Take a Walk on the Wild Side: Outer Space

First American to Walk in Space.

Edward White the Second was born in San Antonio in 1930. After graduating from West Point, he cross-commissioned into the U.S. Air Force and became a pilot. A few years later, he became a test pilot and flew many aircraft. Eventually, Ed was chosen by NASA to become an astronaut.

In June 1965 while flying in Gemini 4, Ed White opened the hatch to his side of the space capsule and stepped out into space. His crewmate James McDivitt continued to fly the spacecraft while Ed took a stroll in the vastness of space for 23 minutes.

How far can you walk in 23 minutes? During his spacewalk, Ed spacewalked over one quarter of the Earth. And just like you, both Ed and James went through ground school to become pilots.