Sign In

The Gemini IV mission, conducted by NASA from June 3 to June 7, 1965, marked a series of firsts and notable achievements in the early American space program. As the second crewed spaceflight in NASA's Gemini series, it featured astronauts James McDivitt and Edward H. White II. Most famously, Gemini IV included the first American spacewalk (EVA) performed by White, making him the first U.S. astronaut to float freely in space, a momentous occasion that lasted 21 minutes and showcased the potential for human mobility outside a spacecraft. The mission extended over four days, orbiting the Earth 66 times and providing valuable data on the effects of prolonged spaceflight on the human body, as well as testing various spacecraft systems and maneuvers, significantly contributing to the United States' capabilities and knowledge in human space exploration.