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Gemini
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| Gemini-1 | GATV-8 |
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Gemini
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| Gemini-1 | GATV-8 |
This page contains philatelic information on the Gemini [un-manned only] program spacecraft. Catalog numbers, years of issue, and notes on the spacecraft featured are given when available. If readers know of additional information or images, please contact the authors using the e-mail addresses at the bottom of this page.
This page includes only those Gemini program missions which resulted in an orbited payload AND which were un-manned missions. Sub-orbital Gemini [un-manned only] program launches are included in the research rockets page.
| Launch information (found elsewhere) |
Launch covers (including anniversary-of-launch covers, and launch-related event covers) (farther below) |
Other postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.) (immediately below) |
|---|---|---|
| Gemini [un-manned only] | Gemini [un-manned only] | Gemini [un-manned only] |
| Gemini and/or GATV/ATDA (on other than Gemini launch covers) |
Below is a list of Gemini [un-manned only] program spacecraft postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.).
| Country | Catalog Number | Type of Item | Year of Issue | Notes on Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini [un-manned, but often involved in manned missions] | ||||
| Benin | Unknown ms (Mi none) | In (lower-left) margin of MS4 (a-d) [known illegal issue] | 2017 | ATDA |
| Bhutan | 118C (Mi415) | Simulated-3D plastic-overlay | 1970 | Atlas-ATDA (Augmented Target Docking Adapter) with the conical protective fairing at the front of the vehicle in the closed (for launch) position |
| Bhutan | 118Cm (BL41) | On one of MS4 (118-118C) (Mi412-415), simulated-3D plastic-overlay | ||
| Bhutan | 1249 (BL402) | On stamp of SS1 (Mi1989) | 1999 | GATV (docked with a Gemini capsule) |
| Bulgaria | 1635 (Mi1762) | 1967 | Gemini-10 capsule docked with GATV-10; also a GATV is depicted in the background | |
| Bulgaria | i1635_var | Imperforate 1635 with missing red color | ||
| Bulgaria | 1630-1631+1635 fdc | One of three stamps on FDC | ||
| Central African Republic | C39 (Mi121) | 1966 | ATDA and Gemini-9A rendezvous | |
| Central African Republic | C39 fdc | Stamp on FDC (Éditions So.Ge.Im. cachet) | ||
| Central African Republic | BL1505 | On stamp of SS1 (Mi6419) | 2016 | GATV-8 docked with Gemini-8 capsule |
| Central African Republic | Unknown b (Mi?) | One of MS4 (a-d) | 2019 | GATV and Gemini-11 capsule |
| Central African Republic | Unknown b (Mi?) | One of MS4 (a-d), or from MS10 (10x single) | 2020 | GATV |
| Central African Republic | Unknown b (Mi?) | One of MS6 (a-f) | 2023 | |
| Congo Republic | Unknown a (Mi none) | One of MS2 (a-b) [known illegal issue] | 2019 | The first of three EVAs (Extra-Vehicular Activities) by Astronaut Buzz Aldrin in the Gemini-12 mission; the GATV-12 (Gemini-Agena Target Vehicle-12) is partially visible behind him (the stamp design is very similar to this photo) |
| Congo Republic | Unknown ss (BL none) | In (upper-right) margin of SS1 [known illegal issue] | 2019 | GATV |
| Czechoslovakia | 1455 (Mi1689) | 1967 | Gemini capsule rendezvous with GATV (in upper part of stamp and also in inset at lower left) | |
| Djibouti | BL1853 | In (lower-left) margin of SS1 (Mi5572) | 2022 | Astronaut Richard Gordon (astride the nose of the Gemini-11 capsule) in the process of attaching a 30 m tether from the GATV-11 (Gemini-Agena Target Vehicle-11) to the capsule's docking bar; the GATV is partially visible behind Gordon (the stamp design is taken from this photo) |
| Fujeira | Mi397A3 Mi397B3 | Imperforate | 1969 | GATV and Gemini capsule |
| Fujeira | Mi397A_var3 Mi397B_var3 | From MS4 (BL14A3 (Mi_B398A+396A_var - 398A_var)) From imperforate MS4 (BL14B3 (Mi_B398B+396B_var - 398B_var)) | ||
| Fujeira | BL14B proof | Imperforate MS4 proof pair | ||
| Gabon | Unknown a (Mi?) | One of MS4 (a-d) | 2019 | GATV-8 and "Gemini-8" |
| Germany (Berlin) | None | (Pictorial) cancel and (gold and red printed) cachet on cover | 1967 | GATV-11 docked with Gemini-11; also Astronaut Richard Gordon astride GATV (in the cachet) |
| Germany (Berlin) | None | (Pictorial) cancel and (silver and red printed) cachet on cover | GATV-11 docked with Gemini-11 | |
| Germany (Berlin) | None | (Pictorial) cancel and (magenta and red printed) cachet on cover | GATV docked with Gemini (in the cancel); ATDA (in the cachet) | |
| Germany (West) | None | (Red and black printed) cachet on card, also back | 1966 | ATDA, with its fairing stuck in a partially-open position (as photographed by Gemini-9A) |
| Germany (West) | None | (Blue and black printed) cachet on card, also back | 1966 | GATV-10, as seen by Gemini-10 at a distance of about 14 m; the image is taken from this photo |
| Germany (West) | None | (Black and red printed) cachet on cover | 1976 | G-12 and GATV-12 rendezvous in orbit |
| Great Britain | 1375a+1377a fdc (Mi1337-1340 fdc) | Insert from FDC, also front (Benham cachet, and second cancel for 30th anniv. Gagarin's flight) | 1991 | In 1966, "Gemini-10 locked on to the Agena [GATV-10]"; however, the statement that this was "the first rendezvous in space" is incorrect. That was accomplished on 15 December 1965 by the Gemini-6A and Gemini-7 capsules. |
| Grenada Grenadines | 1498 (BL258, Mi1640) | SS1 | 1992 | GATV/Agena stage (fantasy meeting with Space Shuttle "Endeavour") |
| Guinea Republic | Mi14433 | One of MS4 (Mi14432-14435) | 2020 | Gemini-8 rendezvous with GATV-8 |
| Guinea-Bissau | Mi8743-8746_ms4 | MS4 (Mi8743-8746) | 2016 | Gemini-8 rendezvous with GATV-8 |
| Guinea-Bissau | BL1513 | On stamp of SS1 (Mi8747) | ||
| Hungary | 1806 (Mi2302) i1806 | Imperforate | 1966 | Gemini-9A (by the dates and names of the crew) rendezvous with GATV; however, the depiction is incorrect since the ATDA, not the GATV, was the rendezvous target of the Gemini-9A mission1) |
| Hungary | 1810 (Mi2306) i1810 | Imperforate | GATV docked with Gemini-11 capsule (but the year "1965" printed in the stamp is incorrect; it should be "1966") | |
| Jordan | 532B (Mi625A) i532B (Mi625B) | Imperforate | 1966 | Gemini capsule close to a GATV |
| Jordan | 532F (BL36) | Imperforate SS1 | Gemini-8 docked with GATV-8 | |
| Liberia | Unknown a (Mi?) | From MS6 (a-f) | 2022 | Astronaut Richard Gordon (astride the nose of the Gemini-11 capsule) in the process of attaching a 30 m tether from the GATV-11 (Gemini-Agena Target Vehicle-11) to the capsule's docking bar; the GATV is partially visible behind Gordon (the stamp design is taken from this photo) |
| Liberia | Unknown f (Mi?) | |||
| Madagascar | 1540b (Mi2512) | From MS6 (1540 (a-f)) (Mi2511-2516) | 2000 | GATV (depicted; "Agenas I" in text) |
| Madagascar | 1540c (Mi2513) | ATDA (depicted; "Agenas II" in text) | ||
| Madagascar | 1549 (BL315) | On stamp of SS1 | Gemini-9 mission patch showing rendezvous with GATV-9 (but this never happened; the GATV-9 launch failed, and the updated mission Gemini-9A did rendezvous with ATDA, though docking was not possible3) | |
| Madagascar | 1549 fdc | SS1 and (multi-color printed) cachet on FDC | ||
| Maldive Islands | Mi8646-8649_ms4 | In (left) margin of MS4 (Mi8646-8649) | 2019 | GATV tethered to Gemini-11 (the design comes from this photo) |
| Maldive Islands | BL1390 | In (left) margin of SS1 (Mi8650) | ||
| Manama | MiD973A MiD973B | Imperforate | 1972 | The Atlas Automated Target Docking Adaptor (ATDA), about 20 m from the Gemini-9A capsule1 |
| Manama | Mi1068A Mi1068B | One of strip of 3 (Mi1067A-1069A) One of imperforate strip of 3 (Mi1067B-1069B) | 1972 | Gemini-11 (in the foreground) tethered to the GATV-11 (Gemini-Agena Target Vehicle-11) (the stamp design is taken from this photo) |
| Manama | Mi1067A-1069A_strip3 fdc | One of strip of three stamps on FDC | ||
| Manama | BL206A BL206B | On stamp of SS1 (Mi1068A) On stamp of imperforate SS1 (Mi1068B) | ||
| Manama | Mi1090A Mi1090B | Imperforate | 1972 | The first of three EVAs (Extra-Vehicular Activities) by Astronaut Buzz Aldrin in the Gemini-12 mission; the GATV-12 (Gemini-Agena Target Vehicle-12) is partially visible behind him (the stamp design is taken from this photo) |
| Manama | BL218A BL218B | On stamp of SS1 (Mi1090A) On stamp of imperforate SS1 (Mi1090B) | ||
| Manama | Mi1091A Mi1091B | One of strip of 3 (Mi1091A-1093A) One of imperforate strip of 3 (Mi1091B-1093B) | 1972 | Astronaut Richard Gordon (astride the nose of the Gemini-11 capsule) in the process of attaching a 30 m tether from the GATV-11 (Gemini-Agena Target Vehicle-11) to the capsule's docking bar; the GATV is partially visible behind Gordon (the stamp design is taken from this photo) |
| Mozambique | Unknown b (Mi?) | One of MS4 (a-d) | 2019 | GATV-11 and "Gemini-11" |
| Mozambique | Unknown ss (BL?) | On stamp of SS1 | ||
| Mozambique | Unknown ss fdc1 | SS1 and (multi-color printed) cachet on FDC | ||
| Mozambique | Unknown ss fdc2 | SS1 on FDC | ||
| Mozambique | Unknown d (Mi?) | One of MS4 (a-d) | 2020 | GATV-8 and "Gemini-8" (the GATV-8 depiction is taken from this photo, in which the two spacecraft were separated by 13 m) |
| Mozambique | Unknown d (Mi?) | One of MS4 (a-d) (different) | GATV-12 docked with Gemini-12; Astronaut Buzz Aldrin EVA2 | |
| Panama | 453A (Mi725) i453A (Mi?) | Imperforate | 1964 | "Gemini" capsule docking with "Agena" (i.e. with the GATV) |
| Panama | 453A pair | 453A pair (2x 453A) | ||
| Paraguay | 806 (Mi1295) i806 (Mi1303) | Imperforate, different color | 1964 | "'Gemini' program [capsule] docking with 'Agena' [Target Vehicle] in space" (in Spanish text) |
| Paraguay | 807 (Mi1296) i807 (Mi1304) | Imperforate, different color | ||
| Paraguay | 808 (Mi1297) i808 (Mi1305) | Imperforate, different color | ||
| Paraguay | 806-810 fdc | Three of five stamps on FDC (Centro Filatélico del Paraguay cachet) | ||
| Paraguay | 978 (Mi1618) i978 (Mi1626) | Imperforate, different color | 1966 | "Agena and Gemini-8" (Gemini-8 capsule docked with GATV-8) |
| Paraguay | 979 (Mi1619) i979 (Mi1627) | Imperforate, different color | "Gemini-9 and ATDA" (the ATDA, with its fairing stuck in a partially-open position, is in the distance at the right) (but that rendezvous actually took place in the Gemini-9A mission1) | |
| Paraguay | 981 (Mi1621) i981 (Mi1629) | Imperforate, different color | "Gemini-10 and Agena" (Gemini-10 capsule docked with GATV is at the right; Astronaut Michael Collins' EVA to the GATV is at the left) | |
| Paraguay | 982 (Mi1622) i982 (Mi1630) | Imperforate, different color | ||
| Paraguay | 978-982 fdc | Four of five stamps on FDC | (As above for stamps) | |
| Paraguay | 984 (Mi1624) i984 (Mi1632) | Imperforate, different color | "Gemini-9 and ATDA" (the ATDA, with its fairing stuck in a partially-open position, is in the distance at the right) (but that rendezvous actually took place in the Gemini-9A mission1) | |
| Paraguay | 985 (Mi1625) i985 (Mi1633) | Imperforate, different color | "Agena and Gemini-8" (Gemini-8 capsule docked with GATV-8) | |
| Paraguay | 985a (BL89) i985a (BL90) | On stamp of SS1 (985) On stamp of imperforate SS1 (i985), different color | ||
| Poland | 2248a (Mi2539) | On (left) selvedge of MS6 (2248a (6x 2248 + 2 labels)), also annotated | 1977 | GATV (docking with Gemini capsule) |
| Romania | C166 (Mi2567) | 1967 | Gemini-8 docking with GATV-8 | |
| St. Thomas and Prince Islands | Mi8428 | One of MS4 (Mi8426-8429) | 2019 | "Gemini-11" and GATV-11 |
| St. Thomas and Prince Islands | BL1622 | In (lower-right) margin of SS1 (Mi8901) | 2020 | GATV-8 |
| Senegal | 719 (Mi913) i719 | Imperforate | 1987 | "Rendezvous of Gemini-8 and the Agena Target Rocket" (i.e. the GATV-8) (in French text); (but the 20th anniversary, not the 10th as written in the stamps and the SS1 margin) |
| Senegal | 719 ds | Deluxe sheet (719) | ||
| Senegal | 720 (BL48) | On stamp (Mi914) of SS1 | ||
| Sharjah | Mi690A Mi690B | One of MS5 (Mi686A-690A + label) One of imperforate MS5 (Mi686B-690B + label) | 1970 | "Gemini-11" rendezvous with GATV-11 |
| Sharjah | Mi695A Mi695B | One of MS5 (Mi691A-695A + label) One of imperforate MS5 (Mi691B-695B + label) | 1970 | "Gemini-11" rendezvous with GATV-11 |
| Sierra Leone | Mi12075 | One of MS5 (Mi12071-12075) | 2020 | The first of three EVAs (Extra-Vehicular Activities) by Astronaut Buzz Aldrin in the Gemini-12 mission; the GATV-12 (Gemini-Agena Target Vehicle-12) is partially visible behind him (the stamp design is taken from this photo) |
| Sierra Leone | Mi12075 | One of MS2 (BL1903 (Mi12074-12075)) | ||
| Togo | 564a_2nd fdc (Mi513Bb fdc) | (Black and red printed) cachet on FDC ("1965" cancel date is incorrect) | 1966 | GATV-9 docked with Gemini-9 (but this planned event never happened; the GATV-9 launch failed and the Gemini-9 mission was scrubbed3) |
| United States | 936 cover (Mi541 cover) | (Sarzin?) cachet on cover | 1966 | The first of three EVAs (Extra-Vehicular Activities) by Astronaut Buzz Aldrin in the Gemini-12 mission; the GATV-12 (Gemini-Agena Target Vehicle-12) is partially visible behind him (the cachet image is taken from this photo) |
| United States | 1332b fdc1 (Mi930-931 fdc1) | (Freemason?) cachet on FDC | 1967 | The first of three EVAs (Extra-Vehicular Activities) by Astronaut Buzz Aldrin in the Gemini-12 mission; the GATV-12 (Gemini-Agena Target Vehicle-12) is partially visible behind him (the cachet image is taken from this photo) |
| United States | 1332b fdc2 (Mi930-931 fdc2) | (Bell Aerosystems) cachet on FDC, also insert | Gemini capsule tethered to "Agena Target Vehicle [GATV]" | |
| United States | 1332b fdc3 (Mi930-931 fdc3) | (Orbit Covers) cachet on FDC, also detail1 and detail2 | GATV (detail1); ATDA (detail2) | |
| United States | 1332b fdc4 (Mi930-931 fdc4) | (Orbit Covers) cachet (one part same as above, one part different) on FDC, also detail1 and detail2 and detail3 and detail4 and detail5 | GATV (detail1); ATDA (detail2); GATV-9 tethered to Gemini-9 capsule in mission logo (detail3); GATV-10 and Gemini-10 capsule rendezvous in mission logo (detail4); GATV-11 docked with and tethered to Gemini-11 capsule in mission logo (detail5) | |
| United States | 1332b fdc5 (Mi930-931 fdc5) | (Orbit Covers) cachet (one part same as above) on FDC, also detail1 and detail2 and detail3 | GATV-9 tethered to Gemini-9 capsule in mission logo (detail1); GATV-10 and Gemini-10 capsule rendezvous in mission logo (detail2); GATV-11 docked with and tethered to Gemini-11 capsule in mission logo (detail3) | |
| United States | 1332b fdc5 (Mi930-931 fdc5) | (Lunar Voyage Cachets) cachet on FDC, also detail | Gemini capsule docked with GATV | |
| United States | 1332b fdc6 (Mi930-931 fdc6) | (The Aristocrats / Day-Lowry) cachet on FDC, also detail | Gemini capsule docked with GATV | |
| United States | None | Postcard back, also front | 1967 | "Gemini-12 ... rendezvous with the Agena Target Vehicle [i.e. with GATV-12]" (in text in postcard front) |
| United States | 1435b fdc1 (Mi1046-1047 fdc1) | (Sarzin) cachet on FDC | 1971 | "Successful launching of Agena #11 [i.e. GATV-11]; (the cachet image is taken from this photo) |
| United States | 1435b fdc2 (Mi1046-1047 fdc2) | (Sarzin) cachet (different) on FDC | "coupled Gemini #11 and Agena #11 [i.e. GATV-11]"; also Astronaut Gordon's EVA to GATV-11 | |
| United States | 1435b fdc3 (Mi1046-1047 fdc3) | (Sarzin) cachet (different) on FDC | Gemini-11 docked with GATV-11 ("the world's first link-up on the first orbit") | |
| United States | None | (Solar Covers no.47) insert from cover, also insert detail and front (with signature) | 1972 | ATDA; "when Gemini-9 Astronauts Cernan and Stafford approached the orbiting target [i.e. the ATDA], they found that the 'shroud' had not jettisoned and its two halves, looking like an 'angry alligator', ... made docking impossible" |
| United States (FMF Local Post) | None | (FMF) local post stamp | 1975 | Gemini-5 capsule and GATV (but there was no GATV in this mission; rather, the Gemini-5 crew tested procedures to rendezvous with a virtual2 target vehicle at a given point in space) |
| United States (FMF Local Post) | None | (FMF) local post stamp | 1976 | "Gemini-9" and ATDA (but that rendezvous actually took place in the Gemini-9A mission1) |
| Yemen Arab Republic | 263C (Mi948) i263C (Mi955) | Also MS12 (12x 263C) Imperforate, also imperforate MS12 (12x i263C), (half of MS12 (6x i236C)) | 1969 | "Gemini-8 ... Space Coupling" (with GATV-8, not depicted); "Gemini-9 ... Coupling" with a depiction of the rendezvous of the capsule with a GATV (in fact the Gemini-9 mission was scrubbed and no such rendezvous or coupling ever took place1; the astronaut names and mission launch date in the stamp actually refer to Gemini-9A, which did rendezvous with an alternate target known as the ATDA1) |
| Yemen Arab Republic | 263D (Mi949) i263D (Mi956) | Also MS12 (12x 263D) Imperforate, also imperforate MS12 (12x i263D), (half of MS12 (6x i236D)) | 1969 |
at upper left: drawing of ATDA (but the text, erroneously reversed from YAR 263F, should read "Gemini-10 M. Collins, J. Young 18.7.66 Coupling and Space Walk" (however, the Gemini-10 docking was with GATV-10, not with ATDA) at upper right: drawing of the Gemini-12 rendezvous with GATV-12 (the text, erroneously reversed from YAR 263F, should read "Gemini-12 J. Lovell, E. Aldrin 11.11.06 Coupling and Space Walk" - Gemini-12 did dock with GATV-12) at lower left: drawing of the Gemini-11 capsule docked with GATV-11 (the text, erroneously reversed from YAR 263F, should read "Gemini-11 P. Conrad, R. Gordon 12.09.66 Coupling and Space Walk" - Gemini-11 did dock with GATV-11) at lower right: drawing of a Gemini capsule docked with a GATV (the text, erroneously reversed from YAR 263F, should read "Apollo 7 W. Shirra, D. Eisele, W. Cunningham 11.10.68" - however even the correct text does not match the image - the 3-man Apollo capsule, bigger than the 2-man Gemini capsule, did rendezvous with a Saturn-IVB rocket stage (not a GATV) but did not dock with it) |
| Yemen Arab Republic | 263F (Mi951) i263F (Mi958) | Also MS12 (12x 263F) Imperforate, also imperforate MS12 (12x i263F), (half of MS12 (6x i236F)) | 1969 |
at upper left: "Gemini-10 M. Collins, J. Young 18.7.66 Coupling and Space Walk" (in text - "Coupling" refers to the Gemini-10 docking with GATV-10 - however this text actually belongs in YAR 263D - the two stamps' text has been erroneously reversed) at upper right: "Gemini-12 J. Lovell, E. Aldrin 11.11.06 Coupling and Space Walk" (in text - "Coupling" refers to the Gemini-12 docking with GATV-12 - however this text actually belongs in YAR 263D - the two stamps' text has been erroneously reversed) at lower left: "Gemini-11 P. Conrad, R. Gordon 12.09.66 Coupling and Space Walk" (in text - "Coupling" refers to the Gemini-11 docking with GATV-11 - however this text actually belongs in YAR 263D - the two stamps' text has been erroneously reversed) |
| Yemen Arab Republic | C88 (Mi1699) | 1982 | GATV docked with Gemini (at upper-right) | |
| Yemen Arab Republic | C88 ds | Deluxe sheet (C88) | ||
| Yemen Arab Republic | C88 proof | Chromalin proof | ||
| Yemen Mutawakelite Kingdom | Mi876A Mi876B | From MS6 (Mi876A_ms6) From imperforate MS6 (Mi876B_ms6) | 1969 | GATV-11 |
1The original Gemini-9 mission was scrubbed due to a failure on 17 May 1966 of the Atlas booster carrying the GATV that would have been its docking target. An alternate target vehicle, the Automated Target Docking Adaptor (ATDA), was available and was launched on 1 June 1966. Two days later, the updated mission known as Gemini-9A was launched. One of its goals was to rendezvous and dock with the ATDA. Three different types of approaches to rendezvous were successful, but docking was impossible because the ATDA fairing (a protective cover) was stuck in a partially-open position. Those open "jaws" brought a reptilian analogy to Astronaut Thomas Stafford's mind: he said that "It looks like an angry alligator".
2Astronaut Buzz Aldrin performed three EVAs during the Gemini-12 mission. The first and third were stand-up EVAs on 12 and 14 November. The second, on 13 November, was an umbilical EVA, in which he first retrieved GATV-12's 30 m tether and attached it to the Gemini capsule. He then returned to GATV-12 where, held in position by a waist tether and foot restraints, he carried out various manual tasks: he cut cables and fluid lines, fastened rings and hooks, connected and disconnected electrical and fluid connectors, tightened bolts and stripped velcro. He also tested an Apollo torque wrench with and without tethers. Back at the Gemini-12 capsule, he wiped James Lovell's window, observed some thruster firings, and finally re-entered the capsule and closed the hatch on the world's first successful complex EVA.
3This item also exists with a large number of different overprints (in gold or black or gold and black, and also with inverted variations) issued in 1969 for the Apollo-10 mission and the Apollo-11 Moon landing. Overprints with gold or black alone have Michel catalogue numbers, while the multiple and inverted overprints do not. The entries in this website for this Fujeira group are limited to the basic set of un-overprinted stamps. The interested reader is invited to search online and/or in the Michel catalogue for the various overprinted items.
Below is a list of Gemini [un-manned only] program spacecraft launch covers (including anniversary-of-launch covers, and launch-related event covers).
| Country | Cancel Date | Cancel Location | Type of Item | Notes on Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini (pre-launch events) | ||||
| United States | 1963-08-01 | Norfolk VA | (Black printed and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Gemini pre-launch: sea-recovery training |
| United States | 1964-03-19 | USS Wallace L Hind | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Gemini pre-launch: sea-recovery training |
| Gemini [un-manned or manned/un-manned mix] | ||||
| 1964-04-08: Gemini-Titan-GT-1 | ||||
| United States | 1964-04-08 | Cape Canaveral FL | (SpaceCraft) cachet on cover | Titan-2 mission GT-1 to test the structural integrity of the GLV (the Titan rocket, or Gemini Launch Vehicle) and the un-manned Gemini capsule, and also to demonstrate the GLV's ability to place the capsule into a prescribed orbit. The mission plan did not include separation of the spacecraft from the second stage of the vehicle, and they were inserted into orbit as a unit six minutes after the launch. Although it was equipped with a heat shield, the capsule had four large holes drilled into it to ensure that it would be destroyed during re-entry. |
| United States | 1964-04-08 | Patrick AFB, FL | (SpaceCraft) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1964-04-08 | Cape Canaveral FL | (SpaceCraft) cachet (and signature) on cover | |
| United States | 1964-04-08 | Cape Canaveral FL | (SpaceCraft) cachet (and signature, different) on cover | |
| United States | 1964-04-08 | Cape Canaveral FL | (C. Swanson purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1964-04-08 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Sokalsky blue) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1964-04-08 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Jarrett? magenta and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1964-04-08 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Black printed) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1964-04-08 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Sarzin) cachet on cover | |
| 1965-01-19: Gemini-Titan-GT-2 [sub-orbital] | ||||
| United States | 1965-01-19 | Patrick AFB, FL | (SpaceCraft) cachet on cover | Gemini-GT-2 launch |
| United States | 1965-01-19 | Cape Canaveral FL | (SpaceCraft) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-01-19 | Cape Canaveral FL | (C. Swanson blue rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | |
| United States | 1965-01-19 | USS Holder | (US Navy green rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | |
| United States | 1965-01-19 | USS Forrest Royal | (US Navy black printed) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-01-19 | USS O'Hare | (US Navy blue-black printed) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-01-19 | USS O'Hare | (US Navy black printed) cachet on (airmail) cover | |
| United States | 1965-01-19 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Astro Covers) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-01-19 | Cape Canaveral FL | (AW/Boerger and black typed) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-01-19 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Sokalsky black, no logo) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-01-19 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Jarrett? purple and black-purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-01-19 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Black printed) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-01-19 | USS Lake Champlain (machine cancel) | (US Navy magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-01-19 | USS Lake Champlain (hand cancel) | (US Navy red and purple printed and black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-01-19 | USS Lake Champlain (hand cancel) | (US Navy purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-01-19 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Orbit Covers) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-01-19 1964-05-28 | Cape Canaveral FL Edwads CA | (Rank velvet) cachet on cover | Gemini-GT-2 launch (not "GT-1" as in cachet) (possible) test flight of a Gemini "un-manned paraglider" |
| 1965-03-23: Gemini-3 (with references to GATV) | ||||
| United States | 1965-03-23 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Sokalsky black, no logo) cachet on cover | Gemini-3 launch; "docking could have been achieved if an Agena Stage [i.e. a GATV] also had been orbited" |
| 1965-08-21/29: Gemini-5 (with references to GATV) | ||||
| United States | 1965-08-21 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Astro Covers) cachet on cover | Gemini-5 launch; "maneuvers with [a virtual2] Agena target" (GATV) |
| United States | 1965-08-21 | Kennedy Space Center FL | (HJM black and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Gemini-5 launch; the purple rubber-stamp cachet shows the capsule in a rendezvous with a GATV (Gemini-Agena Target Vehicle), but that did not take place during this flight; the mission did, however, conduct maneuvers with a virtual2 GATV |
| 1965-10-25: GATV-6 [failed] | ||||
| United States | 1965-10-25 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Sokalsky black) cachet on cover | GATV-6 launch [failed]; the Gemini-6 mission, which had been planned to dock with GATV-6, was postponed, and became Gemini-6A, a rendezvous mission with Gemini-76 |
| United States | 1965-10-25 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Sokalsky purple-brown) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-10-25 | Kennedy Space Center FL | (Sokalsky red, and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-10-25 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Centennial-like) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-10-25 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Centennial) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-10-25 | Kennedy Space Center FL | (KSC/NASA red rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-10-25 | Kennedy Space Center FL | (KSC/NASA red rubber-stamp and Harry Gordon? and black rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | |
| United States | 1965-10-25 | Kennedy Space Center FL | (KSC/NASA red rubber-stamp) cachet (different) on cover | |
| United States | 1965-10-25 | USS Borie | (HJM black and US Navy black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-10-25 | USS Massey | (Beck/B592: US Navy black and silver and pink printed) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-10-25 | USS Stickell | (Beck/B590: US Navy black and silver and pink printed) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-10-25 | USS Borie | (Beck/B586: US Navy black and silver and pink, and black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-10-25 | USS Noa | (US Navy black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-10-25 | USS Aucilla | (US Navy black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-10-25 | USS Massey | (US Navy black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-10-25 | USS Wasp | (US Navy magenta and black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-10-25? | USNS Kingsport? | (Black printed and black rubber-stamp) cachet (and signature) on launch (airmail) cover | |
| United States | 1965-10-25 | Patrick AFB, FL (machine cancel) | (C. Swanson purple? rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-10-25 | Patrick AFB, FL (hand cancel) | (C. Swanson cyan rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-10-25 | Houston TX | (Magenta and black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-10-25 | Cape Canaveral FL | (CV (Chuck Vukotich) hand-drawn) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-10-26 | USS Basilone | (US Navy black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | The Gemini-6 mission, which had been planned to dock with GATV-6, was postponed because of the launch failure of GATV-6, and became Gemini-6A, a rendezvous mission with Gemini-76 |
| GATV-6 (anniversaries) | ||||
| United States | 2020-10-25 | Kennedy Space Center FL | (Ranski) cachet on cover | 55th anniv. failed GATV-6 launch; the Gemini-6 mission, which had been planned to dock with GATV-6, was postponed, and became Gemini-6A, a rendezvous mission with Gemini-76 |
| 1965-12-04/17: Gemini-7 (with references to GATV) | ||||
| Antigua | 1965-12-07 | St. John's | (Round black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Gemini-7 event: Gemini-76 posigrade maneuver1; (on 25 Oct 1965, the "Agena rocket" [i.e. GATV-6] failed to orbit", so Gemini-6, which was to dock with GATV-6, was postponed, and became Gemini-6A, a rendezvous mission with Gemini-76) |
| United States | 1965-12-15 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Black printed) cachet on cover | Gemini-76 rendezvous with Gemini-6A6. The cover shows a GATV being released into orbit from its Atlas-Agena booster, but that did not take place for either mission. The GATV-6 launch on 25 October 1965 failed, so Gemini-6, which was to dock with GATV-6, was postponed, and became Gemini-6A |
| 1965-12-15/16: Gemini-6A (with references to GATV) | ||||
| United States | 1965-12-15 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Orbit Covers) cachet on cover | Gemini-6A launch; Depictions of Gemini-6A rendezvous and docking with GATV (but no such events ever took place6) |
| United States | 1965-12-15 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Orbit Covers) cachet (different) on cover | Gemini-6A launch; Depictions of Gemini-6A rendezvous and docking with GATV (but no such events ever took place6) |
| United States | 1965-12-15 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Black printed) cachet on cover | Gemini-6A launch; Gemini-6A6 rendezvous with Gemini-76. The cover shows a GATV being released into orbit from its Atlas-Agena booster, but that did not take place for either mission. The GATV-6 launch on 25 October 1965 failed, so Gemini-6, which was to dock with GATV-6, was postponed, and became Gemini-6A |
| United States | 1965-12-15 | Port Washington NY | (Sarzin) folder inside, also outside (front and back) | Gemini-6A launch (but no reference to ATDA or GATV) |
| United States | 1965-12-15 | Cape Canaveral FL | (An Exquisite Historical Cachet) cachet on cover | Gemini-6A launch (but no reference to ATDA or GATV); Gemini-6A6 rendezvous with Gemini-76. This was done because the GATV-6 launch on 25 October 1965 failed, so Gemini-6, which was to dock with GATV-6, was postponed, and became Gemini-6A |
| United States | 1965-12-15 1966-06-03 | Cape Canaveral FL (machine cancel) Cape Canaveral FL (hand cancel) | (Rank velvet) cachet on cover | Gemini-6A launch (but no reference to ATDA or GATV) Gemini-9A launch (but no reference to ATDA or GATV) |
| United States | 1965-12-16 | USS Cochrane | (HJM black and US Navy magenta rubber-stamp (on back)) cachet on cover, also back | Gemini-6A splashdown/recovery: A rendezvous between Gemini-6 and GATV-6 is depicted, but that never took place6 |
| United States | 1965-12-16 | USS Cochrane | (HJM black and US Navy magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-12-16 | USS Renshaw | (HJM black and US Navy magenta rubber-stamp (on back)) cachet on cover, also back | |
| United States | 1965-12-16 | USS Ponchatoula | (HJM black and US Navy magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-12-16 | USS George K. Mackenzie | (HJM black and US Navy magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-12-16 | USS Wasp | (HJM black and US Navy magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Gemini-6A splashdown/recovery: A rendezvous between Gemini-6 and GATV-6 is depicted, but that never took place6; the year "1965" is upside-down in the cancels of the first two covers in this group |
| United States | 1965-12-16 | USS Wasp | (US Navy magenta rubber-stamp and cyan rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-12-16 | USS Wasp | (Beck/B584: US Navy pink and brown printed) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-12-16 | USS Wasp | (US Navy pink and brown printed) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1965-12-17 | USS Rupertus | (HJM black and US Navy magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Gemini-6A splashdown/recovery: A rendezvous between Gemini-6 and GATV-6 is depicted, but that never took place6 |
| Gemini-6A (anniversaries) | ||||
| United States | 1965-12-15 | Kennedy Space Center FL | (Ranski) cachet on cover | 54th anniv. Gemini-6A launch (but no reference to ATDA or GATV); Gemini-6A6 rendezvous with Gemini-76. This was done because the GATV-6 launch on 25 October 1965 failed, so Gemini-6, which was to dock with GATV-6, was postponed, and became Gemini-6A |
| 1966-03-16/17: GATV-8 (and Gemini-88) | ||||
| Ecuador | 1966-03-16 | Quito | (NASA Estación de Rastreo de Satélites No.5) cachet (and signatures) on cover | Tracking of Gemini-88 and GATV-8 (separate launches) |
| Turks and Caicos Islands | 1966-03-16 | Grand Turk | (HJM black and circular black rubber-stamp) cachet (and signatures) on cover | GATV-8 (and Gemini-88) separate launches; "Docked with Agena [i.e. GATV-8]" (in black rubber-stamp cachet) |
| United States | 1966-03-16 | Cape Canaveral FL | (SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on cover | GATV-8 (and Gemini-88) separate launches; later docking in orbit |
| United States | 1966-03-16 | USS Goodrich | (US Navy green rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | GATV-8 (and Gemini-88) separate launches; and "rendezvous mission" with later docking in orbit |
| United States | 1966-03-16 | Cape Canaveral FL (machine cancel) | (Sarzin) cachet on cover | GATV-8 (and Gemini-88) separate launches; later docking in orbit |
| United States | 1966-03-16 | Cape Canaveral FL (hand cancel) | (Sarzin) cachet on cover | GATV-8 (and Gemini-88) separate launches; later docking in orbit |
| United States | 1966-03-16 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Orbit Covers) cachet on cover | GATV-8 (and Gemini-88) separate launches; Gemini-8 and GATV-8 "docking maneuver" |
| United States | 1966-03-16 | Eglin AFB, FL | (Manned Space Flight Network) cachet on cover | GATV-8 (and Gemini-88) separate launches; "Gemini-8 rendezvous mission ... with the target Agena spacecraft [i.e. GATV-8] for docking" |
| United States | 1966-03-16 | Kennedy Space Center FL | (KSC/NASA blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | GATV-8 (and Gemini-88) separate launches; the capsule did dock with GATV-8 but the crew were forced to do an emergency un-docking8 and the planned EVA, depicted in the cachet, was canceled |
| United States | 1966-03-16 | Kennedy Space Center FL | (KSC/NASA purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | GATV-8 (and Gemini-88) separate launches; the capsule did dock with GATV-8 but the crew were forced to do an emergency un-docking8 and the planned EVA, depicted in the cachet, was canceled |
| United States | 1966-03-16 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Artopages) cachet on cover | GATV-8 (and Gemini-88) separate launches; "1st docking with an Agena target vehicle [GATV]8" |
| United States | 1966-03-16 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Artopages and sticker) cachet on cover | GATV-8 (and Gemini-88) separate launches; "1st rendezvous and docking in space [with a GATV]8" |
| United States | 1966-03-16 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Astro Covers, no logo) cachet on cover | GATV-8 (and Gemini-88) separate launches; "Gemini-8 ... rendezvous in space ... and docking ... with Agena spacecraft [GATV]8" |
| United States | 1966-03-16 | Corpus Christi TX | (Astro Covers, no logo) cachet (different text) on cover | GATV-8 (and Gemini-88) separate launches; "Gemini-8 ... rendezvous mission ... [and] docking with Agena spacecraft [GATV]8" |
| United States | 1966-03-16 | Houston TX | (AW/Boerger and circular cyan rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | GATV-8 (and Gemini-88) separate launches; "Docked with Agena [i.e. GATV-8]" (in cyan rubber-stamp cachet) |
| United States | 1966-03-16 | USS Noa | (NASA/US Navy black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | GATV-8 (and Gemini-88) separate launches; "Gemini[-8] Rendezvous Mission" (with GATV-8) |
| United States | 1966-03-16 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Centennial) cachet on cover | GATV-8 (and Gemini-88) separate launches |
| United States | 1966-03-17 | USS Caloosahatchee | (NASA/US Navy black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Gemini-88 splashdown/recovery; "Gemini[-8] Rendezvous Mission" (with GATV-8) |
| United States | 1966-03-17 | USS Caloosahatchee | (NASA/US Navy black rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | |
| United States | 1966-03-17 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Black printed) cachet on cover | Gemini-88 splashdown/recovery; "1st Agena [GATV] rendezvous and docking8" |
| United States | 1966-03-17 | USS Boxer (hand cancel) | (NASA/US Navy blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Gemini-88 splashdown/recovery; "Gemini[-8] Rendezvous Mission" (with GATV-8) |
| United States | 1966-03-17 | USS Boxer (machine cancel) | (Beck/B637: NASA/US Navy purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1966-03-17 | USS Boxer (machine cancel) | (Beck/B634: NASA/US Navy silver and blue printed) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1966-03-17 | USS Boxer (machine cancel) | (NASA/US Navy magenta rubber-stamp) cachet (and signature) on cover | |
| United States | 1966-03-17 | USS Leonard F. Mason | (Beck/B630: NASA/US Navy brown rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| 1966-05-17: GATV-9 [failed] | ||||
| United States | 1966-05-17 | Cape Canaveral FL | (KSC/NASA blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | GATV-9 launch [failed]; the planned docking of Gemini-9 with GATV-9 (depicted in the cachet) did not take place3 |
| United States | 1966-05-17 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Centennial) cachet on cover | GATV-9 launch [failed]; "Agena Target Vehicle"; it had been planned to "rendezvous and dock with Gemini-9" but that could not take place3 |
| United States | 1966-05-17 | Cape Canaveral FL | (AW/Boerger and Beck semi-circular magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | GATV-9 launch [failed]; the planned docking of Gemini-9 with GATV-9 did not take place3 because the GATV-9 "Agena rocket failed to orbit" |
| 1966-06-01: Atlas-ATDA3 | ||||
| United States | 1966-06-01 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Orbit Covers) cachet on cover | ATDA launch; "Wild alligator target launch" |
| United States | 1966-06-01 | Cape Canaveral FL (machine cancel) | (Centennial) cachet on cover | ATDA launch; "Augmented Target Docking Adapter" |
| United States | 1966-06-01 | Cape Canaveral FL (hand cancel) | (Centennial) cachet on cover | ATDA launch; "Augmented Target Docking Adapter" |
| United States | 1966-06-01 | Patrick AFB, FL | (Swanson/DuBeau? purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | ATDA launch; "Atlas-Agena" |
| United States | 1966-06-01 | Patrick AFB, FL | (Sarzin) cachet on cover | ATDA launch; "ATDA Augmented Target Docking Adaptor" (with the conical protective fairing at the front of the vehicle in the closed (for launch) position) |
| United States | 1966-06-01 | Cape Canaveral FL | (KSC/NASA blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | ATDA launch; the blue cachet shows "Gemini-9[A]" docked with the ATDA (but that did not happen; the rendezvous with ATDA3 was successful but the docking was impossible3) |
| United States | 1966-06-01 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Black-on-yellow printed/sticker and magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | ATDA launch; "GT-9 ATDA Launch" |
| 1966-06-03/06: Gemini-9A (with references to ATDA and/or GATV) | ||||
| United States | 1966-06-03 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Sarzin) cachet on cover | Gemini-9A launch; "Gemini #9[A] meets in space [but cannot dock] on June 3rd with the (ATDA) Augmented Target Docking Adapter3" |
| United States | 1966-06-03 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Sarzin) cachet (different, and signatures) on cover | "Space docking" (the rendezvous with ATDA3 was successful but the planned docking was impossible3) |
| United States | 1966-06-03 | Houston TX | (Photo and black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Gemini-9A launch (but no reference to ATDA or GATV) |
| United States | 1966-06-03 | Cape Canaveral FL | (SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on cover, also back and insert | Gemini-9A launch; "Rendezvous mission with ATDA3" |
| United States | 1966-06-03 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Harry Gordon) cachet on (airmail) cover | Gemini-9A launch; "for 3 days of rendezvous, docking and space walk experiments" (the rendezvous with ATDA3 was successful but the docking was impossible3) |
| United States | 1966-06-03 | Kennedy Space Center FL | (KSC/NASA blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | "Gemini-9[A]" docked with the ATDA (but that did not happen; the rendezvous with ATDA3 was successful but the docking was impossible3) |
| United States | 1966-06-03 | Kennedy Space Center FL | (KSC/NASA blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover (different) | |
| United States | 1966-06-03 | Kennedy Space Center FL | (KSC/NASA blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover (different) | |
| United States | 1966-06-03 | Kennedy Space Center FL | (KSC/NASA purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1966-06-03 | Kennedy Space Center FL | (KSC/NASA purple rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | |
| United States | 1966-06-03 | Kennedy Space Center FL | (KSC/NASA black rubber-stamp) cachet (and signature) on cover (different) | |
| United States | 1966-06-03 | Eglin AFB, FL | (Sticker and black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Gemini-9A launch; "Rendezvous in space with ATDA3" |
| United States | 1966-06-03 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Green printed) cachet on cover | "Space walk and docking" (Gemini-9A and the ATDA3 did rendezvous in space but the docking was impossible3) |
| United States | 1966-06-03 | Webster TX | (NASA Manned Spacecraft Center) cachet on cover | Gemini-9A and the ATDA3 rendezvous in space, but the planned docking was impossible3) |
| United States | 1966-06-03 1965-12-15 | Cape Canaveral FL (hand cancel) Cape Canaveral FL (machine cancel) | (Rank velvet) cachet on cover | Gemini-9A launch (but no reference to ATDA or GATV) Gemini-6A launch (but no reference to ATDA or GATV) |
| United States | 1966-06-05 | Cape Canaveral FL | (KSC/NASA magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | "Gemini-9[A]" docked with the ATDA (but that did not happen; the rendezvous with ATDA3 was successful but the docking was impossible3); Astronaut Cernan's EVA on this date |
| United States | 1966-06-05 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Astro Covers, no logo) cachet on cover | Astronaut Cernan's "EVA in space"; it had been planned that he would retrieve a micrometeorite collector from the ATDA, but that could not be done because docking with the ATDA3 was impossible |
| United States | 1966-06-06 | USS Wasp | (Brown printed) cachet on (airmail) cover | Gemini-9A splashdown/recovery; GATV depicted or "Rendezvous mission" in the cachet (but the mission was to dock with ATDA3 - the rendezvous was successful but docking was impossible3) |
| United States | 1966-06-06 | USS Wasp | (Brown printed) cachet (different) on cover | |
| United States | 1966-06-06 | USS Wasp | (Brown printed) cachet (and signatures) on cover | |
| United States | 1966-06-06 | USS Wasp | (Beck/B651: US Navy red and cyan and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| 1966-07-18: GATV-10 (and Gemini-104) | ||||
| Ceylon | 1966-07-18 | Trincomaleebazaar | (Black printed) cachet on cover | GATV-10 (and Gemini-104) separate launches; "rendezvous in space with Agena-8 [GATV-8]" and docking with Agena-10 (GATV-10) |
| United States | 1966-07-18 | Cape Canaveral FL (hand cancel) | (Orbit Covers) cachet on cover, also detail | GATV-10 (and Gemini-104) separate launches; Gemini-104 docking with GATV-10 |
| United States | 1966-07-18 | Cape Canaveral FL (machine cancel) | (Orbit Covers) cachet on cover, also detail | |
| United States | 1966-07-18 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Astro Covers, no logo) cachet on cover | GATV-10 (and Gemini-104) separate launches; "Rendezvous with Agena Target" (refers to the Gemini-104 docking with GATV-10 and its subsequent rendezvous with GATV-8) and "Space walk between 2 spacecraft" (refers to Astronaut Michael Collins' spacewalk between the Gemini capsule and GATV-8) |
| United States | 1966-07-18 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Astro Covers) cachet (different) on cover | GATV-10 (and Gemini-104) separate launches; "Rendezvous with Agena" (refers to the Gemini-104 docking with GATV-10 and its subsequent rendezvous with GATV-8) and "Space walk between 2 spacecraft" (refers to Astronaut Michael Collins' spacewalk between the Gemini capsule and GATV-8) |
| United States | 1966-07-18 | WSMR, NM | (Astro Covers, no logo) cachet (different) on cover | GATV-10 (and Gemini-104) separate launches; Gemini-104 "rendezvous and docking" with "Atlas-Agena 10" (i.e. GATV-10) |
| United States | 1966-07-18 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Astro Covers) cachet (different) on cover | GATV-10 (and Gemini-104) separate launches; "Gemini-104 ... rendezvous with Agena-8 [i.e. GATV-8]"; during a space walk, Astronaut "Collins retrieved a micrometeorite detection cassette from the side of the Agena-8 [i.e. GATV-8]" |
| United States | 1966-07-18 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Astro Covers) cachet (different) on cover | GATV-10 (and Gemini-104) separate launches; "Gemini-104 ... rendezvous with Agena-8 [i.e. GATV-8]"; during a space walk, Astronaut "Collins retrieved a micrometeorite detection cassette from the side of the Agena-8 [i.e. GATV-8]" |
| United States | 1966-07-18 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Astro Covers) cachet (different) on cover | GATV-10 (and Gemini-104) separate launches; Gemini-104 "rendezvous and docking with Agena-10 [i.e. GATV-10]"; "Astronaut Collins spacewalk between [the] two spacecraft [and] rendezvous with Agena-8 [i.e. GATV-8]" (to retrieve a micrometeorite detection cassette) |
| United States | 1966-07-18 | Patrick AFB, FL | (Jim Fitzpatrick black rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | GATV-10 (and Gemini-104) separate launches; "Atlas-Agena" (i.e. GATV-10) |
| United States | 1966-07-18 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Morris Beck circular black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover (AW/Boerger printed cachet), also back | GATV-10 (and Gemini-104) separate launches; Gemini-104 "docked with one AGENA" (GATV-10) and "rendezvous with another" (GATV-8) |
| United States | 1966-07-18 | Cape Canaveral FL (hand cancel) | (Centennial) cachet on cover | "Gemini-104 Agena Target [GATV-10]" and Gemini-104 separate launches; "Gemini-104 docked with Agena target; Gemini-8 Agena [GATV-8] still in orbit in the rear" |
| United States | 1966-07-18 | Cape Canaveral FL (machine cancel) | (Centennial) cachet on cover | "Gemini-104 Agena Target [GATV-10]" and Gemini-104 separate launches; "Gemini-104 docked with Agena target; Gemini-8 Agena [GATV-8] still in orbit in the rear" |
| United States | 1966-07-18 | Cape Canaveral FL (hand cancel) | (Centennial?) cachet (different) on cover | GATV-10 (and Gemini-104) separate launches |
| United States | 1966-07-18 | Cape Canaveral FL (machine cancel) | (Centennial?) cachet on cover | GATV-10 (and Gemini-104) separate launches |
| United States | 1966-07-18 | Kennedy Space Center FL | (KSC/NASA purple rubber-stamp and black NASA logo) cachet on cover | "Gemini-104 Agena Target [GATV-10]" and Gemini-104 separate launches; astronaut Collins' EVA to GATV-8 (docked with Gemini-10) |
| United States | 1966-07-18 | Kennedy Space Center FL | (KSC/NASA blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | "Gemini-104 Agena Target [GATV-10]" and Gemini-104 separate launches; astronaut Collins' EVA to GATV-8 (docked with Gemini-10) |
| United States | 1966-07-18 | Patrick AFB, FL | (Sarzin) cachet on cover | "Gemini-104 Agena Target [GATV-10]" and Gemini-104 separate launches |
| United States | 1966-07-18 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Sarzin) cachet (different) on cover | "Gemini-104 Agena Target [GATV-10]" and Gemini-104 separate launches; "Gemini-10 ... links up with Agena-10 [GATV-10]" |
| Israel | 1966-07-19 | Haifa | (Israel Space Stamp Collectors Society) cachet on cover | GATV-10 (and Gemini-104) event: Gemini-104 mission4; the "docking of two vehicles in space - Gemini-104 with Agena [i.e GATV-10]" took place on 18 July and the two remained docked all of 19 July and finally un-docked on 20 July; the second mission milestone was a rendezvous with GATV-8 later on 20 July; Astronaut "M. Collins approaching Agena, launched by Atlas on 16.3.66" refers to his EVA to GATV-8 |
| United States | 1966-07-19 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Orbit Covers) cachet on cover, also detail | GATV-10 (and Gemini-104) event: Gemini-104 docked with GATV-10 |
| United States | 1966-07-20 | Port Washington NY | (Sarzin) cachet on cover | GATV-10 (and Gemini-104) event: Gemini-104 un-docking from GATV-10, "Meeting of Gemini-104 and Agena-8 [i.e. GATV-8]4" and Astronaut Michael Collins' EVA to GATV-8 (all on 20 July)4; (the text "rendezvous with Gemini-8 which went up last March" is misleading, and should refer to GATV-8 rather than Gemini-8) |
| United States | 1966-07-20 | Kwajalein HI | (Astro Covers, no logo) cachet on cover | GATV-10 (and Gemini-104) event: Gemini-104 un-docking from GATV-10, rendezvous with GATV-8 and Astronaut Michael Collins' EVA to GATV-8 (all on 20 July)4; (the "rendezvous and docking" with "Atlas-Agena 10" (i.e. GATV-10) took place earlier in the mission, on 18 July) |
| United States | 1966-07-21 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Orbit Covers) cachet on cover, also detail | Gemini-104 splashdown/recovery (after the "docking maneuver" with GATV-10 and the rendezvous with GATV-8 during the mission) |
| 1966-09-12/15: GATV-11 (and Gemini-117) | ||||
| United States | 1966-09-12 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Astro Covers?) cachet on cover | GATV-11 (and Gemini-117) separate launches; "Launch of the GTA-11 Target Vehicle [i.e. GATV-11]" |
| United States | 1966-09-12 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Orbit Covers) cachet on cover | GATV-11 (and Gemini-117) separate launches; Gemini-11 and GATV-11 rendezvous and docking |
| United States | 1966-09-12 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Sarzin) cachet on cover | GATV-11 (and Gemini-117) separate launches; "Successful launching of Agena #11 [i.e. GATV-11]" and "link-up in space [of GATV-11] with Conrad and Gordon's Gemini #11" |
| United States | 1966-09-12 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Sarzin) cachet (different) on cover | GATV-11 (and Gemini-117) separate launches; "Gemini #11 ... link up with Agena #11 [i.e. GATV-11]" |
| United States | 1966-09-12 | Port Washington NY | (Sarzin) cachet (different) on cover | GATV-11 (and Gemini-117) separate launches; Gemini-11 docked with GATV-11 "on the first orbit" of the mission |
| United States | 1966-09-12 | USS Forrest Royal | (US Navy magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | GATV-11 (and Gemini-117) separate launches; "Gemini-11 "Rendezvous Mission" (with GATV-11) |
| United States | 1966-09-12 | USS Forrest Royal | (US Navy black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | GATV-11 (and Gemini-117) separate launches; "Gemini-11 "Rendezvous Mission" (with GATV-11) |
| United States | 1966-09-12 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Harry Gordon) cachet on cover | GATV-11 (and Gemini-117) separate launches; Gemini-11 and "1st Agena [i.e. GATV-11] rendezvous" 94 minutes after launch7 |
| United States | 1966-09-12 | Cape Canaveral FL | (NASA blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | GATV-11 (and Gemini-117) separate launches; Gemini-11 and "1st Agena [i.e. GATV-11] rendezvous" 94 minutes after launch7 |
| United States | 1966-09-12 | La Plata MD | (NASA blue and black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | GATV-11 (and Gemini-117) separate launches; Gemini-11 and "1st Agena [i.e. GATV-11] rendezvous" 94 minutes after launch7 |
| United States | 1966-09-12 | Jupiter FL | (NASA red-brown rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | GATV-11 (and Gemini-117) separate launches; Gemini-11 and "1st Agena [i.e. GATV-11] rendezvous" 94 minutes after launch7 |
| United States | 1966-09-12 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Astro Covers, no logo) cachet on cover | GATV-11 (and Gemini-117) separate launches; Gemini-11 "mission with Agena [i.e. GATV-11] rendezvous [and docking]; Astronaut Gordon's space walk [to GATV-11]; and the 850 mile high record flight [1370 km high] in [the] Van Allen [radiation] belt" |
| United States | 1966-09-12 | WSMR, NM | (Astro Covers?, no logo) cachet on cover | GATV-11 (and Gemini-117) separate launches; "Rendezvous and docking [with GATV-11] on first Gemini-11 orbit" |
| United States | 1966-09-12 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Black printed) cachet on cover | GATV-11 (and Gemini-117) separate launches; Gemini-11 docked with GATV-11; Astronaut Gordon astride GATV-11 |
| United States | 1966-09-12 | Eglin AFB, FL | (Manned Space Flight Network) cachet on cover | GATV-11 (and Gemini-117) separate launches; Gemini-11 "Astronauts Ch. Conrad and R.F. Gordon set an altitude record of 850 miles [1370 km] in the lower Van Allen radiation belts with the docked Agena [i.e. GATV-11]" |
| United States | 1966-09-12 | Corpus Christi TX | (Texas Manned Space Flight Tracking Station) cachet on cover | GATV-11 (and Gemini-117) separate launches; Astronaut Richard F. Gordon's space walk [to GATV-11]" (on 13 Sep) |
| United States | 1966-09-12 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Artopages) cachet on cover | GATV-11 (and Gemini-117) separate launches; "First successful docking rendezvous" (of Gemini-11 with GATV-11) |
| United States | 1966-09-12 | Kennedy Space Center FL (machine cancel) | (KSC/NASA blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | GATV-11 (and Gemini-117) separate launches; Astronaut Richard F. Gordon's space walk [to GATV-11]" (on 13 Sep) |
| United States | 1966-09-12 | Kennedy Space Center FL (hand cancel) | (KSC/NASA blue and red rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | GATV-11 (and Gemini-117) separate launches; Astronaut Richard F. Gordon's space walk [to GATV-11]" (on 13 Sep) |
| United States | 1966-09-12 | WSMR, NM | (Boudwin? purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | GATV-11 (and Gemini-117) separate launches |
| United States | 1966-09-12 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Orange and black printed) cachet on cover | GATV-11 (and Gemini-117) separate launches; "Gemini-117 [and] Atlas-Agena target [GATV-11] launched into orbit" |
| United States | 1966-09-12 | Cape Canaveral FL | (SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on cover | GATV-11 (and Gemini-117) separate launches; "Gemini-117 1st orbit linkup ... 1st rendezvous of two vehicles in space [Gemini-11 and GATV-11] during first orbit"; also "spinning test by linking the Gemini to the Agena [GATV-11] with a 100-foot line, to create artificial gravity in weightless space" (on 13 Sep) |
| United States | 1966-09-13 | Port Washington NY | (Sarzin) cachet on cover | "coupled Gemini #11 and Agena #11 [i.e. GATV-11]"; also Astronaut Richard Gordon's EVA to GATV-117 |
| United States | 1966-09-13 | Patrick AFB, FL | (Black printed) cachet on cover | Astronaut Richard Gordon's EVA to GATV-117 |
| Antigua | 1966-09-12 | St. Johns | (Joe Frasketi and Morris Beck circular magenta rubber-stamp) cachets (and signatures) on cover | Gemini-117 splashdown/recovery; Gemini-11 "Rendezvous Mission" (with GATV-11); also Gemini-11 "Rendezvous in Space with Agena [i.e. with GATV-11]" (in Beck circular black rubber-stamp cachet) |
| United States | 1966-09-15 | USS Kawishiwi | (US Navy purple rubber-stamp and Morris Beck circular black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Gemini-117 splashdown/recovery; Gemini-11 "Rendezvous Mission" (with GATV-11); also Gemini-11 "rendezvous in Space with Agena [i.e. with GATV-11]" (in black rubber-stamp cachet) |
| United States | 1966-09-15 | Cape Canaveral FL | (NASA blue rubber-stamp) cachet (and signatures) on cover | Gemini-117 splashdown/recovery; Gemini-11 and "1st Agena [i.e. GATV-11] rendezvous" 94 minutes after launch7 |
| United States | 1966-09-15 | USS Mansfield | (Beck/B682: US Navy black and orange printed) cachet on cover | Gemini-117 splashdown/recovery; Gemini-11 "Rendezvous Mission" (with GATV-11) |
| United States | 1966-09-15 | USS O'Bannon | (US Navy magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Gemini-117 splashdown/recovery; Gemini-11 "Rendezvous Mission" (with GATV-11) |
| 1966-11-11/15: GATV-12 (and Gemini-125) | ||||
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Cape Canaveral FL (hand cancel) | (Astro Covers, no logo) cachet on cover | GATV-12 (and Gemini-125) separate launches; "Rendezvous [and docking, with GATV-12] and space walk mission" |
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Cape Canaveral FL (machine cancel) | (Astro Covers, no logo) cachet (different) on cover | GATV-12 (and Gemini-125) separate launches; "Rendezvous and docking with Agena" (i.e. with GATV-12); the tethered GATV-12 is seen in the cachet, which is based on this photo |
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Cape Canaveral FL (hand cancel) | (Orbit Covers blue-green) cachet on cover | GATV-12 (and Gemini-125) separate launches; Gemini capsule docked with the GATV; also tethered to the GATV; also some images from the Gemini-11 mission: Astronaut Richard Gordon astride the nose of the Gemini-11 capsule and attaching the GATV-11 tether to it (design based on this Gemini-11 mission photo; in these images, the GATV is partially visible just beyond Gordon's body); (see also Manama Mi1091A) |
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Cape Canaveral FL (machine cancel) | (Orbit Covers blue) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Cape Canaveral FL (machine cancel) | (Orbit Covers blue-green) cachet (and signatures) on cover | |
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Cape Canaveral FL (machine cancel) | (Orbit Covers green) cachet (and signature) on cover | |
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Cape Canaveral FL (machine cancel) | (Orbit Covers green) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Cape Canaveral FL (machine cancel) | (Orbit Covers green-black) cachet on cover, also detail1, also detail2 | GATV-12 (and Gemini-125) separate launches; GATV (detail1); ATDA (detail2) |
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Cape Canaveral FL (hand cancel) | (Orbit Covers green-black) cachet on cover, also detail1, also detail2 | |
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Cape Canaveral FL (hand cancel) | (Orbit Covers black) cachet on cover, also detail1, also detail2 | |
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Cape Canaveral FL (machine cancel) | (Orbit Covers black) cachet on cover, also detail1, also detail2 | |
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Kennedy Space Center FL (hand cancel) | (KSC/NASA blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | GATV-12 (and Gemini-125) separate launches |
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Kennedy Space Center FL (machine cancel) | (KSC/NASA blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Kennedy Space Center FL (machine cancel) | (KSC/NASA blue rubber-stamp and red rubber-stamp return address) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Kennedy Space Center FL (machine cancel) | (KSC/NASA blue rubber-stamp) cachet (slightly different, and signatures) on cover | |
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Kennedy Space Center FL (machine cancel) | (KSC/NASA purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Kennedy Space Center FL (hand cancel) | (KSC/NASA black rubber-stamp and black typed) cachet (and signaature) on cover | |
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Cape Canaveral FL | (HJM black and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | GATV-12 (and Gemini-125) separate launches (but no reference to ATDA or GATV) |
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Sarzin) cachet on cover | GATV-12 (and Gemini-125) separate launches |
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Cape Canaveral FL (hand cancel) | (Centennial) cachet on cover | GATV-12 (and Gemini-125) separate launches; "Atlas-Agena [GATV-12] rendezvous" |
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Cape Canaveral FL (machine cancel) | (Centennial) cachet on cover | GATV-12 (and Gemini-125) separate launches; "Atlas-Agena [GATV-12] rendezvous" |
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Cape Canaveral FL | (SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on cover, also insert | GATV-12 (and Gemini-125) separate launches |
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Patrick AFB, FL | (SpaceCraft/Swanson) cachet on cover, also insert | GATV-12 (and Gemini-125) separate launches |
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Harry Gordon) cachet (and signatures) on (airmail) cover | GATV-12 (and Gemini-125) separate launches; "Agena [GATV-12] rendezvous" |
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Houston TX | (Black and magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | GATV-12 (and Gemini-125) separate launches; "Successful docking of GTA-12" (with GATV-12) |
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Eglin AFB, FL | (Morris Beck circular black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | GATV-12 (and Gemini-125) separate launches; "GTA-12 Rendezvous Mission in Space with Agena" (i.e. with GATV-12) |
| United States | 1966-11-11 | Patrick AFB, FL | (Black printed and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | GATV-12 (and Gemini-125) separate launches; "Atlas-Agena" [GATV-12] rendezvous |
| Germany (West) | 1966-11-12 | Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt | (Black pictorial) cancel on cover | GATV-12 (and Gemini-125) separate launches; and rendezvous and docking in orbit (on 11 Nov); Astronaut Aldrin's first EVA, a stand-up EVA, took place on 12 Nov |
| United States | 1966-11-13 | Port Washington NY | (Sarzin) cachet on cover | Aldrin's "stand-up in space" (on 12 Nov) |
| United States | 1966-11-15 | USS Wasp (hand cancel) | (NASA/US Navy magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Gemini-125 splashdown/recovery; "Gemini[-12] Rendezvous Mission" (with GATV-12) |
| United States | 1966-11-15 | USS Wasp (machine cancel) | (NASA/US Navy purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1966-11-15 | USS Wasp (machine cancel) | (NASA/US Navy black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1966-11-15 | USS Ozbourn | (NASA/US Navy magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | |
| United States | 1966-11-15 | USS Charles H. Roan | (NASA/US Navy purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1966-11-15 | USS Wasp | (Beck/B706: NASA/US Navy yellow and purple and green printed) cachet on cover | Gemini-125 splashdown/recovery; "Gemini[-12] Rendezvous Mission" (with GATV-12) |
| United States | 1966-11-15 | USS Canisteo | (Beck/B708: NASA/US Navy yellow and blue and green printed) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1966-11-15 | USS Kawishiwi | (Beck/B705: NASA/US Navy red-brown and green printed) cachet on cover | |
| United States | 1966-11-15 | USS Wasp | (Beck/B687: US Navy blue and red printed) cachet on cover | Gemini-125 splashdown/recovery; "Gemini [-12] Rendezvous Mission" (with GATV-12); "GTA-11" in the cachet is an error - it should say "GTA-12" |
| United States | 1966-11-15 | ? | (Morris Beck circular purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Gemini-125 splashdown/recovery; "GTA-12 Rendezvous Mission in Space with Agena" (i.e. with GATV-12) |
| United States | 1966-11-16 | USS Hollister | (NASA/US Navy magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Gemini-125 splashdown/recovery; "GTA-12 Rendezvous Mission in Space with Agena" (i.e. with GATV-12) |
| Atlas-ATDA3 (anniversaries) | ||||
| United States | 1976-06-03 | Houston TX | Local post stamp and (cyan and black rubber-stamp) cachet on Gemini-9A anniversary cover | 10th anniv. "Gemini-9A rendezvous in space with ATDA" (the ATDA is depicted with its fairing stuck in a partially-open position) |
| GATV (anniversaries) | ||||
| United States | 1971-03-16 | Houston TX | (NASA Local Post/SCCS) cachet on Gemini-8 anniversary cover | 5th anniv. Gemini-8 (and GATV-8) launch |
| United States | 1971-03-16 | Houston TX | (NASA Local Post/SCCS) cachet (different) on Gemini-8 anniversary cover | 5th anniv. Gemini-8 (and GATV-8) launch |
| United States | 1971-07-18 | Houston TX | (NASA Local Post/SCCS) cachet on Gemini-104 anniversary cover | 5th anniv. Gemini-104 launch; (with GATV depicted in the cachet; this mission visited two GATVs4) |
| United States | 1971-07-21 | Houston TX | (NASA Local Post/SCCS) cachet on Gemini-104 anniversary cover | 5th anniv. Gemini-104 splashdown/recovery (with GATV depicted in the cachet; this mission visited two GATVs4) |
| United States | 1971-09-12 | Houston TX | (NASA Local Post/SCCS) cachet on Gemini-11 anniversary cover | 5th anniv. Gemini-11 (and GATV-11) launch |
| United States | 1975-08-21 | Cape Canaveral FL | Local post stamp and (cyan and black rubber-stamp) cachet on Gemini-5 anniversary cover | 10th anniv. Gemini-5 launch (A GATV is depicted in the local post stamp that forms part of the cachet, but the docking maneuvers in this mission were virtual2; no GATV was in orbit during the Gemini-5 mission) |
| United States | 1976-07-18 | Kennedy Space Center FL | (FMF and Morris Beck circular black rubber-stamp) cachet on Gemini-104 anniversary cover | 10th anniv. Gemini-104 launch; "docked with one Agena [GATV-10]" and "rendezvous with another [GATV-8]" |
| United States | 1976-09-12 | Patrick AFB, FL | (FMF and Morris Beck circular black rubber-stamp) cachet on Gemini-11 anniversary cover | 10th anniv. Gemini-117 "rendezvous in space with Agena [GATV-11]" (in Beck circular black rubber-stamp cachet) |
| United States | 2016-03-17 | Sagamore Beach MA | (Coverscape) cachet on Gemini-8 anniversary cover | 40th anniv. "rendezvous and docking - Gemini-VIII" and "Aegina target vehicle" (GATV-8) |
| Gemini and/or GATV/ATDA (on other than Gemini launch covers) | ||||
| United States | 1962-09-18 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Sarzin?) cachet on TIROS-6 launch cover | Gemini capsule approaching GATV for docking |
| United States | 1971-07-26 | Kennedy Space Center FL | (Heritage/Crafts) insert from Apollo-15 launch cover, also (multi-color printed) front | "the Gemini-VIII8 flight, March 16 1966 ... marked the first successful docking of a spacecraft with a target vehicle in space" (the "target vehicle" was GATV-8) |
| United States | 1971-07-26 | Titusville FL | (Heritage/Crafts) insert from Apollo-15 launch cover, also (Titusville Moonport Stamp Club / Heritage/Crafts) front | |
| United States | 1971-08-07 | Cape Canaveral FL | (Heritage/Crafts) insert from Apollo-15 splashdown/recovery cover, also (Heritage/Crafts) front | "the Gemini-VIII8 flight, March 16 1966 ... marked the first successful docking of a spacecraft with a target vehicle in space" (the "target vehicle" was GATV-8) |
1A posigrade maneuver is the use of an auxiliary rocket motor to impart additional thrust to a spacecraft in its direction of motion. On 7 Dec 1965, Gemini-76 performed a posigrade maneuver using the aft-firing thrusters for 16.5 seconds. The result was an increase in speed of 12.6 ft/sec.This was done to adjust the orbital altitude of the Gemini-76 capsule in preparation for its planned rendezvous with Gemini-6A6, which finally took place on 15 Dec 1965.
2One of the goals of the Gemini-5 mission was to test techniques to rendezvous with a given point in space. This was done on the third day of the flight. Four different rendezvous maneuvers were successfully tested, using the Orbit, Attitude and Maneuvering System (OAMS). Such precision maneuvers had never before been attempted in an American spaceflight. Subsequent Gemini missions would rendezvous in space with real objects such as the Agena Target Vehicles.
3The original Gemini 9 mission was scrubbed due to a failure on 17 May 1966 of the Atlas booster carrying the GATV that would have been its docking target. An alternate target vehicle, the Automated Target Docking Adaptor (ATDA), was available and was launched on 1 June 1966. Two days later, the updated mission known as Gemini-9A was launched. One of its goals was to rendezvous and dock with the ATDA. Three different types of approaches to rendezvous were successful, but docking was impossible because the ATDA fairing (a protective cover) was stuck in a partially-open position. Those open "jaws" brought a reptilian analogy to Astronaut Thomas Stafford's mind: he said that "It looks like an angry alligator".
4Gemini-10 docked with GATV-10 at 11:13 p.m. EST on 18 July and remained docked with it for 39 hours, using the GATV propulsion system for maneuvers. At 4:44 p.m. EST on 19 July the Gemini capsule was evacuated and the hatch was opened. Collins stood up in his seat 3 minutes later and began photographing stellar UV radiation. Partway into the standup EVA Young and Collins began to experience severe eye irritation from an unidentified source and Young ordered termination of the EVA. Collins sat down and the hatch was closed at 5:33 p.m. Gemini-10 separated from GATV-10 at 2:00 p.m. EST on 20 July and then rendezvoused with GATV-8. At 6:01 p.m. EST the Gemini capsule cabin was evacuated and the hatch opened for Collins to begin his second EVA. He left the spacecraft 6 minutes later, attached to an umbilical cord, and travelled to GATV-8. Despite difficulties due to lack of handholds on the target vehicle, Collins removed the fairing and retrieved the micrometeoroid detection equipment. During the EVA he lost his camera. He also retrieved the micrometeorite experiment mounted on the Gemini-10 spacecraft, but this apparently floated out of the hatch and was lost when Collins reentered the capsule. The EVA was limited to 25 minutes of outside activity due to lack of fuel. Collins re-entered the capsule at 6:32 p.m. and the hatch was closed at 6:40 p.m. EST on 20 July.
5The Gemini-12 mission was the successful conclusion of the Gemini program, achieving the last of its goals by demonstrating that astronauts can effectively work outside of a spacecraft through astronaut Buzz Aldrin's three EVAs. The first and third were stand-up EVAs on 12 and 14 November. The second, on 13 November, was an umbilical EVA, in which he first retrieved GATV-12's 30 m tether and attached it to the Gemini capsule. He then returned to GATV-12 where, held in position by a waist tether and foot restraints, he carried out various manual tasks: he cut cables and fluid lines, fastened rings and hooks, connected and disconnected electrical and fluid connectors, tightened bolts and stripped velcro. He also tested an Apollo torque wrench with and without tethers. Back at the Gemini-12 capsule, he wiped James Lovell's window, observed some thruster firings, and finally re-entered the capsule and closed the hatch on the world's first successful complex EVA. Together, the three EVAs lasted a total of 5 hours and 30 minutes. The Gemini-12 mission also achieved the fifth rendezvous and fourth docking with an Agena target vehicle (in this case, GATV-12).
6On 26 Oct 1965, the Gemini-6 mission was postponed after the GATV-6 target vehicle failed to orbit. The updated mission, known as Gemini-6A, was launched on 15 December. Its mission was to rendezvous with Gemini-7, a long-duration mission that had been launched on 4 December. The two spacecraft conducted various orbital maneuvers to bring them closer to each other. Their orbital rendezvous was technically achieved and stationkeeping began at 2:33 pm EST on 15 December with the two Gemini spacecraft in zero relative motion at a distance of 110 meters. Stationkeeping maneuvers involving the spacecraft circling each other and approaching and backing off continued for 5 hours 19 minutes over three and a half orbits. During the maneuvers, all four astronauts on both spacecraft took turns in the formation flying activities and photographs were taken from both spacecraft. This marked the first time two spacecraft were maneuvered with respect to each other by their crews. At the end of stationkeeping Gemini-6A fired its thrusters to move to a position roughly 50 km away from Gemini 7 for drifting flight during the sleep period. Gemini-6A returned to Earth on 16 December. Gemini-7 splashed down on 18 December. No GATV was involved in either the Gemini-6A or the Gemini-7 missions.
7On 12 September 1966, Gemini-11 made a direct-ascent rendezvous and docking with GATV-11 approximately 94 minutes after lift-off. This was in anticipation of what would be done in the Apollo program, in which the LEM would blast off from the Moon and ascend directly to the CSM. The first of Astronaut Richard Gordon's two spacewalks in this mission took place on 13 September. It involved fastening a 30 m tether, stored in GATV-11's docking collar, to the Gemini's docking bar. He succeeded, but as with previous Gemini EVAs, trying to work for an extended period in space proved much more tiring than in training simulations. Worse yet, sweat accumulated and blocked the vision from Gordon's right eye, so the EVA was terminated after 33 minutes. The next task was to raise the orbit of the two spacecraft while they remained docked. The crew fired GATV-11's primary propulsion system (PPS) engine for 26 seconds, boosting the orbit to an altitude of 1370 km, the highest Earth orbit ever reached by a crewed spacecraft. The previous record, 760 km, had been established by Gemini-10 in July 1966. Gemini-11's record stands as of June 2020 (men did achieve greater distances from Earth during the Apollo Moon missions, but they were non-orbital flights). After a little more than two circuits of Earth in the high orbit, the crew again fired the PPS engine to enter a near-circular orbit at 300 km altitude. On 14 September, Gordon did his second EVA, in which he stood in the open hatch and took photographs. The final mission objective was to carry out an artificial gravity experiment. The still-tethered capsule was un-docked from GATV-11 and by maneuvers including firing the capsule's side thrusters, the crew kept the tether taut and created a slow rotation of the combined spacecraft to generate a small centrifugal force analogous to a small gravitational force. The tether was released following two orbits in that configuration. Gemini-11 returned to Earth on 15 September 1966.
8Gemini-8 successfully docked with GATV-8, but 27 minutes later the combined spacecraft went into a violent yaw and tumble. Command pilot Neil Armstrong used the capsule's Orbit Attitude and Maneuvering System (OAMS) thrusters to stop the tumble, but it started again. Armstrong noticed that the OAMS fuel had dropped to 30%, indicating that the problem could be with the Gemini capsule itself. The crew managed to stabilize things enough to un-dock, but without the added mass of GATV-8, the capsule started tumbling more drastically. Armstrong decided to shut down the OAMS and use all 16 of the Reentry Control System (RCS) thrusters, located on the Gemini's nose, to damp out the tumble. That did the trick, but used almost 75% of the reentry maneuvering fuel. The crew then tested each OAMS thruster and found that number 8 had stuck "on" and had been firing continuously. Mission rules dictated that the flight be aborted once the RCS was fired for any reason. Gemini-8 therefore made an emergency re-entry and splashdown. Gemini-10 would later re-visit GATV-8. No conclusive reason for the thruster malfunction was ever found. The most probable cause was determined to be an electrical short, most likely due to a static electricity discharge. Power still flowed to the thruster, even when it was switched off. To prevent this problem, spacecraft designs were changed so that each thruster would have an isolated circuit. The emergency was dramatized in the 2018 film First Man, which tells the story of Neil Armstrong in the years leading up to the Apollo-11 Moon landing in 1969.
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