Gemini Drawings from National Archives

Michael and Ben Mackowski visited the National Archive at Ft. Worth, TX on Dec. 11, 2025. We scanned several drawings and documents. A report and a memo/correspondence were photocopied. We also took cellphone photos of some drawings. A single large drawing (52-31001 EO D72814 #11) was scanned by the staff on their over-sized scanner, and they sent it to use a few days later.

Ben did the scanning with the overhead scanner, which was used via our personal laptop. We had to download a driver/controller, and that kept him busy. While he was doing that, I sifted through other drawings and used my phone to capture features that did not require the time needed to scan the entire drawing. If an item in this list also has a “IMG_XXXX” tag, that is one of the iPhone images. Some drawings have both scans and photos.

Generic citation for these items:
Drawing 52-[number], “[Drawing title]”, McDonnell Aircraft Co, St. Louis, MO, 1962, Box XXX, Project Gemini, NASA Johnson Space Center History Archive, Entry Number 205D, National Archives, Fort Worth, TX.

The following is a list of the most interesting files that we obtained. Blue text is the link to the image file.

General Assembly Drawing

52-00001 4M7        General Assembly – Gemini  (Field Change Notice)

(IMG_4775)                This drawing changes the silk screen markings applied to the windows.

                              Effectivity SC 4, dated 5/21/65. Note: I have found no evidence of these lines on any photo of flight hardware.

52-00001-5M6        General Assembly – Gemini  (Field Change Notice)

(IMG_4768, 69, 70)      Add Velcro to instrument panels, foot well, and interior of hatch per astronaut request.

                              Effectivity SC 5, dated 8/10/65.

52-00001 6M5        Field Change Notice – General Assembly – Gemini

                              This drawing defines the size and shape of Velcro pads on RCS section. Note edges were sealed with a hot iron process to prevent unraveling. Effectivity for SC 6. Dated 10/8/65 which is odd since EVA for Gemini VI was cancelled in June 1965. Photos of G-6 and G-7 do not show any Velcro patches in this area, so if they ever got installed, they were removed. In later missions there are rounded rectangular patches, not circular ones in this area.

52-00001 7M3        Field Change Notice – General Assembly – Gemini

                              This drawing defines the silk screen markings (0.015”) applied to the windows. Lines were applied (black silicone paint) on the outside surface of the outer pane and inside surface of the inner pane. Effectivity was for SC 7, dated 11/11/65. Note: I have found no evidence of these lines on any photo of flight hardware.

52-00001-7M7        General Assembly – Gemini  (Field Change Notice)

(IMG_4765)           This drawing changes the silk screen markings applied to the windows.

                              This seems to supersede 52-00001-7M3 dated 11/11/65.

                              Effectivity SC 7, dated 11/30/65.

52-00001 10M5      General Assembly – Gemini  (Field Change Notice)

(IMG_4762)           Add additional Velcro strap for N2 umbilical line for ELSS EVA use.

                              Effectivity SC 10, dated 6/27/66.

52-00005                Interior Arrangement “Gemini” Spacecraft (Inboard Profile)

                              Early version, dated 1/29/62.

(IMG_4781)               Lower zones 14-15-16-17. Front view showing landing gear and interior equipment.

(IMG_4782)               Upper zones 14-15-16-17. Front view showing crew in seats

(IMG_4783)           Upper zones 14-15-16-17. Front view showing lines and N2 for parawing control.

(IMG_4785)           Side view showing landing gear, other equipment

(IMG_4788)               Side view showing “abort & retrograde separation joint shaped charge”

(IMG_4791)           Side view showing nose gear and docking latches (never used)

52-00103            General Arrangement

                              A single-sheet side view with basic dimension. This is Rev. B dated 4/1/64.

                              It clearly shows the base of the heatshield is 1.7 inches wider than the adjoining adapter section.

52-00110            Exterior Finish Gemini Adapter

                           This scan is an excerpt (we did not want to take time to scan the entire drawing) of the main sheet. It shows some interesting details like umbilical connections, vents, and antennas. Some are noted as not painted. Paint is called out as X500 titanium dioxide paint.

52-00400            General Arrangement – Landing Gear

(IMG_4757)        This is a very basic dimensioned diagram of the extended gear.

52-016014              Paraglider Stowage Envelope

(IMG_4801)           Nose area.  Dated 10/22/62.

(IMG_4805)           Side view

52-31001                Section Assembly – Rendezvous and Recovery

                           We scanned all but the far left fold. Note this is an early version with a single drogue chute mortar. I believe this was the Gemini 1 configuration. I combined several scans into a single image.

52-31001-13M27    R&R Section Assy Field Change Notice

(IMG_4807)               “Remove 2 ea. Velcro patches, 52-31011-47, from R.H. side of R&R sect.”  Effectivity SC 11 only. Dated 8/16/66.
    I looked at photos and could not find any that showed fewer patches on SC 11. Perhaps these were way on the side.

52-31001-19M1      R&R Section Assy Field Change Notice

(IMG_4810)               “Paint a 0.38” x 1.00” patch using (MMS 405 color No. 509 (insignia red) per Fed. Std. 595”.  “This patch is to be within one inch of actual thermocouple location.” “Rubber stamp on the red patch 3/16” high numbers and letter using black marking ink…” Each thermocouple had a four-digit parameter number (e.g., “PB05”) that was to be marked. Effectivity was S/C 4, dated 4/15/65.
This is no doubt the same process used to mark the red areas (for inspection stamps) on the nose shingle retainers.

52-31001-19M2      R&R Section Assy Field Change Notice

(IMG_4809)               Add potting (RTV 90) all around the mortar covers “to reduce air loads.”  Effectivity S/C 4 and up-the-line, dated 4/27/65.

52-31001 19M3      Section Assembly – Rendezvous and Recovery – Field Change Notice

                              This is a mod to the ground plane to install the 52-77831-1 “electrical package,” with effectivity for SC 4, dated 5/19/65. Note that this package was soon removed by FCN 19M4.

52-31001-19M4      R&R Section Assy Field Change Notice

(IMG_4811)               This is a view of the radar ground plane plate which removes the 52-77831-1 “ELEC. PKG.” This left a hole in the plate which was replaced by round discs on both inner and outer surfaces of the plate. “Reason: Remove special experiment and fill hole. Void FCN 52-31001-19M3”   Effectivity was S/C 4, dated 3/26/65?

52-31001 EO 11 - D72814

                              Section Assembly – Rendezvous and Recovery – E.O. Extension Drawing

                              This is a nice overall view of the flight configuration (S/C 6, 8-12) with the radar installation. This was scanned by the NARA staff on their oversized scanner.

52-31001 EO 13      R&R Section Assy Engineering Order

(IMG_4814)               Adds three cover assemblies and attaching hardware to the areas around the single mortar cover. Effectivity was S/C 1 and up (incl. static 4), dated 2/28/63.

52-31001 EO 120    R&R Section Assy Engineering Order

(IMG_4816)               Adds “tether attach fitting for EVA.” Effectivity was S/C 8 and up and zero-G mock up, dated 10/29/65. This is a very useful find.

52-31002                Section Assembly Re-entry Control System

                              We scanned a portion of this drawing showing the forward hatch handle.

52-32050 et al        Shingles (multiple dwgs affected) Engineering Order

(IMG_4827)               Repair black oxide coating. “Use air sprayer only to apply the MMS 450 black oxide ceramic coating.” Note the second use of “oxide” was lined out and replaced with “ceramic.”  Seven total shingle drawings noted. No specific effectivity noted but appears to be S/C 4. Dated 9/16/64.

52-32075                Shingles – Lower Equipment Bay Door                                 Dated 9/2/62

(IMG_4817, 18)           One sheet, scanned. The door (drawing) consists of five shingles. Dash number indicate mirrored left-right parts. Coating is “black oxide finish per MAC P.S. 13214.” 

                              See separate PDF of annotated SEDR-300 skin map showing door/shingle locations.

52-32090 Sht 1,    52-32090 Sht 2          Shingle – Forward Equipment Bay, two sheets, scanned

                           This door (drawing) consists of four shingles and is located between the landing gear doors. This is the forward door which allows access to the lower equipment compartment. Another door allows access to the ECS compartment.

52-33073                Exterior Finish Gemini Adapter, sheet 3

(IMG_4830)               This 8.5x11 page has ten notes of painting instructions. Some areas are painted with Insignia White enamel, MIL-E-7729, color 17875. Note 4 states this area is painted by the vendor using white X500 titanium dioxide.

52-33073                Exterior Finish – Gemini Adaptor

                           We scanned sheet 4 (I don’t recall what was on the other sheets, but this was the most interesting), Rev. B, dated 4/6/65. This revision adds the 52-33073-3 tape stripes, which here is called out to be 0.66” wide. The width was later reduced to 0.44” per FCN 52-00001 4M5 dated 5/19/65.

                           There are 72 strips on the Retro Section and 88 on the Equipment Section.

52-33073 EO 6        Exterior Finish Gemini Adapter

(IMG_4839)               “Add paint requirements for micrometeorite collector instl.”

                              Includes an undimensioned side view but is a good reference to the S-12 experiment. 

52-33073 EO 10      Exterior Finish Gemini Adapter, EO #0109577 - #10

(IMG_4836, 4837, 4838)      Remaining sections of the drawing

52-33073 E.O. 11    EO D124017. This drawing shows the size and locations of the rounded rectangle Velcro patches on the adapter. Interestingly, it also points out locations of the handrails, EVA camera, docking and EVA lights, and micrometeor collector.

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