December 1965 was a critical month in the Space Race. The United States was pushing the boundaries of orbital mechanics, attempting feats that had never been done before. But ten days before Christmas, Mission Control in Houston received a transmission that stopped everyone in their tracks.
Astronauts aboard the Gemini 6 spacecraft broke the silence with a disturbing report. They claimed to see an unidentified object in a polar orbit. It had a strange configuration and a pilot wearing a bright red suit. For a few heart-stopping moments, the ground crew did not know if they were dealing with a hallucination, a Soviet threat, or something extraterrestrial.
A Historic Space Rendezvous
Just hours earlier, astronauts Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford had completed a perfect mission. They had successfully maneuvered their capsule, Gemini 6, within feet of its sister ship, Gemini 7. This was the first-ever rendezvous of two manned spacecraft in orbit, a maneuver requiring precise mathematical and piloting skill.
The success proved that NASA could link vehicles in space, a necessary step for eventually reaching the moon. With the hard work finished, the crew prepared for their return to Earth.
A Tense Report from Orbit
As the reentry checklist began on December 16, Stafford’s voice came over the radio. He sounded serious. He told Mission Control, “We have an object, looks like a satellite going from north to south, probably in polar orbit.” The ground controllers listened intently.
Stafford continued his description, noting that the object was going to re-enter the atmosphere shortly. Then he added the details that caused confusion. He described a “command module” with “eight smaller modules in front.” Finally, he delivered the punchline: “The pilot of the command module is wearing a red suit.”
The Musical Reveal
Before the ground crew could respond to the confusing description, a sound began to play over the speakers in Houston. It was not static or engine noise. It was the distinct melody of “Jingle Bells.” Wally Schirra had smuggled a tiny Hohner harmonica on board, while Stafford had brought a set of small bells.
Together, they performed the first live concert in the history of spaceflight. The tension in Houston evaporated immediately. Mission Control’s Elliot See, who had been bracing for a problem, laughed and told the crew, “You’re too much.”
Instruments of History
The prank had been planned weeks in advance, unbeknownst to the flight directors. Schirra and Stafford had practiced the duet on Earth to ensure they could pull it off. The instruments they used were small enough to fit in their pockets, necessary for the cramped quarters of the Gemini capsule.
Today, that small harmonica and the sleigh bells sit in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. They remain a physical record of the moment when humor and humanity reached the vacuum of space.
In December 1965, NASA’s Mission Control froze.
Astronauts Schirra and Stafford on Gemini 6 reported a UFO in polar orbit.
They described a strange command module with eight smaller modules ahead of it.
The pilot? He was wearing a red suit.
The radio went silent…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/P7a8yrmXpt
— Fascinating True Stories (@FascinatingTrue) December 24, 2025