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Gemini 4

Gemini IV
Ed White First American Spacewalker - GPN-2000-001180.jpg
Edward H. White, the first American to perform extravehicular activity, outside of Gemini IV
Operator NASA
COSPAR ID 1965-043A
SATCAT № 1390
Mission duration 4 days, 1 hour, 56 minutes, 12 seconds
Distance travelled 2,590,600 kilometers (1,398,800 nautical miles)
Orbits completed 66 (62 revolutions)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft Gemini SC4
Manufacturer McDonnell
Launch mass 3,570 kilograms (7,880 lb)
Crew
Crew size 2
Members James A. McDivitt
Edward H. White II
EVAs 1
Start of mission
Launch date June 3, 1965, 15:15:59 (1965-06-03UTC15:15:59Z) UTC
Rocket Titan II GLV, s/n 62-12559
Launch site Cape Kennedy LC-19
End of mission
Recovered by USS Wasp
Landing date June 7, 1965, 17:12:11 (1965-06-07UTC17:12:12Z) UTC
Landing site North Atlantic Ocean
27°44′N 74°11′W / 27.733°N 74.183°W / 27.733; -74.183
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth orbit
Perigee 165 kilometers (89 nmi)
Apogee 289 kilometers (156 nmi)
Inclination 32.5 degrees
Period 89.03 minutes
Epoch June 3, 1965

Gemini Four patch.jpg

Gemini-Titan 4 portrait.jpg
(L-R) White, McDivitt
← Gemini 3
Gemini 5 →

Gemini Four patch.jpg

Gemini 4 (officially Gemini IV) was the second manned space flight in NASA's Project Gemini, occurring in June 1965. It was the tenth manned American spaceflight (including two X-15 flights at altitudes exceeding 100 kilometers (54 nmi)). Astronauts James McDivitt and Edward H. White, II circled the Earth 66 times in four days, making it the first US flight to approach the five-day flight of the Soviet Vostok 5. The highlight of the mission was the first space walk by an American, during which White floated free outside the spacecraft, tethered to it, for approximately 20 minutes. Both of these accomplishments helped the United States overcome the Soviet Union's early lead in the Space Race.

The flight also included the first attempt to make a space rendezvous as McDivitt attempted to maneuver his craft close to the Titan II upper stage which launched it into orbit, but this was not successful.

The flight was the first American flight to perform many scientific experiments in space, including use of a sextant to investigate the use of celestial navigation for lunar flight in the Apollo program.


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