#gemini vii

[lonestarflight]

"An overall view of the Manned Spacecraft Center's Mission Control Center, during the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Gemini-7 spaceflight."

Date: December 7, 1965

NASA ID: S65-60037, S65-60039

[gordopickett]

This moment both destroyed & healed my soul at the same time!

[apollomission8]

Frank Borman and Jim Lovell arriving aboard the USS Wasp after the recovery of their successful Gemini 7 mission -December 18, 1965

[stone-cold-groove]

NASA image from the Gemini VII mission - December 1965.

[astronaut-quotes-daily]

Our first sunrise in space began as a tiny wedge that kept expanding, until we had the illusion that we were looking into a huge cave with red mouth, yellow roof, and blue outer rim. It was a light blue at first, then the cave seemed to explode in slow motion into a kaleidoscope of colors. The blue became a deeper shade, blending with bands of reddish orange and a mustard-yellow. For more than five minutes. Lovell and I watched the phenomenon, groping in vain to describe the awe we felt. –Frank Borman, discussing the first of many sunrises during the Gemini 7 mission

[commodorez]

Gemini VII - December 4 - 18, 1965

Frank Borman & Jim Lovell

Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly, VA

[blasteffect]

James Lovell, Sunset over the Earth, Gemini VII, Dec 4-18, 1965,

Wave of clouds along the east flank of the Andes Mountains,

Victor Martin-Malburet Collection / Christie’s

[historical-spaceflight]

December 4, 1965 - The fourth manned flight of the Gemini Program, Gemini VII, sees James Lovell and Frank Borman launch aboard a Titan II GLV at Cape Kennedy’s Launch Complex 19.

Gemini VII would stay in orbit for 13 days, 18 hours and 35 minutes, completing 206 orbits of the Earth. This long duration flight allowed NASA to study the effects of long-term exposure to micro gravity and reactions to it by the human body. With the long duration flight, NASA had to solve some of the basic problems associated with long, such as waste stowage and disposal, personal hygiene, and food quality. Lovell and Borman would conduct various experiments, collect urine samples, and make note of what could be done to make spaceflight more comfortable for future missions. Books were brought along to pass the time, wise advice from Gemini Vs Pete Conrad in combating boredom.

Gemini VI, meant to launch the October before Gemini VII, was scrubbed following the in-flight failure and explosion of the Agena Target Vehicle meant for the crew of Wally Schirra and Thomas Stafford to dock with. Reclassified as Gemini 6A, Schirra and Stafford would launch twelve days following Gemini VII to perform in-orbit rendezvous. 

The final days of the mission saw various malfunctions appear with the spacecraft - thrusters failed and fuel cells giving limited power. The crew relied on the spacecrafts internal batteries for the remainder of the mission with no ill effects. Gemini VII returned home after roughly 14 days, being picked up by the carrier USS Wasp to the east of the Bahamas. 

Gemini VIIs mission insignia was designed by artist Bill Bradley, and features the Olympic Torch signifying the marathon length of the mission.

Gemini VII is currently on display at the National Air & Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia.