posted 12-15-2015 08:23 AM            

1. From the "Gemini Program Mission Report - Gemini VI-A" prepared by the Gemini Mission Evaluation Team and dated November 1965, on page 1-1:

   Because of the early termination of this mission and to identify it from other planned missions of the Gemini Program, this mission was designated Gemini VI-A.

2. From NASA SP-4203 "On the Shoulders of Titans: A History of Project Gemini" in Chapter 12:

   After Gemini VII lifted off, flight control would be carried out in the normal manner while the pad was being prepared for the second launch. Once the flight controllers were sure the orbiting spacecraft was operating properly, Mission Control would concentrate on Schirra and Stafford in their spacecraft, and the tracking network would watch Gemini VII, record data, and send information by teletype to the Houston controllers. This mode would continue until the complicated rendezvous mission ended and Gemini VI-A (so called to distinguish it from the originally planned mission whose objective had been rendezvous with Agena) returned to Earth. Then Gemini VII would become the focus of communications again. Kraft was soon convinced that the operation could be carried out safely. He told his Mission Planning and Analysis Division to set up the flight plan so the second launch could take place as soon as the pad was ready.

posted 12-15-2015 02:18 PM               

I would say VI-A is the proper designation since the actual documentation used to develop engineering and operations for the flown mission would need to be distinguished from the aborted mission. Going back to the aborted mission documentation and retroactively changing it to VI-A doesn't make sense. The "post flight" report for the aborted mission is likely the only documentation that has it "wrong."