Oversized Neil Armstrong Signed Image of the Gemini 8 Spacecraft He Commanded, Inscribed to Future Assistant Secretary of Defense Jack Katzen

NASA's Project Mercury, which launched the first Americans into space, was succeeded by Project Gemini, the objective of which was to develop space travel techniques in support of the upcoming Project Apollo, which would land men on the Moon.

Project Gemini sent ten manned flights into space in 1965 and 1966. Gemini was successful in achieving missions long enough for a trip to the Moon and back, perfected extra-vehicular activity (which back then was called walking in space), and maneuvers necessary to achieve rendezvous and docking.

There were 16 Project Gemini astronauts: three were Project Mercury holdovers – Gordon Cooper, Wally Schirra and Gus Grissom; the rest save one would all gain greater fame for their Apollo and Moon-landing exploits. Foremost among these was Neil Armstrong, the first American civilian selected for the space program (all the others were in the military), who on July 20, 1969 became the first person to walk on the Moon's surface. In the Gemini program, he was given command of Gemini 8, which launched on September 20, 1965, and accomplished the first-ever rendezvous and docking between two spacecraft.

A 14 by 11 inch color photograph with an overall presentation of 20 by 16 inches.  Gemini 8 in space, with the Earth below, circa late 1965, inscribed and signed "To Jack Katzen – Best wishes from Gemini VIII. Neil Armstrong." Katzen was an aerospace industry executive who went on to Assistant Secretary of Defense for Production and Logistics. We obtained this item from his descendants, and it has never before been offered for sale.

Although autographs of Armstrong from the post-Apollo era are not uncommon, signed images from during his time actively flying in the space program (which he left in 1970) are much scarcer. This one, picturing his command vehicle, is much more interesting then the signed head shots one normally finds.