Ed White became the first American to walk in space during the Gemini IV mission. He used a handheld device to propel himself away from the spacecraft and spent 36 minutes floating outside the ship. While it was difficult, mission control commanded him back inside. The first spacewalk was a success and helped pave the way for future exploration. On July 21, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon, declaring it as "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." He was joined by Buzz Aldrin, who collected samples and data and planted the American flag on the lunar surface in a monumental achievement for humanity.
1. Walking In Space
Gemini IV would be a four day flight, to further test spacecraft
systems, with one more twist. One astronaut would take a
brief stroll in Space.
2. Jim McDivitt and Ed White
• Ed White would get to become a human
satellite.
• The crew would attempt to hook up with
The Titan II (or named Molly Brown after
the lone survivor of the Titanic).
3. White ready for his space walk
• The crew depressed the cabin and opened
the hatch. Using a hand held propellant
device called a “zip gun”, he propelled
himself away from the space ship.
• He floated free of the ship. He described
what a feeling of freedom it gave him.
• He was having a ball.
4. Command from mission control
• Get back in the space ship. He couldn’t make himself get back in.
• Once again, Mission control commanded him to get in.
• McDivitt said, you better get back in.
• He spent 36 minutes as a human satellite.
• The first space walk was resounding success.
• Computer control reentry shut down.
• Splashed down 60 kilometers off of their targeted landing point. Picked up
immediately.
5. Walk on the moon
July 21, 1969
• American Neil Armstrong has become the first man to walk on the moon.
• As he put his left foot down first Armstrong declared: That’s one small step
for man and one giant leap for mankind.
6. “We came in peace”
• Armstrong spent his first few minutes on
the Moon taking photographs and soil
samples in case the mission had to be
aborted suddenly.
Armstrong’s foot print on
the moon.
7. Was joined by colleague Edwin
“Buss” Aldrin”
• They collected data and performed various exercise-
including jumping across the landscape before planting
the Stars and strips flag. The also unveiled a plaque
bearing President Nixon’s signature and an inscription
reading: Here men from the planet Earth set foot upon
the Moon, July 1969 AD.
8. After 21 hours they left the moon.
• Spent 2 half hours outside the landing
module.
• After re-joining the Columbia mother ship
the astronauts left the Moon’s orbit on July
22nd and returned to Earth on July 24th.