Clickety-Clack: Remembering the Misfortune of Gemini VI, OTD in 1965

By Ben Evans, on October 25th, 2020

OTD in 1965, #GeminiVI crewmen Wally Schirra & Tom Stafford were ready for the first rendezvous in space. But their rendezvous target had other ideas. […]

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'A Real Bright Star': 50 Years Since the First Space Rendezvous (Part 2)

By Ben Evans, on December 13th, 2015

Just 1.2 seconds after engine ignition on 12 December 1965, the Titan II suffered a premature shutdown. Instantly, Wally Schirra faced a life-or-death gamble: to hold his nerve or pull the ejection handle. He held his nerve and Gemini VI-A survived to fly another day. Photo Credit: NASA

“It’s death … or the […]

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'It's Death or the Ejection Seat': 50 Years Since the First Space Rendezvous (Part 1)

By Ben Evans, on December 12th, 2015

Backdropped by the grandeur of Earth, Gemini VII drifts serenely in the inky darkness, as seen from Gemini VI-A. Photo Credit: NASA

Just before Christmas in 1965—50 years ago, next week—a pair of Gemini spacecraft serenely circled Earth together and in close proximity. Aboard Gemini VII, astronauts Frank Borman and Jim Lovell were […]

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A Mission of 'Almosts': Project Gemini's First Rendezvous in Space (Part 2)

By Ben Evans, on October 26th, 2014

Gemini VI crewmen Tom Stafford (left) and Wally Schirra are pictured during an emergency water egress exercise. Photo Credit: NASA

Almost 50 years ago, the United States almost staged its first rendezvous mission between unpiloted and piloted vehicles in low-Earth orbit. An Atlas-Agena target craft was almost successfully launched, yet failed to achieve […]

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Of Minds & Men: The First Rendezvous in Space (Part 2)

By Ben Evans, on December 15th, 2013

Beautiful view of Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford’s Gemini VI-A spacecraft, viewed by astronauts Frank Borman and Jim Lovell aboard Gemini VII. Schirra’s gutsy decision to sit tight after the 12 December pad abort ensured that this historic rendezvous mission could go ahead. Photo Credit: NASA

“It’s death … or the ejection seat!” […]

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Of Minds & Men: The First Rendezvous in Space (Part 1)

By Ben Evans, on December 14th, 2013

Gemini VII, bearing astronauts Frank Borman and Jim Lovell on a record-breaking 14-day mission, is seen through the windows of Gemini VI-A, with fellow spacefarers Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford. This mission, in December 1965, marked the first ‘true’ rendezvous between two piloted vehicles in orbit. Photo Credit: NASA

Two weeks before Christmas […]

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'M Equals 1': The All-Up Mission of Gemini XI (Part 1)

By Ben Evans, on September 7th, 2013

Dick Gordon (left) and Pete Conrad await the start of an emergency water egress training exercise in the Gulf of Mexico in July 1966. Photo Credit: NASA

Not all astronauts get on with one another, but if there ever was a crew whose members could be described as best buddies, it would be […]

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