James McDivitt

First U.S. spacewalk; Ed White’s EVA over the cloud-covered Pacific Ocean

Gemini IV, June 3-7, 1965, orbit 3, 004:34:45 GET

Large-format presentation vintage chromogenic print on fiber-based Kodak paper, with “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the verso.
35.7 x 28cm. (14 x 11in.)

This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.
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Lot Essay

According to Ed White, “This was a picture taken by my teammate, James McDivitt, on the third revolution of Gemini IV. I had a specially designed spacesuit which had 21 layers of thermal and micrometeoroid protection. My face was protected by a double gold-plated visor which provided protection from the unfiltered rays of the Sun. In my hand I held a small self-maneuvering unit which gave me control of my movements in space. On my chest was an oxygen chestpack that regulated the flow of oxygen to my suit and provided an 8-minute supply of emergency oxygen. I was secured to the spacecraft by a 25-foot umbilical line and a 23-foot tether line, which were secured together and wrapped with a golden tape for thermal insulation. On the top of the Hand-held Self-Maneuvering Unit was mounted a 35mm camera to record the event from outside the spacecraft” (Cortright, p. 151).

004:34:24 McDivitt: Okay. Let me get some ..... to you, Ed. I ought to be getting some tremendous pictures of you. Let me try again with the Hasselblad.
004:34:31 White: Okay. I think I’ve exhausted my air now.
004:34:33 McDivitt: Okay.
004:34:36 McDivitt: Stay right there.
004:34:40 White: I had very good control with it. I just needed more air (on the self-maneuvering unit).
004:34:45 McDivitt: Okay. Stand by. Let me take a couple of pictures, ole buddy.
004:34:48 White: All right.