Commander John Young After STS-1, The First Orbital Flight Of NASA’s Space Shuttle Program Aboard The

reblog this, and tag which one of them would you take to kindergarten

I found the drawing from 2 years ago.

(Credit to the owners)

Gus and Ed at Downey, June 1966

ORIGINAL ART FROM HARK A VAGRANT.

This is the DUMBEST thing I’ve ever done.

Neil Armstrong Back In The Module Just After The Moon Landing. 1969

Col. Edward H White

After he became the first American to walk in space in June 3, 1965, astronaut Ed White received a deluge of fan letters. Because of the similarity of their names, some of the letters were addressed to Ed Dwight, a USAF test pilot Captain, and the first African-American to complete USAF’s astronaut training programme, Although he was not selected for NASA’s astronaut group in 1963, it was obvious by the amount of mail addressed to him that many thought he had. Ed White gathered all the letters (two boxes) addressed to Ed Dwight and delivered them personally. Seeing the amount of fan mail Capt. Dwight received, Ed White remarked, “Now I understand how important it is for you to go into space”.  (Chasing the Moon, 2019, Robert Stone and Alan Andres).

After astronaut Elliot See’s death in February 28, 1966, Ed White and his family made several visits to the See family. On one such visit, Ed “climbed up the huge pine tree” at the back of their house to hang a rope swing for See’s children to play with. It was - See’s oldest daughter Carrie recalled - “something a father would do for his children.” (Fallen Astronauts, 2003, Colin Burgess)

In April 1964, a fire broke out at Neil and Janet Armstrong’s home. Their neighbour Ed White came rushing in with a water hose. Janet later recalled seeing him bound their six foot fence to get to them. Ed then helped rescue the Armstrong children and property until the arrival of the fire services. (First Man. 2005, James Hansen).

In January 27, 1967 the crew of Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee participated in a plugs out test while strapped inside the command module of Apollo 1. Hours into the test, fire broke out inside the capsule. Within minutes, the astronauts, unable to escape, succumbed. When their bodies were found, it was determined that Ed White had tried to open the command module’s hatch before he was overwhelmed by toxic gasses and thermal burns. Ed White was 36 years old and he left behind his wife, Pat, and children, Bonnie and Eddie.

Today, I rode my bike to the Ed White Memorial hospital in St Petersburg, Florida. Established in the late 1970’s by his family members and community support, the lobby displays some information on his life in space, most notably, and logically, his Gemini 4 flight. Also on display is one of his training jumpsuits for the Apollo 1 mission. For those wondering why St Pete has this, it’s because his family relocated here after Ed left home. His brother was rather acquainted with the area though. Soon, Emily and I are going to go back here, as well as check out their former home. In a non-creepy way.

Drawing Neil again! I love that pic of the crew smiling.