OTD in Space – June 7: Gemini 4 Returns to Earth

On June 7, 1965, after a four-day mission and 62 orbits, NASA's Gemini 4 mission returned to Earth with an Atlantic Ocean splashdown. Gemini 4 was NASA's 10th manned spaceflight. It included the first spacewalk by an American astronaut. Edward H. White II floated outside the spacecraft for about 20 minutes. White was able to push himself out of the capsule by using a hand-held maneuvering oxygen-jet gun. After 3 minutes of this, the fuel ran out and White had to return to the spacecraft by pulling on the tether and twisting his body. This flight was the first in American history to perform scientific experiments in space, 11 in total.