61. [Gemini III] THE FIRST GEMINI ASTRONAUTS: pioneers of the first U.S. two-man space mission NASA, April 1964 Printed 1964. Vintage chromogenic print on fibre-based Kodak paper [NASA image S-64-19432]. With "A Kodak Paper" watermark on the reverse (issued by NASA). 21.8 x 27.8 cm. (8.5 x 11 in.) Historical context A striking portrait of the first Gemini astronauts, selected for the inaugural U.S. two-man space mission, wearing the advanced Gemini G3C pressure suit with its silver aluminized covering. Left to right: John W. Young, Virgil I. Grissom, Walter M. Schirra Jr. and Thomas P. Stafford. Young and Grissom were selected as the prime astronauts and Schirra and Stafford as the back-up pilots. Project Gemini, NASA's second human spaceflight program, bridged the gap between Mercury and Apollo, laying the groundwork for landing on the Moon. Project Gemini focused on four main objectives: testing an astronaut's ability to endure long-duration missions (up to two weeks in space); mastering spacecraft rendezvous and docking techniques in Earth and lunar orbit; refining re-entry and landing procedures; and studying the physiological effects of extended spaceflights on astronauts.