The Explorers' Club, № CMXXX

The Space Race—The New Nine, Part III
James Alton McDivitt (10 June 1929-13 October 2022), Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force—He flew Gemini IV (1965) & Apollo 9 (Gumdrop & Spider, 1969); the first of the New Nine to command a mission & commander of both his spaceflights, he was half of the first duo to fly the Lunar Module; a Michigan Wolverine, he was Manager of the Apollo Spacecraft Program for Apollos 12 through 16.

Commentary: McDivitt's Gemini IV capsule was to be named the American Eagle until N.A.S.A. management lowered the boom after Gemini 3's Molly Brown, resulting in all subsequent Gemini capsules being unnamed. The flight of duel spacecraft during Apollo 9 necessitated naming them, for clarity of communications.

The McDivitt-White Plaza on the University of Michigan's Central Campus is named for him & fellow Michigan alumnus, New Nine astronaut, & Gemini IV crewmate Ed White.

Bonus! Space Race Song o' the Day: The New Nine—Jim McDivitt
The University of Michigan Marching Band, "The Yellow and Blue" from A Saturday Tradition (Space Cadet Mike Papa Whiskey)

The Wayback Machine Tour of Jim McDivitt
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCLIII: The 55th Anniversary of Gemini IV
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCXXXV: The 51st Anniversary of Apollo 9, Part I
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCXXXVI: The 51st Anniversary of Apollo 9, Part II
"The Explorers' Club," № DCCXXXVII: The 51st Anniversary of Apollo 9, Part III

Requiescat in pace.