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Lot 96
[Gemini VII] TITAN'S SECOND STAGE AND EARTH'S LIMB AT SUNSET: the first image of a rocket stage captured from space by humans Frank Borman or James Lovell, 4-18 December 1965
14 – 28 April 2025, 12:00 CEST
Paris, Avenue Hoche€600 - €800
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[Gemini VII] TITAN'S SECOND STAGE AND EARTH'S LIMB AT SUNSET: the first image of a rocket stage captured from space by humans
Frank Borman or James Lovell, 4-18 December 1965
Printed 1965.
Vintage chromogenic print on fibre-based Kodak paper [NASA image S-65-64554].
With NASA caption and "A Kodak Paper" watermark on the reverse, numbered "NASA S-65-64554" in red in the top margin (issued by NASA Manned Spacecraft Centre, Houston, Texas).
20.3 x 25.4 cm. (8 x 10 in.)
Historical context
This image, a still frame captured by the crew with the 16mm camera aboard Gemini VII, is the only view in the Gemini program showing the rocket's second stage drifting through space after separation. A stunning and ethereal view of Earth's limb at sunset is visible in the background.
Unlike the Redstone or Atlas rockets of Project Mercury, the Gemini Titan rocket was essentially two rockets in one. The first stage lifted the spacecraft to an altitude of 64 km (40 miles) before separating, allowing the second stage to propel it into orbit. Once its fuel was depleted, the second stage was also discarded.
Printed 1965.
Vintage chromogenic print on fibre-based Kodak paper [NASA image S-65-64554].
With NASA caption and "A Kodak Paper" watermark on the reverse, numbered "NASA S-65-64554" in red in the top margin (issued by NASA Manned Spacecraft Centre, Houston, Texas).
20.3 x 25.4 cm. (8 x 10 in.)
Historical context
This image, a still frame captured by the crew with the 16mm camera aboard Gemini VII, is the only view in the Gemini program showing the rocket's second stage drifting through space after separation. A stunning and ethereal view of Earth's limb at sunset is visible in the background.
Unlike the Redstone or Atlas rockets of Project Mercury, the Gemini Titan rocket was essentially two rockets in one. The first stage lifted the spacecraft to an altitude of 64 km (40 miles) before separating, allowing the second stage to propel it into orbit. Once its fuel was depleted, the second stage was also discarded.
Footnotes
[NASA caption] GEMINI VII STATION KEEPING Astronauts Frank Borman and James A. Lovell Jr. photographed the second stage of the Gemini Launch Vehicle VII tumbling slowly through space behind them. After the spacecraft and second stage separation, the spacecraft turned around with nose facing the booster Gemini VII maintained the station keeping manoeuvres with the booster for 25 minutes. The GLV VII second stage re-entered the earth's atmosphere over the Indian Ocean three days later.
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