First American space walk. Astronaut Edward H. White II floating in space during the Gemini IV space mission. White spent 21 minutes outside the spacecraft on 3rd June 1965, becoming the first American to walk in space. He was attached to the spacecraft by an 8-metre-long tether and umbilical line. The Gemini IV mission was launched on 3rd June 1965 and lasted 4 days, performing 62 orbits of the Earth. During the flight, White and fellow pilot James A. McDivitt performed a series of scientific and engineering experiments.