[Gemini XI] The highest photograph ever captured by humans from Earth orbit:...

[Gemini XI] The highest photograph ever captured by humans from Earth orbit: Sun glare over Australia from 740 nautical miles. Richard Gordon, 12–15 September 1966. Printed 1966. Vintage chromogenic print on fiber-based Kodak paper [NASA image S-66–54706]. 20.3×25.4 cm (7.9×10 in), with “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the verso, numbered “NASA S-66–54706” in red in top margin (NASA Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston, Texas).

Literature: LIFE, 30 September 1966, pp. 104–105; Exploring Space with a Camera (NASA SP-168), Cortright, ed., p. 195.

This historic photograph taken with the Hasselblad Super Wide camera and its 38mm lens shows the western half of Australia looking west, with the coastline seen from Perth to Port Darwin and the illuminated ocean above, from the record high apogee of 740 nautical miles.

“The Sun was slowly settling into the west, causing an angular reflection in the glass window of the spacecraft. Dick Gordon and I were looking at western Australia. This picture was taken approximately when we reached the high point of our high altitude orbit. This was the view from 739.4 miles. We were excited and although we had planned the high orbit for months, we never realized what a sight we would see. Fifty minutes earlier we had ignited our Agena rocket engine for the longest burn ever made to change an orbit.” Pete Conrad (Cortright, p. 195).

From the mission transcript when the photograph was taken:

041:04:36 Conrad: I’ll tell you, you can’t believe it! 041:04:42 Conrad: Just out of my left window I can see all the way from - - 041:04:47 Conrad: - - the end, around the top of the world all the way around about 150 degrees, including the horizon all the way around.

Condition Report:Light softening to top left corner and creasing to top right corner, otherwise excellent condition.

Please notice: Supplementary material not included.

Category:Photos ▸ Vintage photographs