Gemini IV: Inside NASA's First Spacewalk Mission (Photos)

From Whence They Came

During the four-day mission, astronauts James A McDivitt, command pilot, and Edward H. White II, pilot, used a hand-held Hasselblad camera to collect this image of the Florida coast line and the Cape Kennedy area during one of its 62 revolutions around Earth.

Around the World

Also captured during the Gemini 4 mission, a view of part of the southern portion of the Arabian Peninsula known as Hahramaut Plateau. The dark blue in the background is the Gulf of Aden and the Wadi Hahramaut is the foreground. The photo was taken with a modified 70mm Hasselblad camera using Eastman color film.

Taking in the Scene

Astronaut Edward H. White II, pilot, gazes out the window of the Gemini 4 during the four-day Earth-orbital mission that orbited the Earth 62 times.

Beautiful Earth

The Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf of Oman were also photographed during the Gemini 4 mission. The Seif dunes are in the lower left. The modified 70mm Hasselblad camera was used to capture the image. NASA geologist Dr. Paul Lowman, Jr. headed up the Synoptic Terrain Photograpy.

Walking on Air

On June 3, 1965, astronaut Edward H. White II, Gemini 4 pilot, completed NASA's first EVA and became the first American astronaut to walk in space. During the third revolution around the Earth, White floated outside the spacecraft for 21 minutes. His shaded visor protected him from the unfiltered rays of the sun and he used the HHSMU to control his movements in zero-gravity. To keep White attached to the Gemini 4 craft, a 25-foot umbilical cord was taped to the 23-foot tether cord.

The Middle East

While orbiting the Earth 62 times, images of our home were snapped by the Gemini 4 crew. This image displays the Nile Delta, Egypt, the Suez Canal, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iraq captured during the 12^th revolution of Earth.

Flying High

A water egress para-drop training simulation at Galveston Bay is completed by astronaut Edward H. White II, prime crew pilot for the Gemini 4 Earth-orbital mission.

Safely Onboard

The USS Wasp, prime recovery ship for the Gemini 4 mission, raises the spacecraft to the deck following a successful four day, 62-revolution mission.

Recovery Team at Work

On June 7, 1965, a U.S. Navy frogman team took part in recovering the Gemini 4 spacecraft. The crew of the Gemini 4 — astronauts James A. McDivitt and Edward H. White II — along with the capsule, were collected by the prime recovery vessel, the USS Wasp.

Learning the Ropes

On April 14, 1965, before closing the hatches during water egress training in the Gulf of Mexico, Gemini 4 prime crew, astronauts Edward H. White II (left), pilot; and James A. McDivitt (entering the spacecraft), command pilot, are instructed by Gordon Harvey, Flight Crew Support Division; and Alan M. Rochford, suit technician, Crew Systems Division.