# Project Gemini: 13 days in a cramped seat **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 11, 2011, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/project-gemini-13-days-in-a-cramped-seat/585101 "2011-06-11T12:24:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/project-gemini-13-days-in-a-cramped-seat/585101/1 "2011-06-11T12:24:06Z")
I’m finding myself more and more interested in the early US space program. I work in structural engineering using 3D CAD programs to design and build steel and concrete structures. It really impresses me to see how complicated those early rockets and space craft were, and knowing that the design and technical drawings were done by hand, with the need for communication among various contractors. I really can’t believe the organization and man hours that must have been required to keep the project on track. Anyway, I was reading about Project Gemini, which came after Project Mercury (which worked on getting man into orbit). Gemini, it seems, basically worked out the bugs of doing things once in orbit, such as endurance, maneuvering and docking. I was reading that [Gemini 7](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini_7) spent almost 14 days in space! To put into perspective, check out these [photos](http://historicspacecraft.com/Photos/Gemini/Gemini_VIII_NAM_2008_RK_18.jpg) of the craft [interior](http://historicspacecraft.com/Photos/Gemini/Gemini_VIII_NAM_2008_RK_19.jpg). Am I seeing that right? Basically just big, metal seats with a 1"(?) vinyl pad? And those seats look to have the ergonomics of a park bench. This is a pretty mundane and pointless post. I was just struck by the idea of spending two weeks in such a cramped space on such horrible looking seats. Hell, a 6 hour flight has me wanting to claw my way out a plane (and I’m not claustrophobic). Anyone else have anything interesting to share about the space race, stuff more like “oh, wow!” and not really suited for GQ? ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/project-gemini-13-days-in-a-cramped-seat/585101/2 "2011-06-11T12:48:02Z")
[Here](http://www.maryroach.net/packing-for-mars.html)’s a book that will interest you. Gave me a whole new respect for astronauts. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/project-gemini-13-days-in-a-cramped-seat/585101/3 "2011-06-11T12:55:57Z")
Neat photos. I didn’t realize the Gemini craft were stick shifts. Did they have automatics in Apollo? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/project-gemini-13-days-in-a-cramped-seat/585101/4 "2011-06-11T13:01:55Z")
Here’s another [photo](http://historicspacecraft.com/Photos/Barrett/GeminiV_Kevin_Barrett_04.jpg) from that [site](http://historicspacecraft.com/Gemini_Capsules.html). Looking at that gives the sensation of going swimming from a canoe. “Ya, Houston? No way in hell am I stepping into that void.” ---
**Author:** ![Kilmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a6a055/32.png) [@Kilmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilmore)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/project-gemini-13-days-in-a-cramped-seat/585101/5 "2011-06-11T13:10:59Z")
I’m sure it helped that the astronauts weren’t squished down into the seats by gravity for most of those days. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/project-gemini-13-days-in-a-cramped-seat/585101/6 "2011-06-11T13:14:09Z")
> [@Kilmore](#): > > I’m sure it helped that the astronauts weren’t squished down into the seats by gravity for most of those days. That’s a good point, though the limited room for movement would have still gotten to me after a day. I don’t even want to think about taking a dump in that close a space, with another guy right next to me. **Shakester** : thanks! I just ordered in on Kindle. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/project-gemini-13-days-in-a-cramped-seat/585101/7 "2011-06-11T13:59:25Z")
Here are some threads on Space Race films: From 2007: [The Space Race documentaries/docudramas](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=428918) Two years later, and I’d bought some of the suggestions: [Space documentaries](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=525013) The space film festival that never happened: [The Space Film Film Festival Part 1: Freedom 7](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=431558) ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/project-gemini-13-days-in-a-cramped-seat/585101/8 "2011-06-11T14:26:02Z")
Sorta related, but aviation cramped/endurance rather than space. I suspect these guys were more uncomfortable than the astronauts. > **[Flight endurance record](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_endurance_record#Refueled.2C_Manned)** > > The flight endurance record is the longest amount of time an aircraft of a particular category spent in flight without landing. It can be a solo event, or multiple people can take turns piloting the aircraft, as long as all pilots remain in the aircraft. The limit initially was the amount of fuel that could be stored for the flight, but aerial refueling extended that parameter. Due to safety concerns, the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) no longer recognizes new records for the durat... Scroll down to manned endurance refueling. 64 days aloft in a Cessna. The record has held for 50 years. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/project-gemini-13-days-in-a-cramped-seat/585101/9 "2011-06-11T15:54:33Z")
Pick up [A Man on the Moon](http://www.amazon.com/Man-Moon-Andrew-Chaikin/dp/0140272011) by Andrew Chaikin. I guarantee you won’t be able to put it down. Then get the DVDs for [From the Earth to the Moon](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120570/), which was based on Chaikin’s book. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/project-gemini-13-days-in-a-cramped-seat/585101/10 "2011-06-11T16:33:29Z")
Anyone notice that (probably) the namesake of one of our dopers was listed on that site? [![](https://historicspacecraft.com/Photos/Gemini/Kabong_MSSC_RK_2008_1.jpg) ](https://historicspacecraft.com/Photos/Gemini/Kabong_MSSC_RK_2008_1.jpg)