Gemini 7 in orbit, seen from the Gemini 6A spacecraft during rendezvous manouvres. These two spacecraft launched separately, Gemini 7 on 4 December 1965, and Gemini 6A on 15 December 1965. They then manoeuvred to meet in orbit, several hundred kilometres above the Earth's surface. The two spacecraft came within a few metres of each other, but never touched, achieving one of the mission aims of orbital rendezvous. On board Gemini 6A were the US astronauts Wally Schirra (1923-2007) and Thomas Stafford (born 1930), while on board Gemini 7 were Frank Borman (born 1928) and Jim Lovell (born 1928).