Hospital Named After the First American to Walk in Space

Edward White Hospital is named in memory and in honor of Edward Higgins White, II, a Gemini 4 astronaut and the first American to walk in space.

Lt. Col. White., USAF, was the pilot for Gemini Titan 4, a 4-day, 66-revolution space mission from June 3 to June 7, 1965.

During the third “orbit”, Colonel White carried out the United States manned space program’s first extravehicular activity (EVA for short). He was outside Gemini 4 for 21 minutes, using a maneuvering unit to direct his spacewalk.

Born in San Antonio, Texas, on November 14, 1930, Colonel White was a member of the United States Military Academy class of 1952. Upon graduation, he entered the U. S. Air Force and received his pilot’s wings in 1954. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) named him to the astronaut program in 1962.