Gladiator1332's Orbiter Stuff
Big Gemini













Home

CEV Capsule Simulation Project | Big Gemini | Gallery | Forum | Chat | Downloads | Links





biggeminimock2.jpg
Big Gemini Mockup


Mock-up of the Big Gemini re-entry module on display at the McDonnell plant, St Louis, in 1967. The large windows allowed viewing of the interior of the mock-up and were not going to be part of the flight version! By simply adding a passenger compartment behind the basic Gemini B, McDonnell produced a ballistic re-entry vehicle with the same total mass and base diameter as the Apollo Command Module, but over twice the cargo capacity. (from Encyclopedia Astronautica)
Credit: McDonnell Douglas

Big Gemini in Animator
biggemini06.jpg
Here is how Big Gemini would have appeared, had it been built.
















New screenshots are in the gallery section. Please note that the Gemini capsule you see in the images is not the one that will be used in the Big Gemini addon. This is a just a "mock-up" for the screenshots. You can also see that the Gemini textures have been added to the model. The retro module has also been completed. The retro rockets and the thrusters were recently added. The updated model has been sent over to the programming department.
All that is left to be modeled is the launch escape system. Work on the LES will start this week.
 
 

Here are some quotes from the topics on Big Gemini over at M6:
 
"If this going to be a modern varient you want to put a shuttle style docking adapter at the rear instead of the apollo type.

What you want to do to make this is use the same capsule but make three new pieces. The Capsule extension, the new retro section, the adapter with docking cone. With the new beta coming out we can have the camera swing to the rear to represent the rear crew station." -estar (Robert Conley)
 
"I don't want this to be a modernized Big Gemini (for now)I believe this add on should simulate the Big Gemini how it was originally intended to be used, maybe someone can even do an MOL for it to fly to. Then later someone could come up with modern variants."
-gladiator1332 (Mike Majeski)
 
"So basically how the modeling will go...The crew module will be the normal Gemini B capsule, followed by the passenger compartment which will have to be modeled (I could most-likely use parts of the Gemini B capsule to make this part) The retro module will just be the normal retro module from the Gemini add on, just larger. The cargo module will just be a sized up maneuvering module. The pressurized tunnel will be the attachment point for the cargo and passenger compartment. This way when you jettison the cargo module, the tunnel doesnt go with it. Only until you jettison the retro module do you lose the presurized tunnel. Then after all that we just have the docking adapter." -gladiator1332 (Mike Majeski)