Ed White
American astronaut (1930-1967) · United States · On the map · Astronauts · Died at 36
He floated outside Gemini 4 on a tether in June 1965, the first American to walk in space - then burned to death eighteen months later in the Apollo 1 capsule fire that killed the launch pad dream before it ever left the ground.
Ed White is read about 430 times a day, in 47 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 8 November 2026
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Ed White Memorial
Florida by Piotrus 187
Space Mirror Memorial Michael J Adams, Apollo 1
Apollo 1 Tribute Ed White II
Edward Higgins White memorial - Kennedy Space Center - Cape Canaveral, Florida - DSC02846%2C_given_to_Ed_White_for_the_first_American_spacewalk%2C_Gemini_4%2C_1965_-_Kennedy_Space_Center_-_Cape_Canaveral%2C_Florida_-_DSC02910.jpg?width=1200)
Exceptional Service Medal (NASA), given to Ed White for the first American spacewalk, Gemini 4, 1965 - Kennedy Space Center - Cape Canaveral, Florida - DSC02910.jpg?width=1200)
CONTRATULATIONS - ASTRONAUT EDWARD H WHITE II - PERSONAL - ATLANTIC (s65-33533)In their own words 1
, It's the saddest moment of my life.
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About this person
Edward Higgins White II graduated from West Point in 1952, flew F-86 and F-100 fighters in West Germany, then earned a master's in aeronautical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1959 before becoming a test pilot at Wright-Patterson. Selected in NASA's second astronaut group, the "Next Nine," he was assigned as pilot of Gemini 4 alongside James McDivitt. On June 3, 1965, White became the first American to walk in space. He was then named senior pilot of Apollo 1, the first crewed Apollo mission. On January 27, 1967, White died alongside Virgil "Gus" Grissom and Roger B. Chaffee in a fire during pre-launch testing at Cape Canaveral. He was awarded the NASA Distinguished Service Medal for Gemini 4 and the Congressional Space Medal of Honor posthumously.
