What U.S space project that gave astronauts practice piloting spacecraft and working in space?

The U.S. space project that provided astronauts with practice in piloting spacecraft and working in space was the Gemini program. Conducted between 1962 and 1966, Gemini included a series of missions that focused on developing techniques for space travel, including rendezvous and docking, long-duration flights, and extravehicular activities (spacewalks). This program was crucial in preparing astronauts for the Apollo missions that ultimately aimed to land humans on the Moon.