60 years ago the US took its first walk in space with Gemini 4 It is 60 years since Ed White became the first American to float outside a spacecraft. Gemini 4 launched on June 3, 1965, with the goals of demonstrating that the US was capable of mounting a multi-day crewed mission, sending one of the crew outside the capsule on an extravehicular activity (EVA), and attempting a rendezvous …
Watched Shepards suborbital flight in grade school on a tv. B/W tv on a high stand with wheels. didn't get much done that day. Think we had been prepared earlier in the week to watch it, but it got canceled. Couldn't have watched it at home as we didn't have a tv back then.
"It's a real shame this article isn't about Alexi Leonov. Isn't that the achievement here?"
This article was because the other day was the anniversary of the US's first spacewalk, that's all. The Reg have covered Leonov and his exploits before:
https://www.theregister.com/2015/03/19/on_50th_anniversary_of_first_spacewalk_aurorae_light_up_two_planets/
https://www.theregister.com/2019/10/14/alexei_leonov_obit/
Ffrom first spacewalk to moon landing in just four years is a reminder of just how quickly NASA was able to move, once upon a time. SpaceX and the private sector look fast now, but really only because NSAS has become so incredibly sluggish and inefficient. In comparison with 1960's NASA, SpaceX is crawling along.
Ob.politics: Of course SpaceX only has one Nazi, whereas 1960's NASA had buildings full of them
"from first spacewalk to moon landing in just four years is a reminder of just how quickly NASA was able to move, once upon a time"
True, but that was in a time when NASA was effectively on a war footing against the USSR. That NASA did what they did so quickly is testament to what you can achieve with huge resources, a reduced risk appetite and a national desire to beat a feared enemy. SpaceX have done great stuff with their huge resources, reduced risk appetite (for their uncrewed stuff that is) and maybe desire to beat a commercial enemy, whoever they think that is.
Rather humorous and not far from the truth.
I recall reading when the cold war and space race were still a going concern, someone in the US referring dismissively to the German rocket scientists hoovered up by the Soviets after WW2: "Our NAZIS are better than their NAZIS."
History might conclude that both sides went on to successfully breed their own to augment their imports.
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