On March 23, 1965, Gemini 3 lifted off on the first manned mission of the Gemini program, orbiting three times before returning safely to Earth. Here’s a look at the mission from the archives at NASA.

Gemini 3 prime crew astronauts Virgil I. Grissom (left), command pilot; and John W. Young, pilot, pose for a portrait, April 13, 1964.

NASA