Gemini 12

Gemini 12's crew consisted of Jim Lovell (making his second space flight) and Buzz Aldrin (the rookie). The mission featured a rendezvous, but the main purpose of the mission was to perfect the extra-vehicular activity.

While Ed White's spacewalk seemed to go just fine, all he did was float around and enjoy himself. Gemini 8's EVA was canceled due to the thruster problem. Gemini 9 had a full set of activities scheduled for that mission's EVA, but Gene Cernan had problems controlling his attitude in space and the suit's environmental control couldn't adequately process his body heat, leading to severe perspiration and helmet visor fogging. The EVAs on Gemini 10 and 11 were somewhat better, but the astronauts still had difficulties performing their assigned tasks.

For Gemini 12's EVAs, Aldrin trained in a swimming pool, the forerunner to the training in JSC's Neutral Buoyancy Lab. Extra handholds were provided, and the EVA was scheduled with frequent rests prevent the suit's ECS from becoming overloaded. The EVAs were a complete success and gave NASA confidence going into the Apollo program.

Gemini 12 is not so much displayed as part of an dynamic exhibit. An overview of the Gemini 12 mission, complete with voice-overs from Jim Lovell, is displayed on video monitors. As different aspects of the mission and different portions of the spacecraft are discussed, different combinations of spot and flood lights illuminate the appropriate portion of the spacecraft. This uneven and ever-changing lighting posed some challenges in photographing the spacecraft.