Space History Photo: Astronaut Edward White Ready For Gemini IV Liftoff

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Astronaut Edward White awaits Gemini IV's launch in the crews ready room on June 3, 1965. (Image credit: NASA.)

In this historical photo from the U.S. space agency, Astronaut Edward H. White II, pilot for NASA's Gemini IV mission is shown in the crew's ready room at Launch Complex 16, suited and ready to ride the van to Launch Complex 19 for insertion in the spacecraft.

The Gemini IV flight was launched at 10:16 am EST on June 3, 1965. The objective of the Gemini IV mission was to evaluate and test the effects of four days in space on the crew, equipment, and control systems. White successfully accomplished the first U.S. spacewalk during the Gemini IV mission.

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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the U.S. government agency in charge of the civilian space program as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. Founded in 1958, NASA is a civilian space agency aimed at exploring the universe with space telescopes,  satellites, robotic spacecraft, astronauts and more. The space agency has 10 major centers based across the U.S. and launches robotic and crewed missions from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral Florida. It's astronaut corps is based at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. To follow NASA's latest mission, follow the space agency on Twitter or any other social channel, of visit: nasa.gov