The first space rendezvous — Gemini 7/6A
2016-02-05
On Dec. 15, 1965, Gemini 6A came within one foot of Gemini 7 and remained there for five hours and 19 minutes. It was the first rendezvous between two orbiting spacecraft.
Originally, Gemini 6 was supposed to dock with the Agena Target Vehicle, but when the Agena exploded during launch, Gemini 6 was nearly cancelled. In response, the team created the Gemini 7/6A mission to demonstrate rendezvous capability and preserve President Kennedy’s mandate to land on the moon by the end of the decade.
Last December, Gemini veterans spoke at a panel to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first space rendezvous. Panel members included former director of Flight Operations Dr. Chris Kraft, Gemini 7 Commander Frank Borman, Gemini 6 Pilot Tom Stafford and moderator Glynn Lunney.
Kraft recounted the team’s extraordinary efforts as they engineered the Gemini 7/6A mission. Panel members gave an unvarnished account of the unique challenges faced in planning, training and executing the first space rendezvous.
The NASA Alumni League (NAL) - JSC Chapter sponsored this event in partnership with JSC’s Safety and Mission Assurance Knowledge Management Office (KMO). This remarkable panel can be viewed online and is full of fascinating stories.
The NAL and JSC’s KMO hope that this event will be the first of many as the 50th anniversary of the moon landing approaches.
Front: Hal Beck, Norm Chaffee, Frank Borman, Chris Kraft, Tom Stafford, Glynn Lunney, Chet Vaughn, Gene Kranz
Middle: Phil Deans, Mack Henderson, Chuck Lewis, Ernie Randall, Al Dupont, Cathy Osgood, Jim Bates, Larry Bell and Bob Wren.
Back: Bob Culpepper (hidden), Don Nelson, Ken Young, Bill Sullivan, Jerry Kahanek (beard), Ken Russell and Charlie Parker (beard). Image Credit: NASA
Originally, Gemini 6 was supposed to dock with the Agena Target Vehicle, but when the Agena exploded during launch, Gemini 6 was nearly cancelled. In response, the team created the Gemini 7/6A mission to demonstrate rendezvous capability and preserve President Kennedy’s mandate to land on the moon by the end of the decade.
Last December, Gemini veterans spoke at a panel to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first space rendezvous. Panel members included former director of Flight Operations Dr. Chris Kraft, Gemini 7 Commander Frank Borman, Gemini 6 Pilot Tom Stafford and moderator Glynn Lunney.
Kraft recounted the team’s extraordinary efforts as they engineered the Gemini 7/6A mission. Panel members gave an unvarnished account of the unique challenges faced in planning, training and executing the first space rendezvous.
The NASA Alumni League (NAL) - JSC Chapter sponsored this event in partnership with JSC’s Safety and Mission Assurance Knowledge Management Office (KMO). This remarkable panel can be viewed online and is full of fascinating stories.
The NAL and JSC’s KMO hope that this event will be the first of many as the 50th anniversary of the moon landing approaches.
Front: Hal Beck, Norm Chaffee, Frank Borman, Chris Kraft, Tom Stafford, Glynn Lunney, Chet Vaughn, Gene Kranz
Middle: Phil Deans, Mack Henderson, Chuck Lewis, Ernie Randall, Al Dupont, Cathy Osgood, Jim Bates, Larry Bell and Bob Wren.
Back: Bob Culpepper (hidden), Don Nelson, Ken Young, Bill Sullivan, Jerry Kahanek (beard), Ken Russell and Charlie Parker (beard). Image Credit: NASA
Artist's concept of Gemini 7 and 6A rendezvous. Image Credit: NASA
Nose-on view of the Gemini 6A spacecraft against the blackness of space as seen from the Gemini 7 spacecraft. The two spacecraft were approximately 38 feet apart. Image Credit: NASA