Gemini XII, November 11-15, 1966, orbit 14, 021:01:06 GET
Vintage chromogenic print on fiber-based Kodak paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with NASA MSC caption and “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the verso, numbered “NASA S-66-62926” in red in top margin
20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in)

Chaikin, Space, p. 71; Cortright, p. 184; Schick and Van Haaften, p. 4.

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Lot Essay

During his stand up EVA, Aldrin lowered his gold-plated visor for a rare self-portrait that clearly shows his features. In previous pictures of spacewalkers, sunlight reflecting off the visor obscured their faces. Aldrin himself described the photograph as the first selfie in space. The back of the blue Maurer 70mm space camera can be seen at the lower left-hand side. The L-band antenna of the Agena target docking vehicle docked to the Gemini spacecraft and the Atlantic Ocean with the coast of Africa are in the background. Aldrin used the Super-Wide Hasselblad camera and its 38mm lens to take the photograph.

020:59:01 Aldrin: Now let me raise my visor and I’ll smile. [...]
020:59:28 Lovell: Okay. It’s 35 minutes. Do you want to start bringing the camera in and getting it all squared away? [...]
020:59:52 Aldrin: Well, we still have a lot of daylight. [...]
021:00:33 Aldrin: Which camera do you mean you want to get in?
021:00:35 Lovell: I want to get in the EVA 16mm.
021:00:40 Aldrin: Okay.
021:00:42 Aldrin: Well, the Hasselblad’s just about empty.
021:01:06 Aldrin: I never did think about taking a picture of myself.