Capsule, Gemini IV

Astronaut

Edward H. White, II

James A. McDivitt

Manufacturer

McDonnell Aircraft Corp.

Summary

On June 3, 1965, a Titan II rocket launched this spacecraft, Gemini IV, carrying astronauts James McDivitt and Edward White into orbit. The flight lasted four days and included a historic space walk by White, the first by an American, early in the mission. Ten weeks earlier, Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov had become the first human to "walk in space." NASA broadcast the audio from White's 22-minute "extra-vehicular activity" (EVA) live; he enormously enjoyed the experience.

The flight plan also included a rendezvous with the discarded second stage of the Titan II rocket. It was aborted, however, after pilot Jim McDivitt experienced unexpected difficulties reaching the booster because he had not been properly trained in rendezvous techniques. Other experiments during this flight included Earth photography, space radiation measurements, and medical effects of prolonged weightlessness. In 1967 NASA transferred the spacecraft to the Smithsonian.

Impact or Innovation

Gemini IV achieved the first American spacewalk, a major step toward living and working in space.

Brief Description

The Gemini program provided a critical bridge between the one-person Mercury program and the sophisticated Apollo missions to the Moon. During the Gemini IV mission, astronaut Ed White ventured out of this spacecraft to complete America's first "space walk."

Credit Line

Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Inventory Number

A19670209000

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

SPACECRAFT-Crewed

Materials

Structure: Titanium; cylindrical section: beryllium alloy; conical section: Rene 41 (nickel-steel alloy); heat shield: silicone elastomer

Skin: Beryllium, Nickel Alloy

Dimensions