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Gemini VI

Occurred 59 years ago

Gemini VI-A was the fifth crewed Earth-orbiting spacecraft of the Gemini series, having been launched after Gemini VII, with the intent of making rendezvous with Gemini VII in Earth orbit. The astronauts on the 26 hour mission were Walter Schirra and Thomas Stafford. The mission priorities were to demonstrate on-time launch procedures, closed-loop rendezvous capabilities, and stationkeeping techniques with Gemini VII. Other objectives were to evaluate the spacecraft reentry guidance capabilities, and conduct spacecraft systems tests and four experiments. This mission was originally designated Gemini VI and scheduled for launch on 25 October but was cancelled when the Agena target vehicle failed to go into orbit an hour earlier.

Mission Type

Human Spaceflight

mission duration

1 day, 1 hour, 51 minutes, 24 seconds

Launch

Dec. 15, 1965

Landing

Dec. 16, 1965
Astronauts Thomas Stafford and Walter Schirra in white spacesuits with black background
Astronauts Thomas Stafford and Walter Schirra
NASA
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Gemini-VII and Gemini-VI-A Meet at Last

In this photo from Dec. 15, 1965, the Gemini-VII spacecraft is seen from the Gemini-VI-A spacecraft during their rendezvous mission in space. The two spacecraft are approximately 43 feet apart.

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NASA's Gemini-7 spacecraft as seen from the Gemini-6 spacecraft during their rendezvous mission in space.
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