106 a
Thomas Stafford

First rendezvous in space, at 17,000 mph

Gemini VI-A, December 15-16, 1965, orbit 5, 007:52:00 GET

Vintage chromogenic print on fiber-based Kodak paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with NASA HQ caption numbered “65- HC-2006” and “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the verso [NASA S-65-63169]

106 b
Thomas Stafford

Close-up of Gemini VII, showing spacecraft’s window

Gemini VI-A, December 15-16, 1965, orbit 5, 007:55:00 GET

Unreleased photograph, vintage chromogenic print on fiber-based Kodak paper, 21.8 x 27.8cm, with McDonnell Douglas credit stamp (indicating the print was made in 1967), “D4C 32556” stamp and “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the verso (NASA / McDonnell Douglas) [NASA S-65-63173]

106 c
Thomas Stafford

Gemini VII orbiting the Earth

Gemini VI-A, December 15-16, 1965, orbit 5, 008:02:00 GET

Vintage chromogenic print on fiber-based Kodak paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the verso, numbered “NASA G-66-4794” in black in top margin (NASA Goddard) [NASA S-65-63187], with three filing holes in top margin
21.8 x 27.8cm (8¹⁄₂ x 11in)

106 a
LITERATURE: Thomas, p. 114, and Cortright, p. 165; NASA SP-171, p. IV.

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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.