Footnotes

Before this groundbreaking photograph, human presence in space had only been portrayed through grainy motion pictures or TV footage. Even Alexei Leonov's earlier spacewalk lacked a still image. McDivitt's remarkable shot changed that forever. The first in his series of captivating images immortalizing the first U.S. spacewalk, this photograph—captured with a NASA-modified Hasselblad 500C camera loaded with Ektachrome film—showcases Ed White tethered to the spacecraft, floating against the breathtaking backdrop of Earth over Hawaii.

His gold-plated visor reflects the sun's brilliance, emphasizing the sheer isolation and wonder of floating freely in the vacuum of space. Below him, the brilliant curvature of the blue Earth provides a stark and beautiful contrast, grounding the viewer in the enormity of this achievement. The vast expanse of the planet, with its scattered white clouds and deep oceans, underscores the fragility and beauty of humanity's home.

White is seen holding the Hand-Held Self-Manoeuvring Unit (HHSMU), often referred to as a "space gun," which allowed him to navigate and control his movements. The photograph represents not just a triumph of human ingenuity and technology but also a profound moment of individual courage and awe.

The photograph's composition—White positioned in the foreground, Earth sprawling behind him—symbolizes humanity's first steps into the cosmos, a precursor to the lunar landings and subsequent exploration.

From the mission transcript when the photograph was taken:

004:30:36 White: Okay. I'm out.
004:30:38 McDivitt: Okay. He's out. He's floating free.
004:31:28 White: All right. Now, I've come above the spacecraft and I'm under my own control.
004:31:50 White: Yes. Okay, I'd better get over. Okay, I'm coming over.
004:32:00 McDivitt: Okay. Stand by.
004:32:02 White: See me yet?
004:32:04 McDivitt: No, sure don't.
004:32:05 White: Huh?
004:32:07 White: Oh, there you are. I can spin around now.
004:32:12 McDivitt: Okay. Just a second. You're right in front, Ed. You look beautiful.
004:32:16 White: I feel like a million dollars. All right, we'll pitch up and yaw left. I'm coming back to you.
004:32:31 White: Okay. I put in a little bit too much pitch there.
004:32:36 White: The gun works real great, Jim.
004:32:38 McDivitt: Let me get over where I can see you, Ed.
004:32:40 McDivitt: Take it easy now. You're in a vacuum.
004:32:50 White: Okay. I'll come in and take a look at you now.
004:32:52 McDivitt: Wait a second. Let me take your picture.

Literature
Spacecam: Photographing the Final Frontier from Apollo to Hubble, Hope, p. 46
Exploring Space with a Camera (NASA SP-168), Cortright, ed., p. 150
Apollo Expeditions to the Moon (NASA SP-350), Cortright, ed., p. 38

Watch more
CLICK HERE: Gemini 4 - NASA Mission Summary (Part-1)