Rare vintage official glossy 10 x 8 black-numbered NASA photo of the organization's second group of astronauts, signed in ink or thin felt tip by eight of the nine men pictured: "Elliot See," "James A. McDivitt," "James Lovell," "Thomas P. Stafford," "Charles Conrad, Jr.," "Frank Borman," "Neil Armstrong," and "John Young." Reverse bears faded purple NASA caption text and typed collector's notations: "This photo—signed by five of the nine (9) astronauts given to me by Major Frank Borman—formerly of Phoenix, December 1962. Signed by remaining four (4)—march 1963 in Houston courtesy of Major Frank Borman." The Edward White signature is in a secretarial hand. In very good to fine condition, with a few short edge tears, some creasing to the edges, and two paperclip impressions to the top edge. Selected in 1962, the Group 2 appointments expanded the number of astronauts from seven to 16 as NASA moved on to Projects Gemini and Apollo. With the exception of See, each pictured astronaut flew in the Gemini mission; See was killed in a crash on February 28, 1966, while flying a T-38 jet trainer to the McDonnell Aircraft plant for inspection. His copilot, Charles Bassett, was also killed; both men were slated as the original Gemini 9 crew. A remarkable photo signed by eight of NASA's 'New Nine.'
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