April 14, 2026

— You can now build and fly the rocket that launched the missions NASA needed to learn how to land astronauts on the moon.

Estes, the leading model rocketry manufacturer, has debuted the Gemini Titan, a model kit designed for both flight and display. Ten two-man crews launched atop the Gemini Titan on flights that pioneered the skills needed to rendezvous, dock, spacewalk and remain in space for extended durations, enabling the Apollo lunar landings that followed.

"Gemini Titan marks the moment American spaceflight turned capability into reality. As the program that bridged early orbital missions to the moon, Gemini established the techniques, confidence and momentum that made lunar exploration possible. That legacy now returns in a highly detailed 1:48 scale model designed for both flight and display," reads the description on Estes' website.

Standing more than two feet tall (70 cm) and powered like the original dual-engined modified missile by two C5-3 model rocket engines, Estes' Gemini Titan can reach up to 350 feet (107 m).

"Experience a liftoff where precision and power come together in a single, decisive moment," says Estes.

"When both engines fire together, their thrust is additive, generating over 40N (9lbs) of force to lift this larger, highly detailed scale model with ease. This balanced output is critical, as even slight variations in ignition timing can influence the rocket's overall flight trajectory," reads the website.

Estes Gemini Titan 1:48 model kit. Click to enlarge video in new pop-up window. (Estes)

Estes design engineer Adam Knippa drew inspiration for creating the Gemini Titan from his father, who told Adam about how he had been "glued to the TV during the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs."

"The most tedious phase of the design process, and the most enjoyable for me, is designing all the plastic parts for the kit," wrote Knippa in a essay posted by Estes. "After some initial designs and testing, it was determined that it was not feasible to have the capsule and interstage be resin 3D printed."

Ranked as an Expert-level build, the $89.99 Gemini Titan comes with more than 50 parts, as well the decals to add to some of the fine visual details. Paint, glue, tape and basic tools are not included.

The real Gemini Titan used a hot staging technique between its first and second stage engines, meaning that the upper stage fired before it separated from the lower stage. To accomplish this, the interstage between them was vented to the open air. The model recreates this feature and separates at this point but only to deploy a recovery parachute. There is no second stage that fires.

Estes includes a premium display stand that elevates the model so the vented interstage and sculpted engine nozzles, among other details, are easily viewed.

The Gemini-Titan continues Estes' series of real rockets as flying models. In recent years, the company has introduced kits and out-of-the-box, ready-to-fly scale versions of Robert Goddard's first liquid-fuel rocket, NASA's Saturn V and Space Launch System (SLS) moon rockets, the space shuttle and commercial rockets like SpaceX's Falcon 9, Blue Origin's New Shepard and ULA's (United Launch Alliance) Vulcan, as well as Russia's Soyuz.