Soccer Dad

First space walk remembered

I forgot to note this earlier, but this week was the 43rd anniversary of the first American spacewalk.

During the Gemini 4 mission on June 3, 1965, Ed White became the first American to conduct a spacewalk. The spacewalk started at 3:45 p.m. EDT on the third orbit when White opened the hatch and used the hand-held manuevering oxygen-jet gun to push himself out of the capsule.

The EVA started over the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii and lasted 23 minutes, ending over the Gulf of Mexico. Initially, White propelled himself to the end of the 8-meter tether and back to the spacecraft three times using the hand-held gun. After the first three minutes the fuel ran out and White maneuvered by twisting his body and pulling on the tether.

In a photograph taken by Commander James McDivitt taken early in the EVA over a cloud-covered Pacific Ocean, the maneuvering gun is visible in White's right hand. The visor of his helmet is gold-plated to protect him from the unfiltered rays of the sun.

(Courtesy of NASA)

The astronauts of STS-124 celebrated the anniversary appropriately:

Spacewalk facts Tue, 03 Jun 2008 07:31:48 PM EDT

The first U.S. spacewalk was completed on this date 43 years ago by Gemini IV astronaut Ed White. This was the 195th spacewalk conducted by U.S. astronauts. It was the 110th spacewalk for space station assembly, the 76th out of the Quest airlock.

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Spacewalk complete at 7:10 p.m. EDT
Tue, 03 Jun 2008 07:14:44 PM EDT

Spacewalkers Mike Fossum and Ron Garan completed all the objectives of the mission's first spacewalk, which concluded after six hours, 48 minutes. The spacewalkers prepared the Kibo Japanese Pressurized Module for its installation to the space station, demonstrated cleaning techniques for the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint's race ring, and installed a replacement SARJ Trundle Bearing Assembly.

Here's a video of the spacewalk.

I had not realized but Buzz Lightyear met with that other Buzz and was cleared to fly on this mission too.
Here's a video of the historic meeting.

Too infinity and beyond!