— Through the end of the year, two Gemini spacecraft will be on display and under restoration at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center.

Restoration will first begin on Gemini 6, in full view of the public, while Gemini 10 will be on display in its current condition. In October, the public will be able to watch the restoration live on the Cosmosphere's website.

"The acquisition of Gemini 10, a flown spacecraft, represents a tremendous upgrade from the flight-ready back-up Gemini we currently have in our collection," said Jeff Ollenburger, the Cosmosphere's president and CEO. "With the addition of Gemini 10, our ranking as a world class museum will be further solidified."

Gemini 10, flown by astronauts John W. Young and Michael Collins on July 18-21, 1966, is now on display at the Cosmosphere while awaiting restoration. Displayed in Norway for over 10 years and returned to the U.S. by the Smithsonian, the Gemini 10 mission included a successful rendezvous and docking, and extravehicular activity by Collins.

One of the two spacecraft involved in the world's first attempt to demonstrate the feasibility of rendezvous in Earth's orbit, Gemini 6 was flown by astronauts Walter M. Schirra, Jr. and Thomas P. Stafford on Dec. 15-16, 1965.

"Outside of the National Air and Space Museum, this will be the only opportunity for visitors to view two flown Gemini spacecraft in the same location. The Cosmosphere feels not only fortunate to display these historic spacecraft, but also to be the group chosen by the Smithsonian to conduct their restoration," said Jim Remar, director of collections, exhibits and buildings.

On Monday, September 29 at 1:30pm, Gemini 3A, which has been on display at the Cosmosphere since 1982, will be lifted out of the staging pit and made ready for the trip to its new display site at the St. Louis Science Center.

The Gemini 3A capsule, the Cosmosphere's first restoration project, was a flight-ready back-up used to run systems checks before launch. It will remain at the St. Louis Science Center on long-term loan from the Smithsonian.

On Thursday, October 2, at 9:00am, Gemini 6 will arrive in Hutchinson from the St. Louis Science Center. Using a crane, the capsule will be lowered into the Cosmosphere's staging pit and moved to the Restoration Lab where work will begin in full view of the public.

The director of the Oklahoma State Museum of History, Dan Provo, will be at the Cosmosphere to oversee delivery of Gemini 6 which, when restored, will reside at the museum in Oklahoma City on long-term loan from the Smithsonian.

When restoration is complete and before it is shipped to Oklahoma City, Gemini 6 will be displayed while Gemini 10 is undergoing restoration. After Gemini 10 is restored, it will remain on display at the Cosmosphere on long-term loan from the Smithsonian.