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Author
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Topic: Gemini IV EVA: The glove that got away
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Philip
Member Posts: 6145
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 04-07-2009 05:02 PM
   
The Gemini IV TV images (taken by second astronaut James McDivitt) of Lt. Col. Edward White's spacewalk in June 1965 clearly show a glove floating out of the capsule. This was clearly a glove of a reserve pair as both astronauts were wearing their outer spacesuit gloves.More details on this rare occurrence of losing hardware during EVA (spacewalk)? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 48398
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 04-07-2009 05:08 PM
Although it still cannot be considered common, the number of items lost since spacewalks began to assemble the International Space Station has topped 50, ranging in size from small screws to a camera and the now famous tool bag... |
John Charles
Member Posts: 342
From: Houston, Texas, USA
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 04-07-2009 09:04 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Philip:
...a glove floating out of the capsule.
Yes, I believe the lost glove was an optional thermal glove, to be worn over the pressure glove at the astronaut's discretion. Without checking my notes, I don't recall if he wore just one of the two, or neither of them. If I recall correctly, he also had a short-sleeve thermal vest — complete with another US flag on the left sleeve — that he opted not to wear. By the way, no TV from GT-4, still photos and movies only. |
Philip
Member Posts: 6145
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 04-09-2009 10:56 AM
Okay John, thanks for the update, any confirmations welcome. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4458
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 04-11-2009 07:49 AM
This thread reminds me of a story recalled by Charlie Duke concerning Ken Mattingly and his Apollo 16 deep space EVA.In readiness for the spacewalk Ken had removed his wedding band and stowed it in the command module. As Ken made his way back from the SIM bay his wedding band managed to escape, floating out past Charlie (was stood in the CM hatch), on its way to the vastness of space. By sheer chance Charlie spotted the band as it struck Ken on his visor before bouncing back towards the grateful crewmate who managed to grab it on its return trajectory. But for good fortune Ken Mattingly's wedding band would have been another statistic on the roll of items lost in space. |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1371
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 04-14-2009 02:59 AM
Another thing that drifted out of the spacecraft on Gemini 4 (you don't see it in the film), was Ed White's toothbrush. After the EVA it was no where to be found. |
Fra Mauro
Member Posts: 1739
From: Bethpage, N.Y.
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 04-14-2009 10:04 AM
The Duke story was shown in "From The Earth to the Moon," in the episode called "The First Wives' Club." |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3633
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-14-2013 08:13 PM
The Gemini 4 crew debriefing indicates that it was Ed White's right thermal glove that floated out the hatch during his EVA. White removed both thermal gloves to open the right hatch and handed the gloves to Jim McDivitt. After mounting the EVA camera outside the hatch, White asked McDivitt for his left thermal glove and put it on. From the flight crew debriefing: WHITE: ... it was really quite a sensation to see the glove floating off. I asked Jim a few minutes before about the glove, or Jim had asked me, "Hey, do you want this other glove?" About a minute later, I saw it go floating out of the hatch.McDIVITT: All I can say, Ed, was about a half hour later I was sure thankful that we had gotten rid of something. We had so much other junk that we didn't want. WHITE: I saw the glove come floating out of the right-hand hatch, and it was a perfectly clear picture of the glove as it floated out. It floated out over my right shoulder and out -- it looked like it was on a definite trajectory going somewhere. I don't know where it was going. It floated very smartly out of the spacecraft and out into space. McDIVITT: I think this had a lot to do with that outgassing. There was a definite stream -- WHITE: Yes. It was following the streamline right out of the spacecraft. McDIVITT: It went out perpendicular to the spacecraft, whichever direction that is. WHITE: Back to getting back in the spacecraft -- I had one thermal glove on the one hand, my left hand. I always wanted my right hand to be free to operate that gun and the camera ... |
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