Astronaut Jim McDivitt (Gemini 4, Apollo 9) has died

James McDivitt was 93. He flew with Ed White on Gemini 4, and with David Scott and Rusty Schweickart (both still living) on Apollo 9.

“Apollo 9 was his last trip to space. Despite his instrumental role in propelling NASA’s moon landing, McDivitt himself never reached the moon. Francis French, a spaceflight historian, said McDivitt chose not to command a moon landing mission and decided to take on a management role.”

“It was more important to McDivitt that the overall program was a success than to personally land on the moon,” he told NPR.

Rest in Peace, sir. You had The Right Stuff.

Thanks for this.