December 4th 1965 - Gemini 7

 

Gemini 6 was originally scheduled to be launched on October 25, 1965, but the mission was cancelled when the Agena missile that was scheduled to be a target vessel exploded when it was launched. NASA instead decided to launch Gemini 7 first, with Frank Borman and James A Lovell Jr. completing a 14-day mission. The mission had two goals: to study the long-term effects of space flight and to rendezvous with Gemini 6. After the rendezvous, Gemini 7 remained in orbit for neary three more days. All together Gemini 7 remained in orbit for 330 hours and 35 minutes, completing 220 orbits.