Gemini 11 Flown Heatshield Lucite
Genuine Gemini 11 Capsule heatshield section sealed in acrylic and attached to a vintage wooden plaque.
In stock
DESCRIPTION
The embedded heatshield originates from the Gemini XI capsule, flown by Command Pilot Pete Conrad and Pilot Richard Gordon in September 1966. This mission marked one of the final steps toward Apollo, pushing the limits of human spaceflight and spacecraft operations in Earth orbit. Gemini 11 successfully docked with an Agena Target Vehicle, achieving a record orbital altitude of nearly 850 miles (1,370 kilometers), the highest reached by astronauts during the Gemini program. During the mission, the crew conducted complex maneuvers, including tethered flight experiments designed to explore artificial gravity and precise orbital control. Gordon also performed an extended spacewalk, testing equipment and techniques that would later be critical for Apollo lunar missions. This piece of flown heatshield material represents a part of that achievement and is a tangible link to a mission that helped prove NASA’s ability to rendezvous, dock, and operate safely in space, paving the way for the first Moon landings.
Product Information:
- Overall plaque measures 180mm x 130mm x 95mm
- Heatshield lucite measures 75mm x 60mm x 55mm
- Wooden base bears an authenticity plaque and two Gemini pins
Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity:
All of our artifacts are thoroughly and extensively researched before being listed for sale, so much so that we're proud to offer a lifetime guarantee of authenticity for this and other artifacts listed on our website. We also hold a record of every piece we sell, which can be identified and searched in our online database using the serial number listed on your certificate of authenticity.
Description
The embedded heatshield originates from the Gemini XI capsule, flown by Command Pilot Pete Conrad and Pilot Richard Gordon in September 1966. This mission marked one of the final steps toward Apollo, pushing the limits of human spaceflight and spacecraft operations in Earth orbit. Gemini 11 successfully docked with an Agena Target Vehicle, achieving a record orbital altitude of nearly 850 miles (1,370 kilometers), the highest reached by astronauts during the Gemini program. During the mission, the crew conducted complex maneuvers, including tethered flight experiments designed to explore artificial gravity and precise orbital control. Gordon also performed an extended spacewalk, testing equipment and techniques that would later be critical for Apollo lunar missions. This piece of flown heatshield material represents a part of that achievement and is a tangible link to a mission that helped prove NASA’s ability to rendezvous, dock, and operate safely in space, paving the way for the first Moon landings.
Product Information:
- Overall plaque measures 180mm x 130mm x 95mm
- Heatshield lucite measures 75mm x 60mm x 55mm
- Wooden base bears an authenticity plaque and two Gemini pins
Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity:
All of our artifacts are thoroughly and extensively researched before being listed for sale, so much so that we're proud to offer a lifetime guarantee of authenticity for this and other artifacts listed on our website. We also hold a record of every piece we sell, which can be identified and searched in our online database using the serial number listed on your certificate of authenticity.