1965 was a banner year for the American manned spaceflight program, a banner year that would fade in prominence as it was outshone by the greater triumphs of the years ahead, culminating in the Moon landings of 1969-1972. Between 5 May 1961-15 May 1963, the United States conducted six manned Mercury spaceflights, launching & recovering six astronauts. Between 23 March-18 December 1965 alone, the United States conducted five manned Gemini spaceflights, launching & recovering ten astronauts. Highlights included conducting the first American spacewalk, achieving the first rendezvous in space, flying the first repeat spaceflights by individual astronauts, & repeatedly setting & breaking new spaceflight endurance records.
1966 would see a further five manned Gemini spaceflights & continued refinements of techniques & technologies for the follow-on Apollo program. All five of 1965's Gemini flights were flown by the "Mercury Seven" & the "New Nine," Astronuat Groups 1 (1959) & 2 (1962); the 1966 Gemini flights would see the addition of astronauts from the "Fourteen," 1963's Astronaut Group 3. Every space activity of 1966 would be building toward the first Apollo spaceflight, scheduled for February 1967.
The Wayback Machine Tour of Project Gemini '65
№ DCCXXXIX: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini 3 — Gus Grissom & John Young
№ DCCLIII: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini IV — Jim McDivitt & Ed White
№ DCCLXVI: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini V, Part I — Gordon Cooper & Pete Conrad
№ DCCLXVIII: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini V, Part II
№ DCCLXXIX: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini VI, Prelude
№ DCCLXXXVII: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini VII, Part I — Frank Borman & Jim Lovell
№ DCCLXXXVIII: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini VI-A, Part I
№ DCCLXXXIX: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini VI-A, Part II — Wally Schirra & Tom Stafford
№ DCCXC: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini VII, Part II
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