[GEMINI 6-A] LAUNCH OF GEMINI 6-A AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER. VINTAGE NASA "RED NUMBER" PHOTOGRAPH, 15 DECEMBER 1965.

The Vintage NASA Photo Collection of Philip Kulpa

[GEMINI 6-A]

LAUNCH OF GEMINI 6-A AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER. 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-65-59987” printed in margin in red.

The Titan II rocket launched Gemini 6-A at Kennedy Space Center on the 15th of December 1965, at 8:37 a.m. (EST), carrying Command Pilot Wally Schirra and Pilot Thomas Stafford. Gemini 6-A would go on to successfully rendezvous with Gemini 7, in what was the first ever rendezvous of two spacecraft. 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.