posted 08-18-2017 04:02 AM               

This book explains how the testing program of the next-stage space exploration mission was completed. In this pre-Apollo stage, the vehicle's ability to move in space was demonstrated, and the dawn of a new era of operational activities in Earth orbit commenced. When Gemini 3 became the first manned flight of the highly successful series of ten missions the spring of 1965, it paved the way for Apollo to reach the Moon later in the decade. Tasked with addressing key objectives and challenges in order to gain experience and knowledge from living and working in space, as opposed to just surviving the ride, Gemini also afforded NASA with the skills that remain relevant 50 years later, on time launches, rendezvous and docking, EVA, long duration flight, and completing the flight with a safe and accurate recovery.

Often in the shadow of its famous pioneering predecessor Mercury, or lost in the glory of Apollo, the two man Gemini flights provided the vital link between proving humans could survive in space for a few hours and being able to accomplish useful work during missions of up to two weeks. Building upon the success of Project Mercury, Gemini 3 provided the first step in a program that gave NASA the confidence that America could reach the Moon with Apollo by the end of the decade. The Gemini 3 flight also saw the appearance of the first member of NASA's second class of astronauts, a selection that has been said to have been the best group ever chosen by the space agency, some of whom participated not only in the Gemini program but also during the Apollo era.

This book continues the Pioneers in Early Spaceflight series to examine each flight in the Mercury and Gemini series. Despite the challenges, Gemini 4 and its two-man crew undertook a huge gamble, and one which fortunately paid off. The mission was also the first time the mission control center at the Manned Spacecraft Center, near Houston, Texas, was utilized for monitoring the mission, commencing a tradition that continues today with the International Space Station program.

• Paperback
  
• Springer; January 28, 2018
  
• ISBN-10: 3319681419
  
• ISBN-13: 978-3319681412

posted 11-02-2017 02:30 AM               

We regret to inform you that we have been unable to source the following item... Our supplier has informed us that this item is no longer available.

posted 11-03-2017 04:00 AM               

According to the latest information from the author (yours truly), the book is still planned for publication early next year. At least Springer and I are planning it to be, as the project is currently going through their editorial then production process.

In addition to the normal lines of purchase, the book will also be available from the AIS website.

posted 04-05-2018 02:56 AM               

There is no longer an initial print run, which was reprinted when the first batch was sold. Over the past few years at Springer the POD system has been adopted and improved, at the same time supporting the growing trend for e-book versions. This results in several "publication" dates depending on the various "agreements" and systems Springer has adopted. I am told there are a number of publication options available as the new book(s) are released, hence the different publication and availability dates.

Filter in the possible changes to the delivery date of the manuscript, editorial changes and delays, and the timing of the production run, you end up with an amendment to the "official" date of publication.

My desire remains in producing a book as quickly as I can to see it on my own bookshelf as well, unfortunately things do not always work out that simple and the whole process can be a little fluid. I have had an earlier book project completed in about six months from start to finish, another that took 20 years from initiation to publication.

posted 04-06-2018 02:08 AM               

In between, there are other projects, away from Gemini, in line for publication.

posted 05-30-2018 01:56 AM               

"For a long time, Gemini was a program overshadowed by the achievements of Apollo (1960–1975) and the initial American manned space program, Project Mercury (1959–1963)," writes David Shayler in the first chapter of his new book, "Gemini Flies!". He seeks to rectify that oversight with a book that examines not just the overall Gemini program, but instead focusing on its initial development through the first mission with astronauts on board, Gemini 3.