Gemini 3 was the first crewed mission of NASA's Gemini program, launched on March 23, 1965. The spacecraft carried astronauts Gus Grissom and John Young on a three-orbit flight around Earth, lasting about five hours. Its primary objectives included testing spacecraft systems and demonstrating the ability to maneuver in space. During the mission, Gemini 3 successfully performed a series of maneuvers, including a controlled re-entry. The flight marked significant progress in the United States' efforts to prepare for future missions, particularly the upcoming Apollo program, which aimed to land humans on the Moon.