The Gemini VII Astronauts Borman and Lovell




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Background: HOUSTON, TEXAS - Astronauts Frank Borman and James A.Lovell, Jr., have been assigned as the prime flight crew for the Gemini VII mission scheduled for the first quarter of 1966.

The backup crew for the flight of up to 14 days consists of Astronauts Edward H.White, II and Michael Collins.

Borman and Lovell were the backup crew and White was the pilot for the Gemini IV mission.The command pilot on that flight, Astronaut James A.McDivitt, has been assigned as a spacecraft communicator for the Gemini V flight.

Borman is command pilot for the Gemini VII mission, and White is command pilot in the backup crew.Collins is the first of the third group of astronauts named in October, 1963, to be assigned to a flight crew.

Actual flight duration of the Gemini VII mission will depend on experience from earlier flights and the progress of the mission itself.Extravehicular activity may be conducted.