Gemini 8 mission rescue. The Gemini 8 spacecraft was launched from NASA's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (now Kennedy Space Centre) in Florida, USA, at 16:41 UTC on 16th March 1966. The mission, piloted by Neil Armstrong and David Scott, achieved the first space rendezvous and docking of two spacecraft in Earth orbit. However, following successful docking to the Gemini Agena target vehicle (GATV), however, the Gemini 8 capsule began rolling uncontrollably. The crew immediately undocked and made an emergency return to Earth just 10 hours after launch. Here, the crew are waiting for the recovery ship while being assisted by US Navy divers. The fluorescent green dye (lower left) is highly visible from the air, making the vessel easy to locate. Photographed on 17th March 1966 in the Atlantic Ocean.