Gemini IV: First American Spacewalk

The Gemini 4 mission, which took place in June 1965, marked a pivotal moment in space exploration, particularly for the United States. On June 3, 1965, astronaut Ed White made history by becoming the first American to conduct a spacewalk, also known as extravehicular activity (EVA).

White's spacewalk began at 3:45 p.m. EDT during the third orbit of the mission. He opened the hatch of the spacecraft and used a hand-held maneuvering oxygen-jet gun to gently propel himself out of the capsule. This momentous event was a significant milestone in NASA's efforts to gain experience in human spaceflight and activities outside the spacecraft.

The spacewalk lasted about 23 minutes, and during that time, White floated freely in the vacuum of space, tethered to the Gemini capsule. He described the experience as "the most comfortable part of the flight," and the sight of Earth from space left a profound impact on him. This successful EVA not only demonstrated that astronauts could work outside their spacecraft but also paved the way for future missions, including the Apollo moon landings.