Space Mission
Gemini IV, 3-7 June 1965
Photographer
James McDivitt
Photo Description
Vintage chromogenic print on fiber-based Kodak paper.10 h × 8 w in (25 × 20 cm); Numbered to upper margin ‘NASA G-66-124’ with ‘A Kodak paper’ watermarks to verso. [NASA image S-65-30429]
Essay
This magnificent photograph shows a close-up of the first American EVA, perfectly framed by James McDivitt.
Edward White is floating freely above the blue Earth, right over Texas. In the reflection of his visor, the black sky of space and the spacecraft’s window through which McDivitt shot the photograph are visible.
“When I saw these photographs for the first time I couldn’t believe it. I thought of Buck Rogers. It was scary to look at that stuff in the dark room with the lights out. When you saw those pictures gleaming up from a light table it gave you goose bumps.”
—Les Gaver, former photography director, Public Affairs, NASA (Schick and Van Haaften, pg. 34)
From the mission transcript when the photograph was taken:
004:42:19 McDivitt: Ed, smile.
004:42:26 White: I’m looking right down your gun barrel. All.
004:42:28 McDivitt: Let me take a closeup picture of you.
004:42:30 White: Okay. Just a minute.
004:42:31 McDivitt: You smeared up my windshield, you dirty dog!
004:42:34 White: Did I really?
004:42:35 McDivitt: Yes.
004:42:37 White: Well, hand me out a kleenex and I’ll clean it.
004:42:40 McDivitt: Ha! See how it’s all smeared up there?
004:42:44 White: Yes.
004:42:45 McDivitt: It looks like there is a coating on the outside and you’ve rubbed it off.