This controller flew on the Gemini 10 mission, July 18-21, 1966, with astronauts John Young and Michael Collins. This artifact, originally an integral part of the Gemini 10 spacecraft, was one of two maneuver hand controllers used by the astronauts to control thruster firings to alter the spacecraft's orbit. Moving the maneuver controller fired the appropriate reaction control jets for forward, reverse, up or down motions. In addition to maneuver controllers on each side of the cockpit, the cockpit also had an attitude hand controller in the center used to change the position of the spacecraft in pitch, roll and yaw.

After the mission, it was removed and stored at the manufacturer, McDonnell Aircraft, before being given to the Smithsonian in 1973 on behalf of NASA.