On June 3, 1965, when Gemini IV astronaut Ed White emerged from his spacecraft, he became the first American to walk in space. For more than 20 minutes, White maneuvered himself around the Gemini spacecraft while it traveled from over Hawaii to the Gulf of Mexico -- making his orbital stroll 6,500 miles long. White was attached to the spacecraft by a 25-foot umbilical line and a 23-foot tether line, both wrapped in gold tape to form one cord. The visor of his helmet was gold plated to protect him from the unfiltered rays of the sun. In his right hand, White carried a Hand Held Self Maneuvering Unit, which he used to move about the weightless environment of space. Credit: NASA #nasa #astronaut #nasahistory #gemini #tbth #throwbackthurs