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Gemini Paraglider Research Vehicle 1-A with Wing
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Gemini Paraglider Research Vehicle 1-A with Wing
Small one-man glider made of steel tubing with 3 tires and parasail; with control stick, 2 pedals and 5-gauge instrument panel; craft is orange; Rogallo wing is stored separately.
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Paraglider Research Vehicle (Paresev) 1-A, Gemini
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Parasev 1A and Stearman Tow Plane
From 1962 to 1964, NASA used the Paresev (Gemini Paraglider Research Vehicle 1-A) to develop the technology for landing the two-man Gemini capsule on land, instead of parachuting into the ocean, as had been done in Project Mercury. The Paresev was towed by a ground vehicle or a small aircraft and released at an altitude between 5,000 and 12,000 feet. This image shows the Parasev with a Stearman tow aircraft on August 24, 1962. NASA ultimately decided to stick with the proven technology of parachutes and water landing.
NASA Dryden Flight Research Center Photo ET62-00268
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Parasev 1A (Gemini Paraglider Research Vehicle)
From 1962 to 1964, NASA used the Paresev to develop the technology for landing the two-man Gemini capsule on land, instead of parachuting into the ocean. Astronauts "Gus" Grissom and Neil Armstrong were among those who piloted the Paresev during several hundred flights at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Ultimately, NASA decided to stick with parachutes and water recovery for U.S. human spaceflight missions.
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Gemini Paraglider Research Vehicle 1-A
From 1962 to 1964, NASA used the Paresev to develop the technology for landing the two-man Gemini capsule on land, instead of parachuting into the ocean. The Paresev was towed by a ground vehicle or a small aircraft and released at an altitude between 5,000 and 12,000 feet. Ultimately, however, these tests paved the way to testing the larger paraglider, but NASA ultimately decided to use parachutes to recover the Gemini spacecraft.
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Gemini Paraglider Research Vehicle 1-A
From 1962 to 1964, NASA used the Paresev to develop the technology for landing the two-man Gemini capsule on land, instead of parachuting into the ocean. The Paresev was towed by a ground vehicle or a small aircraft and released at an altitude between 5,000 and 12,000 feet. Ultimately, however, these tests paved the way to testing the larger paraglider, but NASA ultimately decided to use parachutes to recover the Gemini spacecraft.
Display Status:
This object is on display in the Human Spaceflight at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA.

Collection Item Summary:
From 1962 to 1964, NASA used the Paresev to develop the technology for landing the two-man Gemini capsule on land, instead of parachuting into the ocean, as had been done in Project Mercury. The astronauts would release an inflatable paraglider wing based on the work of Francis Rogallo, and maneuver to a runway or dry lake bed. Astronauts "Gus" Grissom and Neil Armstrong were among those who piloted the Paresev during several hundred flights at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The Paresev was towed by a ground vehicle or a small aircraft and released at an altitude between 5,000 and 12,000 feet. It was tested with three different wings; the 1-A is the first configuration. Before the paraglider concept could be fully developed for the Gemini program, NASA decided to stick with the proven technology of parachutes and water landing.
NASA transferred the Paresev to the Smithsonian in 1968.