GEMINI IX CREW - AUTOGRAPHED INSCRIBED PHOTOGRAPH CO-SIGNED BY: CAPTAIN GENE CERNAN, LT. GENERAL THOMAS P. STAFFORD - HFSID 29940

GEMINI IX CREW, CO-SIGNED BY: GENE CERNAN, THOMAS P. "TOM" STAFFORD
A six-photo, 23¾x19¾, montage of America's Gemini IX mission signed by crew members Stafford and Cernan
Inscribed photograph signed "Tom Stafford" and "Gene Cernan". Also signed "To Stan,/With Many/Thanks"  by Cernan. 23¾x19¾ mounting card with six color photographs attached (from upper left): the launch of the Gemini IX space capsule, a view of the Advanced Docking Target Adapter (ADTA) from the capsule, a view of Earth from the Gemini IX capsule, Cernan during his spacewalk, splashdown and the capsule's recovery by the USSWasp. Signatures are on photo of the ADTA. With title card in upper right corner captioned "Gemini IX/Tom Stafford - Gene Cernan/June 3-6, 1966" The Gemini IX was America's 13th manned spaceflight. They were supposed to dock with the ADTA, similar to the Agena Target Vehicle, but had to cancel it after the ADTA's shroud was found to be partially closed over the docking hatch. Cernan also left the capsule for extra vehicular activity, which was supposed to include the use of an Astronaut Maneuvering Unit (AMU) rocket pack, predecessor of the current Manned Maneuvering Unit. But he struggled in microgravity and sweated profusely, which fogged up his spacesuit visor, which rendered him effectively blind and prevented him from using the AMU. Cernan, born in Chicago, Illinois in 1934 was one of 14 astronauts selected by NASA in October 1963. He was the Pilot of Gemini 9 (1966), which failed to dock with a target vehicle, and the Lunar Module Pilot of Apollo 10 (1969), which evaluated the Lunar Module's performance in the lunar environment, descending to within ten miles of the moon's surface. As Commander of Apollo 17 (1972), he was the last man to walk on the Moon, spending over 73 hours on the lunar surface. Stafford, born in Weatherford, Oklahoma in 1930, was aboard Gemini 6 with Wally Schirra in the first rendezvous in space and Gemini 9, which accomplished three different types of rendezvous, with Gene Cernan. Stafford, Cernan, and John Young were aboard Apollo 10, which orbited the Moon. They maneuvered the ship within nine miles of the lunar surface. Ten years after his first Gemini flight, Stafford flew with Vance Brand and Deke Slayton on the Apollo vehicle that docked with the Soviet Soyuz. Lightly toned. Mounting card has light discoloration from frame and lightly rounded and creased corners. Photos are lightly faded and rippled and have lightly torn and chipped edges. Photo of launch is launch and splashdown are lightly torn at edges and stained at tears. Photo of EVA is lightly chipped near lower right corner. Title card is soiled. Otherwise, fine condition.