Gemini 7 spent 14 days in space, setting a crewed-flight endurance record in 1965.
The mission launched on 4 December 1965 with Frank Borman and James Lovell aboard. It lasted nearly two weeks, allowing NASA to study how astronauts and spacecraft systems performed during missions approaching the duration needed for lunar travel.
Gemini 7 also served as the target vehicle for Gemini 6A. The two spacecraft completed the first crewed rendezvous in space, coming close enough for their crews to communicate and observe one another, although they did not dock.
The mission’s endurance record was later surpassed by longer flights, including Skylab missions. Gemini 7 should not be confused with Gemini 6A, whose main distinction was participating in that pioneering rendezvous. Together, the flights demonstrated important techniques for Apollo.