As much as I followed the space program when I was younger — I remember watching Gemini launches, but not Mercury launches — I don’t have any memory of Gemini 7.
Its joint flight with Gemini 6A was amazing. Well, I thought it amazing when I found out about it later.
I don’t remember the launch, which was December 4, 1965. I don’t remember anything at all about it from the time, which disappoints me greatly. I wish I had those memories.
I do remember it. Preceded by the non-launch of GT 6, where we learned not to attempt a launch on Sunday. With the funky space suits and questionable hygiene on GT 7. And some furious scrambling to get GT 6A turned around. But what I most remember is what GT 6A taught us, and what rings true to this very day:
“Beat Army.”