« Mission Accomplished | Main | So what did I think of the debates? »

And then there were two - Wally Schirra Dies

Walter Schirra (March 12, 1923 – May 3, 2007)
One of the last remaining original Mercury 7 astronauts, leaving only Scott Carpenter and John Glenn behind.

Favorite Quote:

Schirra and his Gemini flights involved the process of rendezvous of manned spacecraft. Schirra and Stafford, attempted to launch aboard Gemini 6 mission on October 25, 1965, and rendezvous with an unmanned Agena rocket. However the Agena exploded, and the launch was scrubbed. The bold decision was made to launch Gemini 7 first, quickly refurbish the pad, and launch Schirra and Stafford in Gemini 6 for a rendezvous of both manned spacecraft.

At the time, rendezvous was considered any approach within 3 miles. Schirra however begged to differ with that assessment, He said:

" I'll tell you what a rendezvous is. When a man looks across a street and sees a pretty girl, and waves at her, that's not a rendezvous, that's a passing acquaintance. When he walks across the street through the traffic and nibbles on her ear, that's a rendezvous!"

Gemini 6 and 7 maintained station just 30 centimeters from each other and were able to vary the distance regularly through the mission.

The rendezvous of Gemini 6 and 7 spacecraft in 1965 represented the largest number of US Astronauts in space at the same time, until the use of the Space Shuttle during the 1980's.

Posted @ May 03, 2007 04:51 PM | Aviation