The New Nine (credit To NASA)

A 1963 cartoon poking fun at astronaut Ed White’s enormous appetite; and a portrait of the artist, fellow astronaut John Young, in the process of drawing it.

Neil Armstrong at the Purdue University Gala Week Banquet May 1966

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Ed White, jogging.

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.

New Nine astronauts during desert survival training in Nevada, 1963. At the top, the astronauts listen to a lecture; at bottom, the astronauts practice signaling for safety.

(Credit to Getty)

(Credit to NASA/Life/owners)

Jim Lovell & Frank Borman in TO THE MOON

Jim Lovell: “Just to be confined in there like a sardine in a can, that was a real trial. And, of course, you’re sitting right next to your companion, and for two weeks, being with Frank Borman… Two weeks being with Frank Borman any place was a real challenge. *laughs*”

Lovell: “Frank had a book called ‘Roughing it’ which we tried to read. We also sang to each other.”

Frank Borman: “Nat King Cole, at that time, had a very popular song: ‘Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone’.”

Lovell: “*singing* Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone, let’s pretend that you and I are all alone.”

Borman: “That got on our minds and we sang that damn song for two weeks. *laughs*”

Lovell, laughing: “We still sing it, occasionally.”

08/09/2021 Ferrari Store Milano (shouting crowd warning! Low the volume or set off the sound)