GEMINI RECOVERY SHIP COVER & POSTMARK VARIETIES

Gemini 9A - 6 June 1966ⁱⁱ

Notes General:
i) There is doubt as to whether this ship was involved in the mission
ii) The mission was originally scheduled for launch (as Gemini 9) on 17 May but was postponed when the Gemini Agena Target Vehicle failed to achieve orbit due to a booster failure earlier that day. The replacement Augmented Target Docking Adapter (ATDA) was launched successfully into Earth orbit on 1 June, but telemetry indicated that the shroud had failed to jettison properly. Gemini 9 was to launch shortly thereafter but ground equipment failure resulted in a postponement until 3 June. Source: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1966-047A
iii) The letter is interesting in that, as well as the usual pleasantries, it mentions completing several trials of the recovery procedures including the use of a dummy capsule which looks like the real thing. The trials also included fixed wing aircraft, helicopters and UDT swimmers.

Notes Other:
1) From the collection of Steve Durst
2) From the collection of Antoni Rigo
3) Two other inverted 1966 covers are known; one on a Beck B651 from the collection of Eddie Bizub and a second on a Beck B657 from the collection of Steve Durst. Thanks to Owen Murray's website for the B651 scan.
4) From the collection of Dave Blog
5) From the collection of Tom Steiner
6) From the collection of Andre Gutmann

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