[Apollo 9] The first docking of two manned spacecraft in space: the...

[Apollo 9] The first docking of two manned spacecraft in space: the CSM Gumdrop over the Earth as seen from the LM Spider just before docking. J. McDivitt or R. Schweickart, 3–13 March 1969. Printed 1969. Vintage chromogenic print on fiber-based Kodak paper [NASA image AS9–24-3656]. 20.3×25.4 cm (8×10 in), numbered “NASA AS9–24-3656” in red in top margin, with “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the verso (NASA Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston, Texas).

Literature: LIFE, 28 March 1969, pg. 28 (variant); Space: A History of Space Exploration in Photographs, Chaikin, pg. 84; Spacecam: Photographing the Final Frontier from Apollo to Hubble, Hope, pg. 40; Moon: Man’s Greatest Adventure, Thomas, ed., ppg. 160–161; Apollo: The Epic Journey to the Moon, Reynolds, pg. 43.

This photograph of the CSM Gumdrop with David Scott on board was taken from the ascent stage of the LM Spider during the first rendezvous performed by Apollo astronauts, at the end of the first manned test flight of the LM on the fifth day of the Earth-orbital mission. Moments later the crew performed the first docking of two manned spacecraft in space.

Its propeller-like antenna jutting toward Earth, the CSM Gumdrop passes over Arizona (including the Rio Grande, foreground) and southern California (with the Gulf of California, left background). Docking mechanism is very clearly visible in the nose of the CSM.

Scott flew by himself in the Command Module for a six-hour period while the two craft changed orbits and let as much as 100 miles separate them. (Mason, p. 152–54).

From the mission transcript during the rendezvous:

098:33:50 McDivitt (Spider): Okay, Davey. It says 100 feet on the radar tape. It looks a little closer to that to me, but what do you say we stop here? 098:33:58 Scott (Gumdrop): Okay. That’s a good idea. 098:34:04 McDivitt (Spider): Okay. I’ll get a STOP and STABILIZE and then give it to you. 098:34:28 Scott (Gumdrop): Okay. That looks pretty good to me. 098:34:30 McDivitt (Spider): Okay, good. 098:34:34 McDivitt (Spider): Let me take a couple of pictures of your nose; then I’ll start pitching around. 098:35:14 McDivitt (Spider): I don’t even see you in there, David. 098:35:18 Scott (Gumdrop): Oh, I’m here. 098:35:23 Scott (Gumdrop): I’ve been waiting for you to bring that good water back.

Condition Report:Slight creasing to bottom left corner of margin, two very tiny handling cracks, otherwise excellent condition.

Please notice: Supplementary material not included

Category:Photos ▸ Vintage photographs