NASA Gemini 1965-1966, Owners' Workshop Manual

I had hoped to find some visual of the Agena Encoder used by Scot in Gemini 8. I became interested when something else I had been unable to find, suddenly and recently became available to me: The Flight Director's Loop audio of that mission, which contained fascinating discussions about the thruster problem not contained in any transcripts. I had a concept of the encoder from Dave Scot's description in the post-flight press conference, but could not locate an image of it.Two, very nice, line drawings of the wheeled device appear in this book.But as I started leafing through the rest, am pleased there are more surprises to engage me. The quality and format together with the illustrations and images are sufficient to make this a fine "coffee table book," but the actual material is a bit above the common.I mean, I once wrote a piece debunking a well-produced "Moon Landing Hoax" video that got some notice--even from a NASA author. One reader asked me, "Where did you find such detailed material?" I answered honestly, but teasingly, "I have all the technical transcripts and flight plans on my PC desktop--doesn't everybody?" My point is, I have been researching these kind of things for decades, because I enjoy it.So when I buy a pretty little book with only a 172 pages, but not only find the one (onscure) thing I was looking for, but excited to read it straight through, cover-to-cover... I am very well pleased, and impressed. Woods and Harland scratched my itch.By-the-way, I have fun when anyone notes the "Haynes Owners' Workshop Manual" format. I tell them "Mine had been running a little rough, but six-degrees before top dead center has her purring like new."Yeah, you know you want it.

My rating is actually 4-1/2 stars, but I rounded up as this is a particularly good book about the Gemini spacecraft. The first two thirds of this book describe the Gemini spacecraft in general to specific details that almost anyone could understand. The illustrations, many taken from Gemini technical manuals, are reproduced well and many have been "enhanced" or colorized to make them easy to follow or understand. Some may believe there are too many details, while others (like myself) would like more. The authors have struck an excellent balance in my opinion. One nitpick I have is the illustration of the spacecraft instrument control panel is described as "typical." All well and good, but maybe a table listing what controls or displays varied between various Gemini spacecraft should have been included. The title does read, "all missions, all models."The real surprise to me was the last third of the book. It describes Gemini's various missions and was far from being the typical, dry rehash that I have read over and over again. It is well illustrated and nicely succinct. The pictures illustrating this book are a pleasure to examine. The reproduction values are high and the photographs from the various missions are unusually sharp and crisp with vibrant colors. Better still, many of them, almost half, are not the standard photos one sees over and over again. The authors have included many unusual and rarely seen pictures in this book.Overall, this is book is thoroughly enjoyable and a valuable addition to anyone's Project Gemini collection.

This edition of the Owner's Workshop Manual series presents a comprehensive look at the Gemini spacecraft, including its role in a historical context. It is well written with language suitable for 6th grade readers and up. I liked its use of many rare color photos, including some from private sources.From the perspective of someone who knows the subject at a deep technical level, I don't see anything really new. The technical level is at about the level of the Gemini Press Reference Book, which appears to be the source of many of the illustrations. And many illustrations from the Gemini Familiarization Manual are also used. The presentation is high in quality. It does a good job of contrasting the advanced technology of its day with the technology we take for granted today. I also liked the way each Gemini mission was discussed in terms of the technological and personal challenges. EVA (space walks) had its own section with a good discussion of the specific challenges and how they were overcome.I changed my rating of this book from 4 stars to 5. I originally thought its description oversold the technical nature. But the Gemini Familiarization Manual is a technical source that perhaps has not been referenced in published books. Since most readers will not already be "familiar" with that source, it does present an uncommon technical depth, and with impressive breadth as well.One final note: be ready for UK spellings such as "programme" instead of "program."

This is a great book on one of the most essential NASA manned spacecraft that the general public knows nothing about. The Gemini program was absolutely vital to facilitating the much more well known Apollo project. With the Gemini man learned how to work in space and conduct orbital mechanics including matching orbits with other spacecraft and docking with them. It was a huge leap over the initial Mercury program.This is a great book and although for space nerds like me it is nothing really new but it puts it all in very nice magazine like format with great pictures, explanations of the systems, and the missions, plus some of little know Gemini programs like the Gemini Blue and the Gemini B Manned Orbital Laboratory. Great stuff.

ho diversi manuale della Haynes e sono tutti fatti molto bene con disegni e foto in quantità!Questo l'ho addirittura preso usato, ma quasi perfetto risparmiando pure qualche euro!!!

Ich mag diese "Owners Workshop" Bücher aus dem Haynes Verlag, ich habe mittlerweile einige davon. Die Bücher bieten immer einen sehr guten, technischen Überblick über das Thema, so auch beim diesem Buch über das Gemini Programm. Man erhält eine gute Einsicht in die damals verwendete Technik, gespickt mit teilweise wirklich hervorragenden technischen Zeichnungen. Wer sich für das Buch interessiert: Es wird weniger auf die einzelnen Missionen an sich eingegangen, die Technik steht eindeutig im Vordergrund.

Génial

This book is a must for any aerospace enthusiast. It is a highly detailed account of McDonnell Gemini – the first real US spacecraft. Its development beginning as the “Mercury Mk II” and then into a maneuverable spacecraft in its own right that was two-man, capable of long duration spaceflights and able both rendezvous and dock – the first of its kind ever. Kudos also to authors David Woods and David M Harland for noting the chief designer as Canadian James Chamberlin, who had previously worked at Arrow Canada on the infamous Arrow program. The Titan II – Gemini’s launcher – is also detailed and a breakdown of all Gemini flights is given. Even the aborted Blue Gemini and Big Gemini programs, plus the Manned Orbital Laboratory that would have been integrated with the Gemini – are given sections as well.Well worth the money

I've been buying a lot of these Haynes "Owner's Workshop Manual" recently. They are an excellent reference item when building model kits and easy to read as a stand alone book. They follow a standard format- history, variants, Use and Maintenance. The books are usually written by former user/experts and are always very informative. Also, the quality of photos and illustrations are second to none, often showing the unseen/hard to get to areas. Haynes are onto a winner with these, as they are an excellent addition to a reference library.