After two postponements, Gemini IXA astronauts Eugene Cernan, left, and Tom Stafford, center, arrive in the white room atop Launch Pad 19 at Cape Kennedy Air Force Station on June 3, 1966. Stafford is presenting a large match to McDonnell Aircraft Corporation's pad leader Gunter Wendt, far right.
After two postponements, Gemini IXA astronauts Eugene Cernan, left, and Tom Stafford, center, arrive in the white room atop Launch Pad 19 at Cape Kennedy Air Force Station on June 3, 1966. Stafford is presenting a large match to McDonnell Aircraft Corporation’s pad leader Gunter Wendt, far right. Stafford “instructed” Wendt in jest to “light the fuse today.” Between Stafford and Wendt are the backup crew, Buzz Aldrin and Jim Lovell. The Gemini spacecraft did lift off later that morning atop a Titan II rocket.
Image Credit: NASA