202. [Apollo 9] THE FIRST DOCKING OF TWO MANNED U.S. SPACECRAFT (diptych) David Scott, Russell Schweickart and James McDivitt, 3-13 March 1969 Printed 1969. Two vintage chromogenic prints on fibre-based Kodak paper [NASA images AS9-21-3236 and AS9-24-3659]. The first with "A Kodak Paper" watermark on the reverse, numbered "NASA AS9-21-3236" in red in the top margin (issued by NASA Manned Spacecraft Centre, Houston, Texas), the second with "A Kodak Paper" watermark on the reverse (issued by NASA). Each: 20.3 x 25.4 cm. (8 x 10 in.) Historical context These two historic photographs capture the dramatic first-ever rendezvous and docking of two crewed Apollo spacecraft in orbit—a crucial rehearsal for upcoming lunar missions, mirroring the manoeuvres that would later be performed around the Moon during Apollo 10 and Apollo 11. The mission transcript reveals not only the intense coordination required but also the exhilaration of the moment, with David Scott exclaiming, "You're the biggest, friendliest, funniest-looking spider I've ever seen." Through these images, Apollo 9 validated the intricate dual-spacecraft operation that would soon enable humanity to take its first steps on the Moon. In the first image, LM Spider's ascent stage, with David Scott aboard, is seen from CSM Gumdrop, where Russell Schweickart and James McDivitt monitored the approach. After an independent four-hour flight, Spider had successfully tested both its descent and ascent stages, proving its manoeuvrability and stability in space. Now, the final challenge remained: docking back with Gumdrop. Despite its fragile, ungainly appearance, the Lunar Module had demonstrated its capability, prompting McDivitt and Schweickart to describe it as a "great flying machine...like a fighter plane or a sports car." The second photograph reverses the perspective, showing CSM Gumdrop from LM Spider during the first-ever Apollo rendezvous. Against the backdrop of Arizona and southern California, the Command Module, with its propeller-like high-gain antenna and docking probe prominently visible, prepared for the final approach. Over a six-hour period, Scott piloted Gumdrop solo, manoeuvring it for docking while the two spacecraft drifted up to 100 miles apart before closing in again. From the mission transcript when the photographs were taken: 098:21:45 Scott (Gumdrop): Oh, I see you out there coming in the sunlight. 098:21:48 Schweickart (Spider): Great. 098:21:51 Scott (Gumdrop): You're the biggest, friendliest, funniest looking spider I've ever seen. [...] 098:33:50 McDivitt (Spider): Okay, Davey. It says 100 feet on the radar tape. It looks a little closer to that to me, but what do you say we stop here? 098:33:58 Scott (Gumdrop): Okay. That's a good idea. 098:34:04 McDivitt (Spider): Okay. I'll get a STOP and STABILIZE and then give it to you. 098:34:28 Scott (Gumdrop): Okay. That looks pretty good to me. 098:34:30 McDivitt (Spider): Okay, good. 098:34:34 McDivitt (Spider): Let me take a couple of pictures of your nose; then I'll start pitching around.