Gemini IV
Edward H. White (left of bottom picture) and James A. McDivitt (right of bottom picture) became the two man crew of the Gemini IV when it was launched on June 3, 1965. The objective of Gemini for was to be the first multi-day space flight by the United States. It was designed to show that it was possible for humans to remain in space for extended periods of time. Gemini IV orbited the Earth 66 times in its four day flight, approaching but not breaking the five day flight record set by the Soviet Union in 1963. Future Gemini flights were planned to be longer to continue proving that humans can stay in space for long periods. Gemini IV's second objective was the first American extra-vehicular activity, or EVA, popularly known as a space walk. It would be the second space walk in the world the first being performed by Aleksei Leonov of the Soviet Union in 1965. Gemini IV was launched from Cape Kennedy Air Force Station in Florida, the first flight to be controlled by the new Mission Control Center at the Manned Spacecraft Center in Texas. The Gemini IV launch was also the first launch to be broadcasted internationally to 12 European nations as well as the US. White and McDivitt intended to call Gemini IV American Eagle, but the idea was reflected by NASA. Because White and McDivitt were prohibited from naming their spacecraft, they decided to put the American Flag on their suits, the first Astronauts in the world to do so. The flight was commemorated on 1967 on a pair of United States postage stamps.