The first manned flight of the two seat Gemini spacecraft. Its mission was to evaluate the two man spacecraft design as well as the tracking network and recovery procedures.
Project Gemini was the first NASA program to have its own program patch. The ten manned flights of the Gemini spacecraft transformed the United States from a distant second place in the space race to the leader in the race for the moon.
Apollo Soyuz was the first international manned spaceflight. It was designed to test the compatibility of rendezvous and docking systems for American and Soviet spacecraft, to open the way for international space rescue as well as future joint manned flights.
The first members of the International Space Station Expedition 17 launched to the Space Station on April 8, 2008. The crew will remain on the station for approximately six months.
The first members of the International Space Station Expedition 18 launched to the Space Station in October 2008. The crew will remain on the station for approximately six months.
The first members of the International Space Station Expedition 19 launched to the International Space Station on March 26, 2009. The crew will remain on the station for approximately six months.
