Smithsonian Institution photograph by Eric Long.	Milestone: First American Spacewalk
	Date of Milestone: June 3, 1965
	Spacecraft: Gemini IV
	Astronaut: Edward H. White II
	Spacecraft Location*: Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum, Milestones of Flight Gallery

On June 3, 1965, astronaut Edward H. White II became the first American to perform an Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) or "spacewalk." During his 20 minutes outside Gemini IV, White remained connected to the spacecraft's life-support and communications systems by the golden "umbilical cord," and he used a hand-held jet thruster to maneuver in space. His crewmate, James A. McDivitt, remained inside the spacecraft. The first EVA had been performed three months earlier by Soviet cosmonaut Aleksei A. Leonov, who remained outside his spacecraft for about 10 minutes.

Gemini IV was the second of 10 manned Gemini missions, which perfected the techniques of spacecraft rendezvous and docking and demonstrated that astronauts could withstand prolonged weightlessness for the planned Apollo missions to the Moon.
Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Design Features:

More Information:
Gemini IV - Space History Artifact Collection