# Ed White

> American astronaut (1930-1967)

**Wikidata**: [Q216726](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q216726)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_White_(astronaut))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ed-white

## Summary
Ed White was an American astronaut, military officer, and test pilot who served as a member of NASA Astronaut Group 2. Born in 1930, he was a key figure in the United States space program and a recipient of the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. His career spanned military service, aviation testing, and space exploration until his death in 1967.

## Biography
- **Born:** November 14, 1930
- **Nationality:** United States
- **Education:** University of Michigan; United States Military Academy; U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School
- **Known for:** Service as an astronaut and test pilot; member of NASA Astronaut Group 2
- **Employer(s):** National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- **Field(s):** Aeronautics, Military Service, Athletics

## Contributions
Ed White contributed to the field of aeronautics and space exploration through his service as a test pilot, where he flew new or modified aircraft to evaluate and certify performance. As a member of NASA Astronaut Group 2, selected in September 1962, he contributed to the early human spaceflight initiatives of the United States. His work as a military officer and athletics competitor further highlighted his diverse capabilities in physical and operational service.

## FAQs
**What was Ed White's role in NASA?**
Ed White was an astronaut selected as part of NASA Astronaut Group 2 in 1962, serving as a crew member of spacecraft during the agency's early operations.

**Where did Ed White complete his education?**
He attended the United States Military Academy, the University of Michigan, and the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School.

**What awards did Ed White receive for his service?**
He was awarded the Harmon Trophy, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the Golden Plate Award, and the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

**How is Ed White honored posthumously?**
White is commemorated by a lunar crater named "White" and has been inducted into both the National Aviation Hall of Fame and the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame.

**What were Ed White's primary professions?**
He was a military officer, a test pilot, an astronaut, and an athletics competitor.

## Why They Matter
Ed White holds significance as a member of the second generation of NASA astronauts, a group that played a critical role in advancing the United States' capabilities in space exploration during the 1960s. His recognition with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor underscores the high value placed on his service and sacrifice. The naming of a lunar crater in his honor ensures his legacy is permanently recorded on the surface of the Moon. His induction into the National Aviation Hall of Fame and the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame cements his status as a pivotal figure in the history of aviation and space travel.

## Notable For
- **NASA Astronaut Group 2:** Selected in September 1962 as part of the second group of astronauts.
- **Congressional Space Medal of Honor:** Recipient of this high-level order awarded by the United States.
- **NASA Distinguished Service Medal:** Awarded this medal by NASA for his service.
- **Harmon Trophy:** Recipient of this prestigious set of aviation awards.
- **Golden Plate Award:** Awarded by the American Academy of Achievement.
- **Halls of Fame:** Inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame and the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame.
- **Lunar Crater:** The lunar crater "White" is named in his honor.
- **Test Pilot Career:** Graduated of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and served as an aviator evaluating aircraft performance.

## Body
### Identity and Early Life
Ed White, whose full name was Edward Higgins White II, was a United States citizen born on November 14, 1930. He was a human being distinguished by a career that combined military discipline, athletic competition, and high-risk aviation. His life was characterized by a progression through rigorous educational and training programs that prepared him for service at the frontiers of flight.

### Education and Training
White's educational background was foundational to his career in aerospace and defense. He attended the United States Military Academy, a federal service academy located in West Point, New York. He also studied at the University of Michigan, a public research university in Ann Arbor. To specialize in aviation, he attended the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, the Air Force's advanced flight training school established in 1944. This training qualified him as a test pilot, an aviator responsible for flying new or modified aircraft to evaluate and certify their performance during test flights.

### Career as a Military Officer and Test Pilot
Before and during his time with the space program, White served as a military officer, holding a position of authority within an armed force. His role as a test pilot placed him in the vanguard of aviation development, where he was responsible for assessing the capabilities and safety of experimental aircraft. This occupation required a high degree of technical skill and physical courage, attributes that also defined his later career as an astronaut.

### NASA Tenure and Astronaut Group 2
Ed White was employed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the American space and aeronautics agency headquartered in Washington, D.C. He was specifically part of NASA Astronaut Group 2, a cohort of astronauts selected in September 1962. As an astronaut, he served as a person who commands, pilots, or serves as a crew member of a spacecraft. This group was integral to the United States' efforts during the mid-20th century to expand human presence in space.

### Athletics and Personal Attributes
In addition to his technical and military roles, White was an athletics competitor, defined as a sportsperson who competes in athletics such as track and field, running, and walking. This background in sports contributed to the physical fitness required for the rigors of spaceflight and high-performance aviation.

### Awards and Honors
Throughout his career, White received numerous awards recognizing his contributions to aviation and space exploration. He was a recipient of the Harmon Trophy, a set of aviation awards. He also received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement. NASA honored him with the NASA Distinguished Service Medal. Following his service, he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, an order established by the United States government in 1969.

### Legacy and Commemoration
Ed White's legacy is preserved through several high-profile commemorations. He was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, an institution serving as a museum, awards ceremony, and research center. He is also honored at the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame, a facility located at the Kennedy Space Center. Perhaps most uniquely, a lunar crater named "White" stands as a permanent geological feature on the Moon named in his honor. Ed White died on January 27, 1967.

## References

1. Geni.com
2. [Source](https://www.nasa.gov/history/congressional-space-medal-of-honor/)
3. [Source](https://searchpub.nssc.nasa.gov/servlet/sm.web.Fetch/Agency_Awards_Historical_Recipient_List.pdf?rhid=1000&did=2120817&type=released)
4. [Source](https://www.nmspacemuseum.org/inductee/edward-h-white-ii/)
5. [Astronauts Laud Gemini as Precursor to Shuttle. Albuquerque Journal. 1982](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28841417/albuquerque_journal/)
6. [Source](https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/all-honorees/)
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. [Source](http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/ABSTRACTS/GPN-2000-001333.html)
9. [Source](http://www.spacefacts.de/english/e_first.htm)
10. [Source](https://planet4589.org/space/astro/rides.html)
11. [Source](https://www.spacesafetymagazine.com/space-disasters/apollo-1-fire/)
12. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
13. SNAC
14. Find a Grave
15. Munzinger Personen
16. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
17. [Source](https://books.google.com/books?id=cNeqibq2y1EC&pg=629)
18. [Source](https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/#/usma-west-point/search/results/1/CgVXaGl0ZRIGRWR3YXJkGgFIOggxOTMwLV8tXw--/)