107 a
Thomas Stafford

Gemini VII over the Earth horizon

Gemini VI-A, December 15-16, 1965, orbit 5, 008:03:00 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 [NASA S-65-63188], small crease in bottom left corner

107 b
Thomas Stafford

Gemini VII spacecraft station keeping with Gemini VI-A over the Earth

Gemini VI-A, December 15-16, 1965, orbit 6, 008:07:00 GET

Vintage chromogenic print on fiber-based Kodak paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with “A Kodak Paper” watermark on verso, numbered “NASA S-65-63194” (NASA MSC) in red in top margin

107 c
Thomas Stafford

The Sun illuminating the Gemini VII spacecraft in Earth orbit

Gemini VI-A, December 15-16, 1965, orbit 6, 009:13:00 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 S-65-63205” (NASA MSC) in red in top margin

107 d
Thomas Stafford

The Gemini VII spacecraft over the Earth

Gemini VI-A, December 15-16, 1965, orbit 6, 009:23:00 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), “DAC 32552” stamp and “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the verso (NASA / McDonnell Douglas) [NASA S-65-63213]
21.8 x 27.8cm (8¹⁄₂ x 11in)

107 a
NASA SP-171, p. VIII.

107 b
Schick and Van Haaften, p. 51; Reynolds, pp. 52-53.

107 b
Zürich, Kunsthaus, Salzburg, Museum der Moderne, Fly me to the Moon, March-June 2019 and July-November 2019; exhibition catalogue, p. 359, no. 19.

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Lot Essay

107 a
“As Gemini VI-A approached its target, the Gemini VII spacecraft, Schirra piloted while Stafford photographed, creating the first pictures of another vehicle in space made with a hand-held camera. His images of the rendezvous describe a graceful dance performed by two small spacecraft in orbit around the Earth” (Schick and Van Haaften, p. 48).

The two spacecraft are approximately 43 feet apart. In the nose of Gemini VI-A, two circular radar receivers and a larger, round parachute installation are visible.

008:08:09 Schirra: We’re looking right at your vehicle now.

107 b
A superb side view of Gemini VII, about 35 feet away, with part of adapter hidden by nose of Gemini VI-A, taken through the hatch window of the Gemini VI-A spacecraft during rendezvous and station keeping maneuvers at an altitude of approximately 160 miles.

“One of the tasks of Gemini VI-A was to inspect the condition of Gemini VII after 12 days of space flight. The photograph shows the operation being conducted along the right side of Gemini VII. Clearly visible are the atmospheric heating effects in the paint of the words ‘United States’ and in the U.S. flag,” said James Lovell (Cortright, p. 165).

From the mission transcript during the rendezvous:

006:08:21 Lovell: The flag or the letters are ... Looks like they’re seared as much at launch as they are when you come back from reentry.

107 c
The photograph was taken during station keeping at an altitude of 160 miles above the Earth. Gemini VII is 45 feet away with its adapter clearly visible.

“It was quite a shock to us when we saw all the dangling particles. Then of course we realized they were primer cords, the devices used to separate the spacecraft from the booster.”
Walter Schirra (Schick and Van Haaften, p. 50)

107 d
Oblique view of Gemini VII station keeping at an altitude of 160 miles above the Earth about 90 feet below Gemini VI-A, with its adapter toward camera.

009:14:53 Schirra: Roger. We asked for another orbit for photography. There seem to be no reason to raise ... [...]
009:15:28 Capcom (Mission Control): All that I just gave you, you can scrub it out. They’re giving you GO for another revolution.
009:15:31 Schirra: Very good. We have about 41 percent fuel, ... over.
009:15:37 Capcom: Roger, I copy that.