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The aviation experience White gained proved to lay the foundation for the skill sets he would later use as an astronaut. His timing proved to be fortuitous. The launch of the Sputnik satellite in 1957 not only ushered in humanity’s entrance to space, but also created a race between the United States and the U.S.S.R. that would carry on for more than a decade. In response to this launching by the U.S.S.R., President Eisenhower signed into law the creation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This new agency would research and develop mankind’s ability to travel in outer space.
The first organized program at NASA began as Project Mercury in 1958. The goal was simple: to determine if humans could survive in space. After several test flights, the answer to this question was immediate – humans had the physical and mental capacity to endure a zero gravity environment. NASA then set the stage for another intrepid endeavor, this time in the form of Project Gemini in 1963, a mere five years after Mercury. Now that scientists knew humans could venture into outer space, their aim was to develop techniques for advanced space travel through low earth orbit flights.
In September 1962, before Project Gemini was announced, White was named as a member of the astronaut team selected by NASA. He was selected as one of nine, from a pool of 200 candidates, to become an astronaut. Soon after, White became heavily involved in the Gemini program.
White’s first time to space was as a pilot for the Gemini 4 flight, a four-day mission from June 3-7, 1965. During this flight, he made his way into the history books as the first American to make a spacewalk while outside the spacecraft for 21 minutes. Other highlights of the mission included the study of cabin depressurization, the opening of cabin doors and 12 scientific and medical experiments. On Gemini 4’s return to Earth, President Johnson promoted White to the rank of lieutenant colonel and presented him with the NASA Exceptional Service Medal and the U.S. Air Force Senior Astronaut Wings.
Despite an extremely short period of time between the Mercury and Gemini programs, technology and research at NASA progressed rapidly. Mankind was now on course to land on the moon by the end of the 1960s hoping to emerge victorious against rival U.S.S.R. To embark on this new objective, NASA unveiled its Apollo program to transport America’s heroes. Project Apollo was the next step after Gemini to land a man on the moon and return him safely to Earth.
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