NASA Astronaut History Wally Schirra on the 1993 Astronaut Hall of Fame Reunion

Wally Schirra Space Exploration

Manuscripts & Autographs

Schirra, Wally, handwritten autograph letter discussing a reunion of early NASA astronauts and Tom Stafford’s induction into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, circa 1993. Schirra was one of NASA’s original Mercury Seven and remains the only astronaut to have flown in Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo, commanding Sigma 7 in 1962, Gemini 6A in 1965, and Apollo 7 in 1968. The letter connects those three stages of the American human spaceflight program through Schirra’s own recollection of Stafford and his anticipation of the Apollo crews’ future recognition.

Schirra, Wally. Circa 1993. Handwritten in blue ink on white paper and signed “Wally Schirra.” Schirra writes, “It was a great reunion for all of us. I particularly enjoyed it as I was patting Tom Stafford on the back (my #2 on Gemini). I look forward to inducting the Apollo crews as well. Then I will have covered my three flights.” The reference is consistent with the March 19, 1993 induction of Thomas Stafford and other Gemini astronauts into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame; Stafford had served as Schirra’s pilot aboard Gemini 6A. Schirra himself had been inducted with the original Mercury astronauts when the Hall of Fame opened in 1990.

The letter was written during the period when the Astronaut Hall of Fame was formally recognizing successive generations of the early American space program. Schirra’s phrase “my three flights” gives the note particular documentary specificity: Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo were not retrospective categories for him but the three programs in which he personally flew. His reference to Stafford as “my #2 on Gemini” also records the informal language of one mission commander describing his former crewmate nearly three decades after Gemini 6A. In very good condition.

Item #12325

Price: $220.00