Something has puzzled me for awhile. Why did NASA insist on sending a 3d man to the moon, when all he'd do is hang in orbit? Why waste the mass of the 3d man, & the mass of his consumables, rather than send more for the landing crew?
So, a what if: what if NASA sends an Improved Gemini to the moon, with a supply module & LEM, but not the 3d crewman. It follows closely on Gemini XII, & lands two men (Grissom & Chaffee?) on the moon in around June 1968.
How does NASA get there? And what happens next?