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Catalog Data

Manufacturer:
McDonnell Douglas Corporation  Search this
Materials:
titanium structure with Rene 41 (nickel-steel alloy) exterior shingles; double-paned glass window; interior fabric padding
Dimensions:
Approximate: 1 ft. 3in. deep x 4 ft. 3in. long x 3 ft. 1in. wide (38.1 x 129.54 x 93.98cm)
Type:
SPACECRAFT-Crewed-Parts & Structural Components
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Summary:
This left-hand hatch is part of the Gemini IV spacecraft, which flew a four-day mission in space, June 3-6, 1965. The astronauts were James McDivitt, command pilot and Edward White, pilot. McDivitt sat on the left side of the cockpit and this hatch covered his ejection seat. It was not opened in space, unlike White's, which he used to exit the spacecraft for the first American EVA (spacewalk).
Gemini hatches were designed to open extremely rapidly during an emergency ejection, the astronauts' escape method from a failing launch vehicle on the pad or in the lower parts of the Earth's atmosphere. Otherwise, the hatches were only open before launch, for the insertion of the astronauts, during a mission for an EVA by the pilot (right side only), or at the end of the mission.
NASA Manned Spacecraft Center gave this Gemini IV hatch to the Smithsonian in 1967.
Credit Line:
Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Inventory Number:
A19680035000
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv99a0327ab-9836-42de-8fb6-811cf4024ed5
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19680035000