This exhibit has closed.
August 21, 2015 marked the 50th anniversary of the launch of Gemini V—the first time astronauts spent more than a week in space.
Can astronauts survive in space long enough to make it to the Moon and back? Gemini V set out to answer this question. The mission was the second flight for Mercury 7 astronaut L. Gordon Cooper, and the first for Charles "Pete" Conrad. Over the course of their week in space, these two astronauts shattered the previous in-space duration record set by the Soviet Union's Vostok 5 in 1963. They also took incredible photos of the Earth and tested the fuel cell technology that would be needed to power trips to the Moon and back.
8 Days or Bust celebrates the events of Gemini V. The exhibit includes artifacts from Pete Conrad's personal collection, and unique pieces from the Gemini program. The exhibit also features a selection of videos from Amy Shira Teitel, creator of YouTube channel Vintage Space. This represents The Museum of Flight's first partnership with a YouTube creator.