Remembering Astronaut James McDivitt (1929-2022)

Astronaut James McDivitt, born June 10, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois, passed away October 13, 2022 at age 93.  He was selected as an astronaut by NASA in September 1962 as a member of Astronaut Group 2.  His first mission in space was commander of Gemini IV.  It was the first time a rookie was in command of a NASA flight.  He traveled with Ed White, who conducted the first EVA for the U.S.

McDivitt's second flight was on Apollo 9 as commander in March 3, 1969, with David Scott and Russell Schweickart for 10 days.

He left the Astronaut Corps after Apollo 9, and was assigned backup commander of Apollo 12, and made mission commander of Apollo 15.  He retired in June 1972.

He was honored with the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Air Medal, NASA Distinguished Service Medal, and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal.  

Happy birthday, Gemini and Apollo astronaut James McDivitt!

James McDivitt, born June 10, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois, participated in both Gemini and Apollo programs.   He joined the US Air Force in 1951 and retired as brigadier general in 1972.

His first trip into space was as commander of Gemini IV in June 1965.  Fellow astronaut Edward White conducted the first EVA by an American during the mission.

His second and final mission was aboard Apollo 9 as commander in March 1969.  It was the first flight of the full Apollo spacecraft, with the command and service module (CSM) and the Lunar Module (LM).  The mission lasted ten days.

Ed White, first American to walk in space, 1965

White and McDivitt

Gemini IV, the second manned mission  into space in the Gemini program, launched June 3, 1965.  Ed White II became the first American to walk in space.  The Soviets had managed the feat just a few months prior.  James A McDivitt served as Command Pilot and White was the Pilot.

The mission helped pave the way for the Apollo program.