Ed White - Blog Posts
“Even among the astronauts, Ed White had always stood out; a strapping six-footer who had barely missed becoming an Olympic hurdler, he was known as one of the finest physical specimens in the Astronaut Office. And perhaps more than any astronaut except John Glenn, White subscribed to their ail-American image. In 1965, after he became the first American to walk in space, White easily wore the mantle of a national hero. There appeared to be no limit to how far he might go.”
Andrew Chaikin, A Man on the Moon
Introducing the New Nine, LIFE Magazine, September 28, 1962.
My favorite things about this photo, in no particular order:
Ed White’s expression
Jim and Frank. Just in general. But also that weird bald patch on Frank’s head.
HOLY SHIT LOOK AT PETE. PETE, I LOVE YOUR FACE.
The little blurbs about them on the side are totally distressing: why are they giving out these poor fellas’ heights and weights?
On that same note, why is John so goddamn heavy? He’s the wiriest of the lot of them! My money is on that ridiculously broad upper body. And by “my money is on his upper body,” I mean “I wish my hands were on his upper body.”
I totally did not just say that.
Why was this photo taken from up in a tree? I think Ralph Morse had some serious problems with being on the ground. He’s always photographing things from really curious angles.
5/16/63: “Tense Observer: Edward White II, one of the nine new astronauts, listens intently in the Mercury Control Center at Cape Canaveral Fla., as Gordon Cooper’s 22-orbit flight through space was monitored through the night. The new spacemen were observers in the control center to prepare themselves for their future role in space.”
Come una movie star!
Ed White during some medical testing after his selection as an astronaut, 1963
I'm crying.
It's too sad and ... We miss all of you, guys!
I miss you, Neil...
I can’t believe it’s been fifty-five years since the greatest group of guys in the whole world were presented as the next American astronauts
