Astronaut James McDivitt, Apollo 9 commander, dies at 93

Vice President Spiro Agnew holds a framed American flag, presented to him by the crew of Apollo 9, as he poses with the astronauts March 26, 1969, in Washington. From left: Russell Schweikart, Agnew, and Air Force Cols. David Scott ...WASHINGTON — James A. McDivitt, who commanded the Apollo 9 mission testing the first complete set of equipment to go to the moon, has died. He was 93.

McDivitt was also the commander of 1965’s Gemini 4 mission, where his best friend and colleague Ed White made the first U.S. spacewalk. His photographs of White during the spacewalk became iconic images.

He passed on a chance to land on the moon and instead became the space agency’s program manager for five Apollo…