Rendezvous was first successfully accomplished by US astronaut Wally Schirra on December 15, 1965. Schirra maneuvered the Gemini 6 spacecraft within 1 foot (30 cm) of its sister craft Gemini 7. The spacecraft were not equipped to dock with each other, but maintained station - keeping for more than 20 minutes. Schirra later commented:
when did gemini 6 and 7 complete 1st space rendezvous
December 15, 1965