NASA’s Project Gemini was an important step in America’s goal to land on the moon. Gemini had many milestone achievements as America learned to work in space. One of those milestones was reached by Gemini IV on June 3, 1965 when astronaut Ed White II became the first American to leave the spacecraft and walk in space. He found the experience so exhilarating that when it was time to return to the spacecraft he said, “It’s the saddest moment of my life.” Gemini IV spent just over 4 days in orbit. Tragically, Ed White was later killed along with Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee in the Apollo 1 fire.