105 a
Bill Taub

Thomas Stafford and Walter Schirra undergoing suiting up operations during the prelaunch countdown

Gemini VI-A, December 15, 1965

Two vintage chromogenic prints on fiber-based Kodak paper, each 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with NASA MSC captions and “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the versos, numbered “NASA S-65- 58749” in red and “S-65-59958” in blue in top margin

105 b
NASA / Unidentified Photographer

The crew checking out the spacecraft during flight simulations at Launch Complex 19

Gemini VI-A, December 8, 1965

Two vintage gelatin silver prints on fiber-based paper, each 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), the first with Technicolor Quality Control stamp and NASA credit on the verso (NASA KSC), the second with NASA HQ caption on the verso

105 c
NASA / Unidentified Photographer

The Titan rocket carrying Walter Schirra and Thomas Stafford into space

Gemini VI-A, December 15, 1965

Two vintage gelatin silver prints on fiber-based paper, each 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), the second with Technicolor Quality Control stamp and NASA credit on the verso (NASA KSC)
20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in)

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Lot Essay

105 a
Bill Taub was NASA’s first senior photographer. He photographed Thomas Stafford, Pilot, and Walter Schirra, Command Module Pilot, during suiting up operations for liftoff in the Launch Complex 16 suit trailer.

“While Gemini VII orbited the Earth for two weeks, Gemini VI-A was launched, completing the first-ever rendezvous between two spacecraft in orbit. It was a transformative capability that was not only necessary for the Apollo Moon landing missions, but crucial in building and operating the International Space Station. The rendezvous marked the first time a human spaceflight milestone was achieved by the United States first. Although the Soviet Union twice had launched simultaneous pairs of Vostok spacecraft in 1962 and 1963, the cosmonauts only established radio contact, coming no closer than several miles of each other” (https://www.nasa.gov/feature/dual-gemini-flights-achieved-crucial-spaceflight-milestones).

105 b
A fish eye view of Wally Schirra (far seat) and Tom Stafford in the Gemini VI-A spacecraft (first photograph) and the crew walking down the ramp at Pad 19 (second photograph) following simulated flight test activity. They are wearing the five-layer pressure suit which is similar to the type worn by the Gemini V crew.

105 c
Gemini VI-A was successfully launched from Cape Kennedy’s Launch Complex 19 on its second attempt at 8:37 a.m. (EST), December 15, 1965.

“The first attempt to launch Schirra and Stafford turned out to be one of the most harrowing in the history of America’s still young space program. On Dec. 12, 1965, all had proceeded well right up to ignition of the twin Titan II first stage engines. Astronaut Alan Bean was serving as capsule communicator, or capcom.
‘3, 2, 1, ignition … shutdown Gemini VI,’ he said. After about 1.5 seconds of firing, the engines abruptly shut down. There was no liftoff. ‘My clock has started,’ Schirra said.
Since the clock had started in the spacecraft, the instruments were telling Schirra liftoff had taken place. Mission rules dictated that he should immediately pull a D-shaped ring above the center console and activate the ejection seats, blasting the astronauts safely away from the fully fueled Titan II which would be falling back to the launch pad. However, Schirra’s experience from Mercury 8 paid off. He did not feel the motion of liftoff. ‘I knew we hadn’t gone anywhere,’ he said later. ‘This proves that man is better programed than any computer.’ An evaluation determined that a tail plug fell off prematurely causing the engine shutdown and the
erroneous liftoff signal. Three days later, Schirra and Stafford were finally on their way to catch up with Borman and Lovell” (https://www.nasa.gov/feature/dual-gemini-flights-achieved-crucial-spaceflight-milestones).