On June 3, 1965, NASA astronaut Edward White became the first American to walk in space when he spent about 23 minutes outside the Gemini 4 spacecraft, maneuvering around with a hand-held oxygen-jet gun. That mission also was the first time the agency’s famed Mission Control Center at the Johnson Space Center was used. NASA’s celebration of the first U.S. spacewalk, also known as an extravehicular activity or EVA – included a documentary narrated by actor Jon Cryer and featuring NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden, Deputy Administrator Dava Newman and others. The film, titled Suit Up, focused on the five decade history of spacewalks and the future of humans working on a tether in space. Also, U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame induction, Pluto’s moons tumbling about, 2015 Atlantic hurricane season begins, Agency Honor Awards and A ringing endorsement for space.

TRANSCRIPT

50 years of spacewalks

Ed White-quick bite during EVA:
“This is the greatest experience, I …it’s just tremendous!”

On June 3, 1965, NASA astronaut Edward White became the first American to walk in space when he spent about 23 minutes outside the Gemini 4 spacecraft, maneuvering around with a hand-held oxygen-jet gun. That mission also was the first time the agency’s famed Mission Control Center at the Johnson Space Center was used.

NASA’s celebration of the first U.S. spacewalk, also known as an extravehicular activity or EVA – included a documentary narrated by actor Jon Cryer and featuring NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden, Deputy Administrator Dava Newman and others. The film, titled Suit Up, focused on the five decade history of spacewalks and the future of humans working on a tether in space.

U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame induction

NASA’s Associate Administrator for science and astronaut, John Grunsfeld was one of four people inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, during a recent ceremony at Kennedy Space Center’s visitor complex. The other inductees are former astronauts Steve Lindsey, Kent Rominger, and M. Rhea Seddon. That brings the total number of Hall of Fame space explorers to 91.

Pluto’s moons tumbling about

Data from NASA‘s Hubble Space Telescope show two of Pluto’s moons, Nix and Hydra, are wobbling about unpredictably. The moons are in this state, presumably because they are located in the constantly-shifting gravitational field that exists between Pluto and its largest moon Charon. Scientists believe Pluto’s other two moons, Kerberos and Styx, also are likely  experiencing effects of that gravitational instability. These new discoveries are being used to plan science observations for NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft’s flyby of Pluto in mid-July.

2015 Atlantic hurricane season begins

The 2015 Atlantic Hurricane Season began on June 1, much like last year’s ended – quietly. No major hurricanes measuring category 3 or above have made landfall in the U.S. for the past nine years, and 2015 is also expected to be a quiet season. Resource imagery and data of past hurricanes is available online at NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio website. Just navigate to http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/ and search “2015 hurricane”.

Agency Honor Awards

NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden helped recognize the best of the best at NASA during the Agency Honor Awards June 2 at Kennedy Space Center, the annual awards highlight the distinguished contributions of the honorees and thank them for their valued service to NASA and its mission.

A ringing endorsement for space

NASA officials and representatives from the agency’s commercial partners rang the closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange on June 4. NASA’s work with the companies is boosting the growth of the U.S. commercial space industry – providing greater access to low-Earth orbit and creating new jobs and markets.

And that’s what’s up this week @NASA