There are 2 special notices relating to this lot......
Read moreThomas Stafford [Gemini VI-A]
Price Realised GBP 1,125
Estimate
GBP 1,500 - GBP 2,500
Estimates do not reflect the final hammer price and do not include buyer's premium, any applicable taxes or artist's resale right. Please see the Conditions of Sale for full details.
Loading details
Try our
First rendezvous in space, at 17,000 mph; close-up of Gemini VII; Gemini VII orbiting the Earth, December 15-16, 1965
Thomas Stafford [Gemini VI-A]
Price Realised GBP 1,125
Price Realised GBP 1,125
- Conditions of Sale
- FAQs
- This lot is offered by Christie Manson & Woods LtdChristie Manson & Woods Ltd
8 King Street, St. James's, London, SW1Y 6QT, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Fax: +44 (0)20 7839 2869
Brought to you by
James Hyslop
Lot Essay
106 a
History’s first space rendezvous, a crucial milestone for the planned lunar missions of Project Apollo, was accomplished by Walter Schirra and Tom Stafford in Gemini VI-A, who chased down the orbiting Gemini VII. About six hours after liftoff, while passing over the Hawaii tracking station on Gemini VI-A’s fourth orbit, Schirra reported that he and Stafford had caught up with Borman and Lovell. The photograph was taken from Gemini VI-A of the nose of Gemini Vll while they were about 13 feet apart.
“The ability to take this photo was very gratifying after the numerous delays we encountered in performing the world’s first rendezvous mission. The Gemini VI-A spacecraft was launched on the third attempt to perform the rendezvous and performed it flawlessly. After the hard work and effort of over a year, we finally achieved the key step that will lead us to the lunar-landing mission,” said Thomas Stafford (Cortright, p. 165).
From the mission transcript during the rendezvous:
005:59:20 Capcom (Mission Control): Okay. We’re showing you GO here on the ground. Can you give me your status?
005:59:24 Schirra: We’re in formation with VII and everything is GO here.
005:59:28 Capcom: Roger. Congratulations! Excellent!
005:59:30 Schirra: Thank you. A lot of fun.
106 b
This oblique view of Gemini VII against the black sky of space provides a good view of the nose of the spacecraft and one of its two hatch windows.
The astronauts reported they could see each other while station keeping over the Earth.
From the mission transcript during the rendezvous:
006:55:18 Lovell: Can you see Frank’s beard, Wally?
006:55:20 Schirra: Yes, I see yours better, right now. [...]
006:55:36 Stafford: How’s the visibility through these windows? They’re pretty bad from this side.
006:55:40 Lovell: Yes. It’s pretty bad. We noticed ... that some see through the windows. They are pretty bad on this side.
106 c
Side view of the Gemini VII spacecraft, about 275 feet away, Earth sky background, during rendezvous and station keeping maneuvers 160 miles over the Earth.
From the mission transcript during the rendezvous:
006:03:34 Capcom (Mission control): VI and VII, Hawaii. We’ll be standing by if you have anything for us.
006:03:39 Stafford: There just seems to be a little traffic up here, that’s all.
006:03:42 Capcom: Call a policeman.
History’s first space rendezvous, a crucial milestone for the planned lunar missions of Project Apollo, was accomplished by Walter Schirra and Tom Stafford in Gemini VI-A, who chased down the orbiting Gemini VII. About six hours after liftoff, while passing over the Hawaii tracking station on Gemini VI-A’s fourth orbit, Schirra reported that he and Stafford had caught up with Borman and Lovell. The photograph was taken from Gemini VI-A of the nose of Gemini Vll while they were about 13 feet apart.
“The ability to take this photo was very gratifying after the numerous delays we encountered in performing the world’s first rendezvous mission. The Gemini VI-A spacecraft was launched on the third attempt to perform the rendezvous and performed it flawlessly. After the hard work and effort of over a year, we finally achieved the key step that will lead us to the lunar-landing mission,” said Thomas Stafford (Cortright, p. 165).
From the mission transcript during the rendezvous:
005:59:20 Capcom (Mission Control): Okay. We’re showing you GO here on the ground. Can you give me your status?
005:59:24 Schirra: We’re in formation with VII and everything is GO here.
005:59:28 Capcom: Roger. Congratulations! Excellent!
005:59:30 Schirra: Thank you. A lot of fun.
106 b
This oblique view of Gemini VII against the black sky of space provides a good view of the nose of the spacecraft and one of its two hatch windows.
The astronauts reported they could see each other while station keeping over the Earth.
From the mission transcript during the rendezvous:
006:55:18 Lovell: Can you see Frank’s beard, Wally?
006:55:20 Schirra: Yes, I see yours better, right now. [...]
006:55:36 Stafford: How’s the visibility through these windows? They’re pretty bad from this side.
006:55:40 Lovell: Yes. It’s pretty bad. We noticed ... that some see through the windows. They are pretty bad on this side.
106 c
Side view of the Gemini VII spacecraft, about 275 feet away, Earth sky background, during rendezvous and station keeping maneuvers 160 miles over the Earth.
From the mission transcript during the rendezvous:
006:03:34 Capcom (Mission control): VI and VII, Hawaii. We’ll be standing by if you have anything for us.
006:03:39 Stafford: There just seems to be a little traffic up here, that’s all.
006:03:42 Capcom: Call a policeman.
Related Articles
Sorry, we are unable to display this content. Please check your connection.
Lot 106
Sale 20142
.jpg?mode=max&width=600)
Thomas Stafford [Gemini VI-A]
First rendezvous in space, at 17,000 mph; close-up of Gemini VII; Gemini VII orbiting the Earth, December 15-16, 1965
Estimate: GBP 1,500 - 2,500
Bid amount
Buyer's premium
Estimated total cost exclusive of customs duties/charges and tariffs