemini capsule could alter its own orbit. It could also dock with other spacecraft and was the first spacecraft with onboard computer. After 10 successful flights, the Gemini program clearly placed the USA in the lead over the Soviet Union in manned spaceflight.