Photographs of the Mercury and Gemini Space Programs, 12/1960 - 02/1997

Level of Description:

• Series

Type(s) of Archival Materials:

• Photographs and other Graphic Materials

The creator compiled or maintained the series between:

12/1960 - 02/1997

The series documents the time period:

12/1960 - 11/1966

Date Note:

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration maintained these photographs from 1960 through 1997. However, the subject matter documented covers the lifespan of the Mercury and Gemini space programs from 1960 to 1966.

Includes

19 file(s) described in the catalog.

Function and Use:

The Photographic and Digital Laboratory maintained these photographs to publicize the Mercury and Gemini spaceflight programs and for use by scientists studying geological and meteorological conditions.

Numbering Note:

Requests for images with agency-assigned image numbers must include the record group number, series designator, agency-assigned "can" and "item" numbers, mission number, magazine (roll) number (when multiple magazines/rolls exist for a mission), and item/original negative number. (Example=255-MG-1-13-GT-4-16-S63-6427 or 255-MG-1-6-MA-5-10). Requests for images without agency-assigned numbers must include the record group number, series designator, agency-assigned "can" and "item" number, mission number, magazine (roll) number (when multiple magazines/rolls exist for a mission), and NARA-assigned item or frame number. (Example=255-MG-2-4-GT-6-A-22 or 255-MG-1-9-MA-7-14). Requests for digital images with NASA assigned image numbers must include the record group number, series designator and agency assigned item number. (Example=255-MG-MA5-4712-286 or 255-MG-MR3-13012-257 or 255-MG-S63-0644).

Arrangement:

Arranged into two groups by program (Mercury and Gemini), thereunder by Mercury or Gemini flight number, and thereunder chronologically by month and year of spaceflight.

Access Restriction(s):

• Unrestricted
  

Use Restriction(s):

• Unrestricted
  

Finding Aid Type:

Container List

Finding Aid Note:

A container list is filed in the research room and with the records.

Finding Aid Source:

NARA

Finding Aid Type:

Item List

Finding Aid Note:

An item list of Earth Observation 70mm images made during the flights of Gemini III through Gemini XII is housed with the records and in the research room. The item list is also keyed to the NARA-created container list.

Finding Aid Source:

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Finding Aid Type:

Other

Finding Aid Note:

An electronic spreadsheet for the digital images is in the research room.

Finding Aid Source:

NASA

Accession Number(s):

• NN3-255-08-004
• NN3-255-97-007

Disposition Authority Number(s):

• N1-255-96-001

Subjects Represented in the Archival Material(s):

• digital imaging
  
• photographs
  

This series consists of color and black-and-white spaceflight original and duplicate photographs taken during the Mercury and Gemini programs. Most of the images are on roll film and were made by astronauts using medium format, hand-held cameras specially modified by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). During each flight, images were taken of both the earth and sky. During the Gemini program in particular, many images were made in the course of synoptic terrain and weather photography experiments. The terrain photography shows major geologic structures, their form, color and the light reflected by them. The weather imagery covers a wide variety of meteorological phenomena, with emphasis on a number of cloud systems that could be used to verify information obtained from unmanned weather satellites. Of particular interest are the images of the first American extravehicular activity (EVA) during the flight of Gemini IV, by astronaut Edward White, whose space walk consisted of a 36-minute EVA exercise, and photographs of the first rendezvous in space made by the crews of Gemini VI and VII. Many areas of the world and their geographical features were photographed during the various missions, including the United States, Mexico, Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Australia, China, the Canary Islands, Central and South America, and various Middle Eastern countries.

ARC Identifier:

609525

Copy 1:

Reproduction-Reference

Extent (Size):

6 linear inches

Contact(s):

• Still Picture Records Section, Special Media Archives Services Division (NWCS-S), National Archives at College Park
  8601 Adelphi Road
  College Park, MD 20740-6001
  Phone: 301-837-0561
  Fax: 301-837-3621
  Email: stillpixorder@nara.gov

Count:

• Photograph, 20 x 24 Regular Drop Front 1.0
• Suit Box, 22 inch Medium 1.0

Physical Occurrence Note:

The color transparencies and the color and black-and-white positives and negatives are on multiple, separate rolls.

Copy 1 Media Information:

• Specific Media Type: Transparency
• Color: Black-and-White and Color
• Container Id: Boxes 1 and 2
• Dimension: Varied
• Media Occurrence Note: The film dimensions are 35mm, 70mm, 120mm, and 4" x 5". Ninety-eight of the duplicate color transparencies are cut and sleeved and not on rolls.
• Physical Restriction Note: This material is located in cold vault storage. It will take at least 2 1/2 hours to acclimate the material and deliver it to the research room.
• Piece Count: 17
• Process: Varied
• Reproduction Count: 4263 transparency(ies)
• Technical Access Requirements Note: Viewing of the duplicate film, most of which is on 35mm or 70mm reels, requires the use of a light table and two Movioles--one for the takeup and the other for rewinding. This equipment is located in another custodial unit. Consequently, sufficient advance notice of at least two working days must be received to make special arrangements with that unit to use the equipment and to provide staff to monitor the use of the film.

• Specific Media Type: Negative
• Color: Black-and-White
• Container Id: Box 2
• Dimension: Film: 120 mm
• Physical Restriction Note: This material is located in cold vault storage. It will take at least 2 1/2 hours to acclimate the material and deliver it to the research room.
• Piece Count: 1
• Process: Photographic: Gelatin Silver
• Reproduction Count: 32 negative(s)

• Specific Media Type: Slide
• Color: Color
• Container Id: Box 2
• Dimension: 2x2 inches
• Physical Restriction Note: This material is located in cold vault storage. It will take at least 2 1/2 hours to acclimate the material and deliver it to the research room.
• Piece Count: 108
• Process: Photographic: Subtractive Color-Chromogenic

Copy 2:

Reproduction-Reference

Extent (Size):

5,044 digital image files

Contact(s):

• Still Picture Records Section, Special Media Archives Services Division (NWCS-S), National Archives at College Park
  8601 Adelphi Road
  College Park, MD 20740-6001
  Phone: 301-837-0561
  Fax: 301-837-3621
  Email: stillpixorder@nara.gov

Count:

• Photograph Box, 5 x 7 x 12 2.0

Copy 2 Media Information:

• Specific Media Type: Optical Disk: Digital Versatile Disk
• Media Occurrence Note: These 63 digital video disks (DVD) contain 5,044 images in the Tagged Image File Format (TIFF).
• Piece Count: 63
• Reproduction Count: 5044 optical disk: digital versatile disk(s)

Copy 3:

Preservation

Extent (Size):

6 linear inches

Contact(s):

• Still Picture Records Section, Special Media Archives Services Division (NWCS-S), National Archives at College Park
  8601 Adelphi Road
  College Park, MD 20740-6001
  Phone: 301-837-0561
  Fax: 301-837-3621
  Email: stillpixorder@nara.gov

Count:

• Photograph, 20 x 24 Regular Drop Front 2.0

Copy 3 Media Information:

• Specific Media Type: Transparency
• Color: Color
• Dimension: Varied
• Media Occurrence Note: This media type consists of 35mm, 70mm, and 120mm film. Ninety-two of the 3,885 original color transparencies are cut and sleeved, and not on rolls.
• Physical Restriction Note: For preservation reasons, no access to the original Mercury or Gemini spaceflight film is permitted. This material is located in the cold vault.
• Piece Count: 8
• Process: Photographic: Subtractive Color-Chromogenic
• Reproduction Count: 3885 transparency(ies)

• Specific Media Type: Negative
• Color: Black-and-White and Color
• Dimension: Varied
• Media Occurrence Note: This media type consists of 35mm, 70mm, and 120mm film. Six of the original color negatives are cut and sleeved and not on rolls. The following processes were used to create these negatives: Photographic: Gelatin Silver and Subtractive Color-Chromogenic (negative).
• Physical Restriction Note: For preservation reasons, no access to the original Mercury and Gemini spaceflight film is permitted. This material is located in the cold vault.
• Piece Count: 10
• Process: Varied
• Reproduction Count: 762 negative(s)

Box 1 - Mercury 1 through Mercury 9 (Disks 1 through 24) Box 2 - Gemini 1 through Gemini 12 (Disks 1 through 39)