Big Gemini

Mission Profile

Big Gemini was a 1969 McDonnell Douglas concept for an enlarged Gemini spacecraft capable of carrying up to 9 crew members in a larger-diameter capsule to a low-Earth-orbit space station, proposed as a lower-cost alternative to the Apollo Command Module for station crew transport. The design retained the Gemini's proven reentry capsule concept while substantially increasing diameter to accommodate more seats and cargo, and could be launched on a Titan IIIC. Big Gemini was proposed in response to NASA's requirement for a Space Station crew vehicle and competed with other concepts including the early Space Shuttle proposals. The concept was ultimately not selected as NASA committed to the Shuttle for crew transport needs.