Gemini 9 - U.S. 50 Star, Earth Orbit Flown Flag, 1966.
This 12x18, rayon, 50 star, United States Flag was carried on the Gemini IX-A mission by astronauts Thomas Stafford and Eugene Cernan and later presented to Sgt. Joe Garino USAF, the Physical Condition Supervisor for NASA; who trained astronauts from the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo in the gym at NASA's Manned Spacecraft Center. Garino promoted the role of physical conditioning as crucial for peak astronaut performance and successful missions. He also invented space exercise equipment and developed improvements for the space helmets and air masks for the comfort of the astronauts. As thanks for his innovations and close training with the astronauts, Joe Garino was often the recipient of very interesting souvenirs, such as this one.

This is a large U.S. Flag flown in Space Aboard Gemini 9, 18" x 12". Placed on mat and framed to 23.5" x 19.5". Two metal plaques have been affixed to the frame, reading: "Presented by astronauts/ Lt. Col. Thomas P. Stafford/ Cdr. Eugene A. Cernan" and "To Joseph Garino, Jr./ This Flag Carried in Space/ Aboard Gemini IX/ June 3-6, 1966". There is some light spotting on flag, possibly from mounting show-through. Flags of this size that have flown in space rarely appear on the market.

Gemini 9-A (officially Gemini IX-A) was a manned spaceflight in of NASA's Gemini program that ran between the dates of June 3-6, 1966. It was the seventh manned Gemini flight and the thirteenth manned American flight. Its primary objective was to perform rendezvous and docking and conduct EVA. It lasted a total of 3 days 21 hours, involved three different types of rendezvous, two hours of EVA and 44 orbits.

Weight and storage constraints limited the size and number of artifacts that could be carried on any of the Gemini missions; and flags of this size that have even flown in space at all are extremely rare.

Our achievements in space certainly rank among mankind's greatest technological and scientific achievements. In the United States these efforts have been the responsibility of the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) who's Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo Programs eventually led to landing men on the Moon.

However, in addition to the extraordinary technological feats involved in space launches, orbiting the Earth, travelling to and orbiting the Moon, landing men on the Moon, and returning safely to Earth; there was a second major accomplishment as well. This was America's victory in the continuation of the Cold War, known as the "Space Race", over the Soviet Union. Accordingly, no other space artifact is more symbolic of the nation that won this race than the United States Flag.

Fully-documented American space artifacts are extremely rare, when taken in comparison to almost virtually any other established category of historically notable "Earthly" object; and among collectors of such artifacts, flown flags from any mission are highly desirable. However, absolute rarity does not always equate to absolute desirability. Within the confines of space collecting there is an informal hierarchy of rarity:

1. Artifacts used in Extra Vehicular Activities (EVA) outside the Lunar Module on the actual surface of the Moon;
2. Artifacts landed on the Moon aboard the Lunar Module that stayed inside.
3. Artifacts flown to the Moon aboard the Command Module which did not land.
4. Artifacts flown in Earth orbit during the Mercury, Gemini & Apollo Programs.
5. Artifacts flown in Earth orbit aboard the Space Shuttle.
6. Artifacts from NASA Earth training and the Manned Flight Awareness Program
On December 7th 1961, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced that it intended to develop a two-man spacecraft and thereby expand the already existing manned space-flight program. The design for the new spacecraft was officially designated 'Gemini' on the 3rd o f January, 1962. This name, Gemini, is the same as the third constellation of the zodiac which features the twin stars Castor and Pollex; a suitable name for a two-person space flight. Operationally, the Gemini program was completed by the Gemini XII flight.

Essentially, the Gemini program was a result of NASA anticipating a necessary intermediate step between the Mercury and Apollo programs. The primary objectives of the Gemini program were:
1. To subject two men and supporting equipment to long duration flights -- a requirement for projected later trips to the moon or deeper space.
2. To affect rendezvous and docking with other orbiting vehicles, and to maneuver the docked vehicles in space, using the propulsion system of the target vehicle for such maneuvers.
3. To perfect methods of re-entry and landing spacecraft at a pre-selected land landing point.
4. To gain additional information concerning the effects of weightlessness on crewmembers and to record the physiological reactions of crewmembers during long duration flights.

(Courtesy of NASA)

ZFC Significant Flag
Item is Framed

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