1950s-70s Space Race to The Moon: 1966-03-16 USA Gemini 8

Gemini 8 launch cover with Orbit Covers cachet, cancelled on launch day March 16, 1966, at Cape Canaveral, signed by Neil Armstrong and Dave Scott. - RRAuction

Gemini 8 (GT-8), launched on March 16, 1966, was piloted by Neil A. Armstrong and David R. Scott. Gemini 8 had two major objectives, of which it achieved one. The first objective was accomplished by the commander, Neil Armstrong, who piloted the Gemini spacecraft to within 0.9m of the pre-launched Agena Target Vehicle, then slowly docked - this was the world's first orbital docking. The second objective, an extended EVA to be performed by David Scott, was cancelled due to a series of near-fatal events that followed after the docking

Photo: Neil Armstrong at final preflight briefing on March 15, 1966, problems with the Atlas-Agena target rendezvous vehicle and the Gemini spacecraft were cleared and ready for the launch on March 16, 1966.

Gemini 8 launch cover with Swanson cachet, cancelled on launch day March 16, 1966, at Cape Canaveral. (Top) Signed by Dave Scott. (Bottom) Signed by Neil Armstrong, Dave Scott(autopen).


Photo: "Gemini 8 command pilot Neil Armstrong waves as he leads the way from the trailer where he and co-pilot David Scott, right, suited up for the space mission at Cape Kennedy Wednesday. AP Wirephoto, March 16, 1966."

Gemini 8 official NASA cachet on cover with a Kennedy Space Center machine cancel.

Unusual Beck rubber stamped recovery ship cachet on cover cancelled with a Kennedy Space Center launch day postmark, March 16, 1966.

Gemini 8 NASA cachet proof (in maroon) on plain cover, postmarked at Cape Canaveral on launch day, March 16, 1966.

Photo: Dave Scott and Neil Armstrong in the Gemini spacecraft.

Photo: Launch of the Gemini 8 spacecraft and Atlas-Agena target rendezvous vehicle on March 16, 1966.

Atlas Agena launch cover with Sarzin cachet, postmarked on March 16, 1966, at Cape Canaveral. Signed by Dave Scott.

What followed after the successful docking were some of the most hair-raising moments in the space program history. The Gemini 8 capsule, still docked to the Agena, began to roll continuously. Never having faced such situation in simulation, the crew undocked from the Agena. It was at that point the Gemini spacecraft began to roll even faster, at a rate of one revolution per second. Both astronauts were in danger of impaired vision and loss of consciousness due to the violent motion. The problem was later discovered due to a malfunction thruster on the Gemini spacecraft. The only way to stop the motion was to use the capsule's re-entry control thrusters, which meant that Armstrong and Scott had to cut short their mission and make an emergency return to Earth.

Photo: Sketches of the rolling motion of the Gemini 8 capsule.

Cover with a printed cachet depicting the Gemini 8 capsule rolling motion, postmarked March 16, 1966 at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

The Gemini capsule landed 500 miles east of Okinawa in the Pacific ocean and a destroyer, USS Leonard Mason, was dispatched to recover the crew and the capsule. Had the spacecraft not made an emergency landing in the Pacific, the USS Boxer carrier in the Atlantic (i.e. the original scheduled recovery area) would be the recovery vessel for Gemini 8.

Photo: The Gemini capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on March 17, 1966, 500 miles east of Okinawa in the Pacific Ocean and a destroyer, USS Leonard Mason, was dispatched to recover the crew and the capsule.

Photo: Frogmen attached the flotation collar under the Gemini capsule.

Gemini 8 USS Leonard F. Mason Beck cover, signed by Dave Scott during the Novaspace signing session in 2010.

Beck printed cachet cover B629 was meant for USS Cochrane, but this one went to USS Leonard F. Mason.

Photo: Neil Armstrong and David Scott pose with 3 Pararescue "frogmen", aboard the USS Leonard F. Mason.

A pair of Gemini 8 USS Boxer recovery ship covers with Beck rubber stamped cachet. Signed by Neil Armstrong and Dave Scott.

Gemini 8 USS Boxer recovery ship cover signed by Neil Armstrong. This cover has a Gemini spacecraft cachet on the front and a Beck rubber stamped cachet at the back. - RegencyStamps

Beck printed cachet cover B640 was meant for USS Goodrich, but this one went to USS Boxer.

Gemini 8 USS Boxer hand cancel on cover with a red, blue Beck rubber stamped cachet and a green printed cachet. Dr Ross J. Smith's special article on "GEMINI 8 USS BOXER CACHETS" describes the postmarks and Beck cachets in detail.

Beck rubber stamped cachet cover with dual Gemini 8 USS Boxer postmarks, signed by Commanding Officer Capt. Albert O. Morton and Dave Scott. The hand cancel here is missing the ship name and time slug.