S65-19406 (6 April 1965) --- Astronauts Thomas P. Stafford (left), pilot; and Walter M. Schirra Jr., command pilot, have been named as the prime crew for the Gemini-Titan 6 spaceflight. Schirra and Stafford served as the GT-3 backup crew. Their selection for the GT-6 flight was announced at an MSC news conference on April 6, 1965.

S65-58941 (27 Aug. 1965) --- U.S. Air Force Weapons Laboratory D-8 (Radiation in Space) experiment for Gemini-6 spaceflight. Kennedy Space Center alternative photo number is 104-KSC-65C-5533. Photo credit: NASA

S65-63189 (15 Dec. 1965) --- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Gemini-7 spacecraft as seen from the Gemini-6 spacecraft during their rendezvous mission in space. The two spacecraft are approximately 43 feet apart. This image was taken with a modified 70mm Hasselblad camera, using Eastman Kodak, Ektachrome (S.O. 217) color film. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S65-63194 (15 Dec. 1965) --- This photograph of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Gemini-7 spacecraft was taken through the hatch window of the Gemini-6 spacecraft during rendezvous and station keeping maneuvers at an altitude of approximately 160 miles on Dec. 15, 1965. The photograph was taken with a Hasselblad camera using Kodak SO 217 film with an ASA of 1964. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S65-63136 (16 Dec. 1965) --- Shark Bay area on the western coast of Western Australia as seen from the Gemini-6 spacecraft during its 16th revolution of Earth. City of Carnarven, where NASA has a tracking station, is located near the bottom of picture in lower left corner, near mouth of stream. Indian Ocean is body of water at upper right. South is toward top of picture. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S65-63256 (16 Dec. 1965) --- Cap Blanc and Levrier Bay on the coast of Spanish Sahara and Mauritania, as seen from the Gemini-6 spacecraft during its 15th revolution of Earth. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S65-63282 (16 Dec. 1965) --- Area of Indian Ocean, just east of the island of Madagascar, as seen from the Gemini-6 spacecraft during its 15th revolution of Earth. Land mass at top of picture is the Malagasy Republic (Madagascar). Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S65-63162 (16 Dec. 1965) --- Central area of Ethiopia, south of Addis Ababa, showing Lakes Zwai, Langana, and Shala, as seen from the Gemini-6 spacecraft during its 14th revolution of Earth. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S65-63130 (16 Dec. 1965) --- Ras Hafum, coast of Somali Republic, northeast Africa, as seen from the Gemini-6 spacecraft during its 13th revolution of Earth. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S65-63771 (12 Dec. 1965) --- Kennedy Space Center area on the east coast of Florida as seen from the Gemini-7 spacecraft, during Gemini-6 abort, on its 118th revolution of Earth. Photo credit: NASA

S65-64040 (15 Dec. 1965) --- Nose-on view of the Gemini-6 spacecraft against the blackness of space as seen from Gemini-7 spacecraft. The two spacecraft were approximately 38 feet apart. Astronauts Walter M. Schirra and Thomas P. Stafford were onboard the Gemini-6 spacecraft. Astronauts Frank Borman and James A. Lovell Jr. were aboard the Gemini-7 spacecraft. A "Beat Army" sign can be seen in the Gemini-6 window. Photo credit: NASA

S65-66728 (19 Dec. 1965) --- This happy round of handshakes took place in the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building crew quarters, Merritt Island, as the Gemini-6 crew (left) welcomed the Gemini-7 crew back to the Kennedy Space Center. Left to right, are astronauts Walter M. Schirra Jr., Gemini-6 command pilot; Thomas P. Stafford, Gemini-6 pilot; Frank Borman, Gemini-7 command pilot; James A. Lovell Jr., Gemini-7 pilot; and Donald K. Slayton (partially hidden behind Lovell), assistant director for Flight Crew Operations, Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston. Photo credit: NASA

S65-63198 (15 Dec. 1965) --- The Gemini-7 spacecraft as seen from the Gemini-6 spacecraft during their rendezvous mission in space. They are approximately 39 feet apart. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S65-63220 (15 Dec. 1965) --- This photograph of the Gemini-Titan 7 (GT-7) spacecraft was taken from the Gemini-Titan 6 (GT-6) spacecraft during the historic rendezvous of the two spacecraft on Dec. 15, 1965. The two spacecraft are some 37 feet apart here. Earth can be seen below. Astronauts Walter M. Schirra Jr., command pilot; and Thomas P. Stafford, pilot, were inside the GT-6 spacecraft, while crewmen for the GT-7 mission were astronauts Frank Borman, command pilot, and James A. Lovell Jr., pilot. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S65-63113 (15 Dec. 1965) --- This photograph of the Gemini-7 spacecraft was taken from the hatch window of the Gemini-6 spacecraft during rendezvous and station keeping maneuvers at an altitude of approximately 160 miles on Dec. 15, 1965. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S65-63171 (15 Dec. 1965) --- The Gemini-7 spacecraft as seen from the Gemini-6 spacecraft during their rendezvous mission in space. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S66-45580 (6 Sept. 1966) --- Astronaut James A. Lovell Jr., prime crew command pilot of the Gemini-12 spaceflight, prepares to enter the Gemini Mission Simulator in Building 5 for flight training. Photo credit: NASA

S65-59927 (4 Dec. 1965) --- Fellow astronauts join the Gemini-7 prime crew for breakfast in the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building, Merritt Island, on the day of the Gemini-7 launch. Clockwise around the table, starting lower left, are astronauts James A. Lovell Jr., Gemini-7 prime crew pilot; Walter M. Schirra Jr., Gemini-6 prime crew command pilot; Donald K. Slayton, MSC assistant director for Flight Crew Operations; Virgil I. Grissom, Gemini-6 backup crew command pilot; Charles Conrad Jr., Gemini-5 prime crew pilot; and Frank Borman, Gemini-7 prime crew command pilot. Photo credit: NASA

S65-62062 (12 Dec. 1965) --- Discussing the scrubbing of the planned National Aeronautics and Space Administration?s Gemini-6 spaceflight are (from left) William C. Schneider (standing), deputy director, Gemini Program Office of Manned Spaceflight, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C.; Eugene F. Kranz (seated), white team flight director; Christopher C. Kraft Jr., red team flight director; and John D. Hodge, blue team flight director. The Gemini-6 mission has been rescheduled for Dec. 15, 1965. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S66-45578 (6 Sept. 1966) --- Astronaut James A. Lovell Jr., prime crew command pilot for the Gemini-12 spaceflight, is pictured in Building 5, Mission Simulation and Training Facility, prior to entering the Gemini Mission Simulator for flight training. Photo credit: NASA

S65-56185 (21 Oct. 1965) --- Gemini-6 astronauts Walter M. Schirra Jr. (left), command pilot; and Thomas P. Stafford, pilot, look at a star globe for celestial pattern recognition for their upcoming flight. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) plans a two-day mission for Gemini-6 for the astronauts to develop the ability to rendezvous and dock with an orbiting Agena Target Docking Vehicle. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S65-56151 (October 1965) --- Gemini-6 astronauts Thomas P. Stafford (left), pilot, and Walter M. Schirra Jr., command pilot, are shown during suiting up exercises at Cape Kennedy, Florida. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S65-54319 (22 Sept. 1965) --- Astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr., command pilot of the Gemini-6 prime crew, undergoes weight and balance tests in the Pyrotechnic Installation Building, Merritt Island, Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S65-60035 (6 Dec. 1965) --- The new light-weight spacesuit planned for possible use during the Gemini-7 mission is modeled by Fred R. Spross, Gemini Support Office, Crew Systems Division. The spacesuit weighs 16 pounds, including the aviator's crash helmet. The suit is designed so that it may be partially or completely removed during flight. It has two layers of material while the previously used Gemini spacesuit has four layers. Photo credit: NASA

S65-56313 (2 Dec. 1965) --- Gemini-7 astronauts James Lovell Jr. (center) and Frank Borman (right) review mission requirements for their Gemini-7 flight. The two astronauts are scheduled for a 14-day mission. On the fifth day, they will attempt a rendezvous with the Gemini-6 spacecraft to be launched nine days later and piloted by astronaut Walter Schirra Jr. and Thomas Stafford. Photo credit: NASA

S65-28734 (24 Aug. 1965) --- Rear Admiral W.C. Abhau (left), who will take over command of Task Force 140 for Gemini-6, is shown in the Mission Control Center being briefed on recovery operations for Gemini by Robert F. Thompson (center), NASA recovery coordinator; and Christopher C. Kraft Jr., flight director for Gemini-5.

S66-45579 (6 Sept. 1966) --- Astronaut James A. Lovell Jr. (right), prime crew command pilot of the Gemini-12 spaceflight, talks with Burton M. Gifford (left) and Duane K. Mosel (center), both with the Simulation Branch, Flight Crew Support Division. Lovell was preparing to undergo flight training in the Gemini Mission Simulator in Building 5, Mission Simulation and Training Facility. Photo credit: NASA

S65-61846 (5 Dec. 1965) --- Donald K. Slayton, assistant director for Flight Crew Operations, talks with newsmen after examining damage to Pad 19 at Kennedy Space Center, following liftoff of the Gemini-7 spacecraft on Dec. 4, 1965. Damage was slight and will be repaired quickly for the planned launch of Gemini-6. Photo credit: NASA

S65-62719 (15 Dec. 1965) --- Discussing the successful and historic rendezvous in space of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration?s Gemini-6 and 7 spacecrafts are, Christopher C. Kraft Jr. (left), red team flight director; astronaut L. Gordon Cooper Jr. (center); and Dr. Robert R. Gilruth, Manned Spacecraft Center director. Consoles in the Center were decorated with small American flags and the traditional cigars were lit to celebrate the rendezvous. Crew members of the two spacecraft are astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr., command pilot, and Thomas P. Stafford, pilot, Gemini-6; and astronauts Frank Borman, command pilot, and James A. Lovell Jr., pilot, Gemini-7. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S65-56190 (20 Oct. 1965) --- Astronauts Walter M. Schirra Jr. (seated), command pilot; and Thomas P. Stafford, pilot, the prime crew of NASA's Gemini-Titan-Agena 6 space mission, go through suiting up exercises in preparation for their forthcoming flight. The suit technicians are James Garrepy (left) and Joe Schmitt. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Astronaut Neil Armstrong (left) was one of 14 astronauts, 8 NASA test pilots, and 2 McDonnell test pilots who took part in simulator studies. Armstrong was the first astronaut to participate (November 6, 1963). A.W. Vogeley described the simulator in his paper "Discussion of Existing and Planned Simulators For Space Research," "Many of the astronauts have flown this simulator in support of the Gemini studies and they, without exception, appreciated the realism of the visual scene. The simulator has also been used in the development of pilot techniques to handle certain jet malfunctions in order that aborts could be avoided. In these situations large attitude changes are sometimes necessary and the false motion cues that were generated due to earth gravity were somewhat objectionable; however, the pilots were readily able to overlook these false motion cues in favor of the visual realism." Roy F. Brissenden, noted in his paper "Initial Operations with Langley's Rendezvous Docking Facility," "The basic Gemini control studies developed the necessary techniques and demonstrated the ability of human pilots to perform final space docking with the specified Gemini-Agena systems using only visual references. ... Results... showed that trained astronauts can effect the docking with direct acceleration control and even with jet malfunctions as long as good visual conditions exist.... Probably more important than data results was the early confidence that the astronauts themselves gained in their ability to perform the maneuver in the ultimate flight mission." Francis B. Smith, noted in his paper "Simulators for Manned Space Research," "Some major areas of interest in these flights were fuel requirements, docking accuracies, the development of visual aids to assist alignment of the vehicles, and investigation of alternate control techniques with partial failure modes. However, the familiarization and confidence developed by the astronaut through flying and safely docking the simulator during these tests was one of the major contributions. For example, it was found that fuel used in docking from 200 feet typically dropped from about 20 pounds to 7 pounds after an astronaut had made a few training flights." -- Published in Barton C. Hacker and James M. Grimwood, On the Shoulders of Titans: A History of Project Gemini, NASA SP-4203; A.W. Vogeley, "Discussion of Existing and Planned Simulators For Space Research," Paper presented at the Conference on the Role of Simulation in Space Technology, August 17-21, 1964; Roy F. Brissenden, "Initial Operations with Langley's Rendezvous Docking Facility," Langley Working Paper, LWP-21, 1964; Francis B. Smith, "Simulators for Manned Space Research," Paper presented at the 1966 IEEE International convention, March 21-25, 1966.

S65-61788 (For release: 11 Dec. 1965) --- Close-up view of equipment which will be used in the D-8 (Radiation in Spacecraft) experiment on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Gemini-6 spaceflight. This experiment is designed to make highly accurate measurements of the absorbed dose rate of radiation which penetrates the Gemini spacecraft, and determine the spatial distribution of dose levels inside the spacecraft particularly in the crew area. This is experimentation of the U.S. Air Force Weapons Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M. LOWER LEFT: The second ionization chamber, this one is unshielded. This chamber can be removed from its bracket by the astronaut who will periodically take measurements at various locations in the spacecraft. Nearby is Passive Dosimeter Unit which is one of five small packets each containing a standard pocket ionization chamber, gamma electron sensitive film, glass needles and thermo luminescent dosimeters which are mounted at various locations in the cabin. UPPER LEFT: Photo illustrates how ionization chamber can be removed from bracket for measurements. LOWER RIGHT: Shield of bulb-shaped chamber will be removed (shown in photo) as the spacecraft passes through the South Atlantic anomaly, the area where the radiation belt dips closest to Earth's surface. UPPER RIGHT: Dome-shaped object is shield covering one of two Tissue Equivalent Ionization Chambers (sensors) which will read out continuously the instantaneous rate at which dose is delivered during the flight. This chamber is mounted permanently. The information will be recorded aboard the spacecraft, and will also be received directly by ground stations. This chamber is shielded to simulate the amount of radiation the crew members are receiving beneath their skin. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In a cavalcade of veteran Apollo and Mercury astronauts, John Glenn rides in the back of a Corvette driven by Al Worden. On Feb. 20, 1962, John Glenn piloted the Mercury-Atlas 6 "Friendship 7" spacecraft on the first U.S. manned orbital mission. Worden was command module pilot for Apollo 15, July 26-Aug. 7, 1971. The astronauts were part of the World Space Expo, an event to commemorate humanity's first 50 years in space while looking forward to returning people to the moon and exploring beyond. Commemorating humanity's first 50 years in space while looking forward to returning people to the moon and exploring beyond, the expo showcased various panels, presentations and educational programs, as well as an aerial salute featuring the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor, U.S. Navy F-18 Super Hornet, U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagle, the P-51 Mustang Heritage Flight, and the U.S. Air Force 920th Rescue Wing, which was responsible for Mercury and Gemini capsule recovery. The U.S. Army Golden Knights also demonstrated precision skydiving. Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton