[GEMINI 6-A & 7] Rendezvous of Gemini 6-A & 7. VINTAGE NASA "RED NUMBER" PHOTOGRAPH, 15 DECEMBER 1965.

The Vintage NASA Photo Collection of Philip Kulpa

[GEMINI 6-A & 7]

WORLD'S FIRST MANNED SPACEFLIGHT RENDEZVOUS. 15 DECEMBER 1965.

Vintage NASA “Red Number” chromogenic color photograph, 10 by 8 inches, “A Kodak Paper” watermark to verso. NASA image ID “NASA S-65-63172” printed in upper margin in red.

A HISTORIC MILESTONE IN THE SPACE PROGRAM, MANKIND'S FIRST SPACE RENDEZVOUS, accomplished by Walter Schirra and Thomas Stafford in the Gemini 6-A, and Frank Borman and James Lovell in the Gemini 7. Gemini V7 had been launched eleven days before Gemini 6-A, on 4 December 1965. Once Gemini 6-A achieved orbit, the spacecraft caught up to Gemini 7 and the two ships manoeuvred to within a few feet of each other during three Earth orbits. Gemini 6-A was originally planned to dock with the uncrewed Gemini-Agena target vehicle, however that vehicle failed on launch, and rather than scrapping the mission, the decision was made to rendezvous with the upcoming Gemini 7 instead. 

In the present photo, the Gemini 6-A floats in the dark void of space, its nose toward the camera as it prepares to rendezvous with the Gemini 7 spacecraft, taken at a range of 45 feet.