Gemini 4 (GT-4), launched on June 3, 1965, was the second manned flight of the Gemini program, crewed by James A. McDivitt and Edward H. White II. The mission's highlight was the
first American extra-vehicular activity (EVA), or "space walk," conducted by White, who remained tethered outside the spacecraft for 22 minutes. NASA accelerated the schedule for this EVA after Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov completed the first-ever EVA on March 18, 1965.
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| A Gemini 4 cover from "Orbit Covers", featuring a launch day postmark. The mission's goal was to assess and test the effects of four days in space on the crew, equipment, and control systems. This cover is signed by Edward White and James McDivitt and postmarked in Cape Canaveral on launch day, June 3, 1965. - RRAuction |
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| Photo: The Gemini 4 crew, Edward White and James McDivitt. |
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| Photo: Edward White and James McDivitt playfully using a stethoscope after their extensive physical examination on June 1, 1965. |
Gemini 4 was the United States' first multi-day space flight, demonstrating that humans could stay in space for extended periods. The mission lasted four days and covered 66 orbits, but it did not surpass the five-day record set by the Soviet Vostok 5 in June 1963. Later Gemini missions were designed to last longer, proving that astronauts could endure the time necessary for a round trip to the Moon.
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| Photo: Edward White and James McDivitt enjoy breakfast before preparing for their four-day space flight on June 3, 1965. |
The Gemini program was overseen by the Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC) in Houston, Texas. With Gemini 4, the MSC's Mission Control Center assumed flight control responsibilities from the Mercury Control Center at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. This marked the first flight managed by the new Mission Control Center in Houston. Throughout the mission, the Gemini 4 spacecraft came within range of 20 tracking stations located from the Canary Islands to Tananarive. Data transmitted from the spacecraft to these stations was then relayed to the computer center at Goddard, near Washington, D.C., where it was processed and sent to the Mission Control Center in Houston.
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| Photo: Alan Shepard (right) and Frank Borman (center) at Pad 19 blockhouse during the final seconds of the countdown before the liftoff of the Gemini 4 spacecraft. Borman served as the backup crew member for Gemini 4. |
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| Starting with the Gemini IV mission in 1965, mission control operations were relocated to Houston, Texas. This cover from the NASA Manned Spacecraft Center was postmarked at Webster, Texas, on June 3, 1965, coinciding with the launch day of the Gemini 4 mission. |
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| Photo: Launch of Gemini 4 space flight on June 3, 1965. |
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| Photo: U.S. President Johnson observes the televised launch of Gemini 4. |
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| A Gemini 4 cover postmarked at Cape Canaveral on launch day, June 3, 1965. This cover is signed by Edward White. |
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| Photo: Flight surgeon Charles A. Berry oversees the health status of Edward White and James McDivitt from the Mission Control Center in Houston. |
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| The medical condition of the Gemini 4 astronauts was monitored as they passed over the Grand Canary tracking station. This cover is postmarked at Grand Canary on June 3, 1965. |
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| Photo: A map illustrating Edward White's spacewalk during the third orbit around the Earth. |
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| A Gemini 4 cover from the Antigua Auxiliary Air Force Base tracking station, featuring a small rubber stamp that indicates the space flight details and a stamped cachet of an astronaut in a spacewalk. |
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| Photo: Edward White exits the Gemini 4 spacecraft and prepares to float in space at the end of his tether for a 20-minute spacewalk. |
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| Photo: Edward White floating on his back while operating his oxygen gun to maneuver himself around the Gemini 4 spacecraft during his spacewalk. |
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| A "Celestial" Gemini 4 cover featuring an illustration of an astronaut in a spacewalk, postmarked in Cape Canaveral on launch day, June 3, 1965. This cover is signed by Edward H. White and James A. McDivitt. Edward White made history by successfully completing the first U.S. spacewalk during the Gemini 4 mission. - RegencyStamps |
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| Photo: Edward White propels himself past the open hatch of the Gemini 4 spacecraft during his spacewalk. This image was captured by command pilot James A. McDivitt using a 16 mm movie camera. |
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| Photo: USS Wasp, the prime recovery ship for the Gemini 4 mission. |
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| A rare hand-canceled postmark from the USS Wasp, dated June 7, 1965, features signatures from several individuals: Francis M. Rogallo (an aeronautical engineer known as the "Father of Hang Gliding"), Clarence O. Fiske (Recovery Helicopter Pilot), Fred Kelly (Flight Surgeon), Dennis W. Bowman (team lead frogman), Roger H. Bates (Frogman), and Joseph E. Heinlein (Commanding Officer UDT 21). |
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| Photo: The Gemini 4 capsule splashing down in the North Atlantic Ocean, with the crew being lifted from a life raft into the recovery helicopter. |
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| Photo: James McDivitt and Edward White aboard the USS Wasp. |
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| Photo: The recovery of the Gemini 4 capsule. |
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| A Gemini 4 recovery ship cover from the USS Wasp, featuring a Beck rubber-stamped cachet. This cover is signed by James A. McDivitt and Edward H. White. |
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| Photo: Edward White and James McDivitt preparing for a comprehensive physical examination aboard the USS Wasp. |
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| A Gemini 4 recovery cover from the USS Wasp, featuring a blue Beck rubber-stamped cachet without the ocean name. This cover includes autopen signatures from James A. McDivitt and Edward H. White. |
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| Photo: Edward White demonstrating to the crew members of the USS Wasp how he exited the Gemini 4 capsule for his 20-minute spacewalk. |
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| A Gemini 4 USS Wasp Captain's cover, postmarked on the recovery day, June 7, 1965. This cover is signed by James McDivitt and Edward White, and features a printed signature of the commanding officer. - RRAuction |
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| Photo: James McDivitt and Edward White at the chow line aboard the USS Wasp on their second day back on Earth after spending four days in orbit. |
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| A rare Gemini 4 USS Wasp Beck CREW Cover, of which only 25 covers without the "B" number printed exist. |
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| A Gemini 3 printed Beck cachet cover that was re-used for the Gemini 4 recovery, postmarked aboard the USS Wasp on June 7, 1965. |
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| Photo: Edward White describing his spaceflight mission with crew members of the USS Wasp during mealtime on June 8, 1965. |
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| A cover postmarked on Gemini 4 recovery day, June 7, 1965, signed by the ship's Captain, James W. Conger. It also features an additional USS Wasp hand cancel from Gemini 7 recovery day on December 18, 1965. |
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| Gemini 3 Beck cachet covers that were mistakenly sent to the wrong "Owens" ship, later postmarked on Gemini 4 launch day, June 3, 1965. |
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| Photo: James McDivitt and Edward White present a flown U.S. flag to President Johnson on June 17, 1965. |
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| A postcard featuring the "Space Twin" stamps, signed by Edward White, who was the first American to perform a spacewalk during the Gemini 4 mission on June 3, 1965. - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles |
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| Photo: A photo captures the moment when astronauts Edward White and James McDivitt greet Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, who is shaking hands with them on June 19, 1965, at Le Bourget Airport in Paris. In the center of the image is U.S. Vice President Hubert Humphrey. |
(Reference from
Gemini 4)
