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Intelsat 4 F-6 launch (1973)
Intelsat 4 F-6 was a communication satellite with a cylindrical diameter of 238 cm, 281 cm solar drum height, and 528 cm overall height. Electric power was supplied by solar cells mounted on the solar drum face. The satellite had multiple access and simultaneous transmission capabilities with a capacity of 3000 circuits with transponder in the earth mode and 9000 circuits with transponder in the spot-beam coverage mode, or 12 TV channels or certain combinations. There were 12 transponders, each with a 36-MHz bandwidth, two global transmit antennas, teo global receive antennas, and two steerable spot-beam transmit antennas. The design life of the satellite was 7 yr.
1/1/2009
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New Years Day
holiday
1/1/2009
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Deep Space 2 launch (1999)
The Deep Space 2 (DS2) project is a New Millenium mission consisting of two probes which were to penetrate the surface of Mars near the south polar layered terrain and send back data on the sub-surface properties. On 3 December 1999 the probes were nearing Mars on a trajectory to enter the atmosphere and bring them to their intended landing site, but contact was never made with either probe and the mission was presumed lost. Also named the Mars Microprobe Project, the probe mission had as scientific objectives to: 1) test for the presence of water ice below the surface, and if ice exists, attempt to resolve the mineral phases in which the ice is stored; 2) determine the thermal and physical properties and temperature gradient of the subsurface material; 3) measure the atmospheric pressure and temperature. Data was also to be obtained on the atmospheric density profile and near-surface soil stratification using deceleration measurements during atmospheric entry and landing. The mission was also planned to serve as a technology test for many of the components of the probes and a demonstration of passive atmospheric entry and survivable hard impact. The individual probes were named Amundsen and Scott in honor of the famous polar explorers.
The Deep Space 2 (DS2) project is a New Millenium mission consisting of two probes which were to penetrate the surface of Mars near the south polar layered terrain and send back data on the sub-surface properties. On 3 December 1999 the probes were nearing Mars on a trajectory to enter the atmosphere and bring them to their intended landing site, but contact was never made with either probe and the mission was presumed lost. Also named the Mars Microprobe Project, the probe mission had as scientific objectives to: 1) test for the presence of water ice below the surface, and if ice exists, attempt to resolve the mineral phases in which the ice is stored; 2) determine the thermal and physical properties and temperature gradient of the subsurface material; 3) measure the atmospheric pressure and temperature. Data was also to be obtained on the atmospheric density profile and near-surface soil stratification using deceleration measurements during atmospheric entry and landing. The mission was also planned to serve as a technology test for many of the components of the probes and a demonstration of passive atmospheric entry and survivable hard impact. The individual probes were named Amundsen and Scott in honor of the famous polar explorers.

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The Mars Surveyor '98 program is comprised of two spacecraft launched separately, the Mars Climate Orbiter (formerly the Mars Surveyor '98 Orbiter) and the Mars Polar Lander (formerly the Mars Surveyor '98 Lander). The two missions were designed to study the Martian weather, climate, and water and carbon dioxide budget, in order to understand the reservoirs, behavior, and atmospheric role of volatiles and to search for evidence of long-term and episodic climate changes. The last telemetry from Mars Polar Lander was sent just prior to atmospheric entry on 3 December 1999. No further signals have been received from the lander, the cause of this loss of communication is not known.
1/3/2009
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Mars Rover Spirit Lands (2004)
Spirit celebrates 5 years on Mars
1/3/2009
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Quadrantid Shower Peak
meteor shower
1/3/2009
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Space Shuttle Announcement
announcement
1/5/2009
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Voyager 1 Jupiter Fly-by (1979)
historic event
1/5/2009
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Intelsat 4A F-3 launch (1978)
Intelsat 4A satellites increased satellite capacity to 7250 voice circuits or 2 TV channels.
1/6/2009
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Surveyor 7 launch (1968)
Surveyor 7 was the fifth and final spacecraft of the Surveyor series to achieve a lunar soft landing. The primary objectives of the Surveyor program, a series of seven robotic lunar softlanding flights, were to support the coming crewed Apollo landings by: (1) developing and validating the technology for landing softly on the Moon; (2) providing data on the compatibility of the Apollo design with conditions encountered on the lunar surface; and (3) adding to the scientific knowledge of the Moon. The specific objectives for this mission were to: (1) perform a lunar soft landing (in a highland area well removed from the maria to provide a type of terrain photography and lunar sample significantly different from those of other Surveyor missions); (2) obtain postlanding TV pictures; (3) determine the relative abundances of chemical elements; (4) manipulate the lunar material; (5) obtain touchdown dynamics data; and, (6) obtain thermal and radar reflectivity data. Surveyor 7 was the only Surveyor craft to land in the lunar highland region.
1/7/2009
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STS-32 launch, LDEF retrieval (1990)
Present Space Shuttle Launches
1/9/2009
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Full Moon
full moon
1/11/2009
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Intelsat 2 F-2 launch (1967)
1967 - Intelsat 2 F-2 launch

1968 - GEOS 2 launch

1996 - STS-72 launch
1/11/2009
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STS-61C launch (1986)
1986 - STS-61C launch

1997 - STS-81 launch

2003 - ICESAT/CHIPSAT launch

2005 - Deep Impact
1/12/2009
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Deep Space Network Created (1958)
historic event
1/13/2009
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STS-54 launch (1993)
Present Space Shuttle Launches
1/13/2009
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Intelsat 3 F-6 launch (1970)
Intelsat 3 spacecraft were used to relay commercial global telecommunications including live TV. Three of the 8 satellites in the series (F1, F5, F8) were unusable due to launch vehicle failures, and most of the remainder did not achieve their desired lifetimes. F2 operated for 1.5 years, F3 was partially operational for 7 years, F4 lasted 3 years, F6 survived 2 years, and F7 remained usable for 16 years. Spacecraft Spin stabilized with a despun antenna structure (34 inch tall antenna). Hydrazine propulsion system with 4 thrusters and 4 tanks. Passive thermal control. Body mounted solar cells produced 178 W peak, 9 AHr NiCd batteries.
1/14/2009
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Helios 2 launch (1976)
This spacecraft was one of a pair of deep-space probes developed by the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) in a cooperative program with NASA. Experiments were provided by scientists from both FRG and the U.S. NASA supplied the Titan/Centaur launch vehicle. The spacecraft was equipped with two booms and a 32-m electric dipole. The payload consisted of a fluxgate magnetometer; electric and magnetic wave experiments, which covered various bands in the frequency range 6 Hz to 3 MHz; charged particle experiments, which covered various energy ranges starting with solar wind thermal energies and extending to 1 GeV; a zodiacal light experiment; and a micrometeoroid experiment. The purpose of the mission was to make pioneering measurements of the interplanetary medium from the vicinity of the earth's orbit to 0.3 AU. The spacecraft was spin stabilized with the spin axis normal to the ecliptic, and a nominal spin rate of 1 rps. The outer surface was coated with a conductive material, resulting in a plasma-sheath potential of typically 5 eV. Sheath-related coupling caused by the spacecraft antennae produced interference with the wave experiments, but the character of the interference was different from that observed on the Helios-A spacecraft. The spacecraft was capable of being operated at bit rates of from 4096 to 8 bps, variable by factors of two. While the spacecraft was moving to perihelion, it was generally operated from 64 to 256 bps; near 0.3 AU, it was operated at higher bit rates. Because of difficulty encountered with the high-gain antenna, and scheduling conflicts with Viking, relatively fewer high-bit-rate data were obtained from Helios-B than were available from Helios-A. Instrument descriptions written by the experiments are published (some in German, some in English) in the journal Raumfahrtforschung, v. 19, n. 5, 1975.
1/15/2009
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STS-107 launch (2003)
Present Space Shuttle Launches
1/16/2009
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CTS launch (1976)
1976 - CTS launch

1980 - FLTSATCOM 3 launch
1/17/2009
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Skynet II-A launch (1974)
Table 4-146. Skynet IIA Characteristics
1/18/2009
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MLK Birthday
holiday
1/19/2009
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Inauguration Day
Inauguration Day
1/20/2009
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STS-72 landing at Kennedy Space Center (1996)
Present Space Shuttle Launches
1/20/2009
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Little Joe 1B Launch (1960)
historical event
1/21/2009
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Relay 2 launch (1964)
Relay 2, although principally a communications satellite, carried particle experiments designed to map the trapped radiation belt. The spin axis orientation had a right ascension of about 130 deg and a declination of about -60 deg. Accurate spin axis orientation information was not available. The initial spin rate was about 173 rpm. Relay 2, physically similar to Relay 1, had on board two transmitters, one of which was used for PCM telemetry (the sequence requiring about 1 s). Design changes in this satellite improved its performance to the point where response to spurious commands was essentially eliminated. One of the two onboard transponders operated normally until November 20, 1966. From that time until its failure on January 20, 1967, it required a longer time than normal to come on. The other transponder continued to operate until June 9, 1967, when it too failed to operate normally.
1/21/2009
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Apollo 5 Launch (1968)
historic event
1/22/2009
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OSO 5 launch (1964)
1964 - OSO 5 launch

OSO 5 was launched on 22 January 1969, and lasted until July 1975. It was the 5th satellite put into orbit as part of the Orbiting Solar Observatory program. This program was intended to launch a series of nearly identical satellites to cover an entire 11-year solar cycle. The circular orbit had an altitude of 555 km and an inclination of 33 degrees. The spin rate of the satellite was 1.8 s.

1965 - TIROS 9 launch
TIROS spacecraft were the beginning of a long series of polar-orbiting meteorological satellites. TIROS was followed by the TOS (TIROS Operational System) series, and then the ITOS (Improved TIROS) series, and later the NOAA series. TIROS spacecraft were developed by GSFC and managed by ESSA (Environmental Science Services Administration). The objective was to establish a global weather satellite system.

1968 - AS-204 Apollo 5 launch, first orbital test of Apollo spaceraft Lunar Module
Verify operation of Lunar Module ascent and descent propulsion systems. Evaluate Lunar Module staging. Evaluate S-IVB instrument unit performance. All mission objects achieved.
1972 - Intelsat 4 F-4 launch

The Intelsat 4 series continued the growth of the Intelsat communications network. The series included the first commercial communications satellite built outside of the United States (F4 was assembled by British Aircraft Corporation). Operational lifetimes were: F1 - 3 years for ITSO, then leased out; F2 - 12 years; F3 - 12 years, then placed into orbital storage; F4 - over 7 years; F5 - over 7 years ; F6 - 0 years (failed to orbit); F7 - over 6 years, then placed into orbital storage; F8 - 9 years (?).

1975 - LANDSAT 2 launch

The first 3 Landsat missions were also known as the Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS) series. Images from Landsat 1 demonstrated the usefulness of remote sensing data for land surveys, land management, water resource planning, agricultural forecasting, forest management, sea ice movement, and cartography. When Landsat 1 was finally removed from service in January 1978 due to tape recorder faults, it had returned over 300000 images. Landsat 2 was removed from service on 2/25/82, and Landsat 3 was removed from service on 3/31/83. Archived images from these missions are available through EOSAT.

1992 - STS-42 launch, International Microgravity Laboratory-1

1998 - STS-89 launch, 8th MIR docking
1/22/2009
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OSCAR 5 launch (1970)
1970 - OSCAR 5 launch

1970 - ITOS I launch
1/23/2009
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STS-51-C launch, first Department of Defense Shuttle mission (1985)
Present Space Shuttle Launches
1/24/2009
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Voyager 2 Uranus Flyby (1986)
historic event
1/24/2009
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Echo 2 launch (1964)
1964 - Echo 2 launch

The Echo satellites were NASA's first experimental communications satellite project. Each spacecraft was a large metallized balloon designed to act as a passive communications reflector to bounce communication signals transmitted from one point on Earth to another. Following the failure of the launch vehicle carrying Echo 1, Echo 1A (commonly referred to as Echo 1) was successfully orbited, and was used to redirect transcontinental and intercontinental telephone, radio, and television signals. The success of Echo 1A proved that microwave transmission to and from satellites in space was understood and demonstrated the promise of communications satellites. The vehicle also provided data for the calculation of atmospheric density and solar pressure due to its large area-to-mass ratio. Echo 1A was visible to the unaided eye over most of the Earth (brighter than most stars) and was probably seen by more people than any other man-made object in space. Echo 2 continued the passive communications experiments, and also investigated the dynamics of large spacecraft and was used for global geometric geodesy. Although NASA abandonded passive communications systems in favor of active satellites following Echo 2, the Echo systems demonstrated several ground station and tracking technologies that would be used by active systems. Echo 1A reentered on May 24, 1968 followed by Echo 2 on June 7, 1969.

1983 - IRAS launch
The IRAS Asteroid and Comet Survey is the largest, most uniform and least biased survey ever conducted of asteroids and comets. Because the emission observed is thermal, the present survey is not plagued by the albedo bias to which visible wavelength analogues are susceptible. Asteroids and comets are bright infrared sources, particularly at 25 microns.
The IRAS hours and weeks-confirmation strategy was developed to discriminate against moving sources. However, to provide data for the study of the properties of known and newly-discovered asteroids, all sources with infrared colors typical of Solar system objects were recorded in auxiliary files at both seconds and hours-confirmation, with an emphasis on completeness.
2003 - SORCE launch

The SORCE Satellite
To continue to monitor the Sun and to cut down on the uncertainty of solar energy measurements, NASA launched the SORCE satellite on January 25, 2003. The satellite flies at an altitude of 640 km in a 40-degree-inclination orbit around the Earth. On board SORCE are four instruments that will greatly improve the accuracy of the measurements of solar energy. All instruments take readings of the Sun during each of the satellite???s 15 daily orbits. The information is transmitted to ground stations at NASA???s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia and a station in Santiago, Chile.
1/25/2009
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Mars Rover Opportunity Lands (2004)
Opportunity celebrates 5 years on Mars
1/25/2009
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Ranger 3 launch (1962)
1962 - Ranger 3 launch, first measurements taken of interplanetary gamma ray flux

The Ranger program was a probe series to transmit close-up black and white photographs of the Moon before crashing into the Lunar surface. Three of the nine Rangers (7,8,9) were successful. Rangers 1 through 5 experienced technical problems which affected the success of the missions: the launch vehicles malfunctioned for Ranger 1 and 2, Rangers 3 and 5 missed the Moon, and Ranger 4 landed on the back side of the Moon and returned no data.
Ranger 3 was launched on 26 January 1962. It carried an instrument designed to measure gamma-rays coming from the surface of the moon. It was intended that the instrument would take some 60 hours of data during the flight before lunar impact in order to determine the interplanetary gamma-ray flux, and to determine the background for the lunar measurements. Twelve hours of data were to be taken with the detector in a stowed position, and the remaining data were to be taken with the detector extended on a 6 ft. boom. These data permitted a determination of the satellite body effect on the measured gamma-ray flux. Missing the moon, the satellite went into a solar orbit (apogee 1.163 AU; perigee 0.9839 AU) and returned no further data.
Ranger 5 was launched on 18 October 1962. Missing the Moon by 725 km, it went into a heliocentric orbit, with apogee 1.052 AU and perigee 0.949 AU, at orbital inclination 0.39 degrees. Five hours of data were taken of the cosmic gamma-ray background, with the detector in the stowed position only.
1967 - ESSA 4 launch

1971 - Intelsat 4 F-2 launch

1978 - International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) launch
1/26/2009
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Solar Eclipse
celestial event
1/26/2009
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Apollo 1 Fire (1967)
Spacecraft fire took place 27 January 1967 killing Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee; Apollo Command Module crew were conducting a preflight test for the Earth-orbiting mission at Cape Canaveral FL.
1/27/2009
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Apollo 1 tragedy (1967)
1967 - Apollo 1 tragedy

One of the worst tragedies in the history of spaceflight occurred on January 27, 1967 when the crew of Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee were killed in a fire in the Apollo Command Module during a preflight test at Cape Canaveral. They were training for the first crewed Apollo flight, an Earth orbiting mission scheduled to be launched on 21 February. They were taking part in a "plugs-out" test, in which the Command Module was mounted on the Saturn 1B on the launch pad just as it would be for the actual launch, but the Saturn 1B was not fueled. The plan was to go through an entire countdown sequence.
1977 - NATO III-B launch
1/27/2009
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Space Law Treaty Signed
historic event
1/27/2009
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Challenger Accident (1986)
historic event
1/28/2009
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ISIS 1 launch (1969)
1969 - ISIS 1 launch

1986 - STS-51-L, Challenger tragedy
1/28/2009
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NASA Day of Remembrance
historic event
1/29/2009
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SA-5, first test flight of the new Block II vehicles (1964)
Live second stage, Instrument unit, ballasted Jupiter nose cone.
1/29/2009
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Ranger 6 launch (1964)
1964 - Ranger 6 launch

Ranger 6 was designed to achieve a lunar impact trajectory and to transmit high-resolution photographs of the lunar surface during the final minutes of flight up to impact. The spacecraft carried six tele-vision vidicon cameras, 2 wide angle (channel F, cameras A and B) and 4 narrow angle (channel P) to accomplish these objectives. The cameras were arranged in two separate chains, or channels, each self-contained with separate power supplies, timers, and transmitters so as to afford the greatest reliability and probability of
obtaining high-quality video pictures. No other experiments were carried on the spacecraft. Due to a failure of the camera system no images were returned.

Rangers 6, 7, 8, and 9 were the so-called Block 3 versions of the Ranger spacecraft. The spacecraft consisted of a hexagonal aluminum frame base 1.5 m across on which was mounted the propulsion and power units, topped by a truncated conical tower
which held the TV cameras. Two solar panel wings, each 73.9 cm wide by 153.7 cm long, extended from opposite edges of the base with a full span of 4.6 m, and a pointable high gain dish antenna was hinge mounted at one of the corners of the base away from
the solar panels. A cylindrical quasiomnidirectional antenna was seated on top of the conical tower. The overall height of the space-craft was 3.6 m.

Propulsion for the mid-course trajectory correction was provided by a 224-N thrust monopropellant hydrazine engine with 4 jet-vane vector control. Orientation and attitude control about 3 axes
was enabled by 12 nitrogen gas jets coupled to a system of 3.

1979 - SCATHA P78-2 launch

SCATHA's primary mission was to obtain information about the processes and effects of spacecraft charging, a phenomenon known to have contributed to several on-orbit satellite failures. The mission's specific objectives were to (1) obtain environmental and engineering data to allow the creation of design criteria, materials, techniques, tests and analytical methods to control charging of spacecraft surfaces and (2) collect scientific data about plasma wave interactions, substorms, and the energetic ring. (Spacecraft shown in stowed configuration, with experiment booms stowed). The spacecraft was also known as P78-2.
1/30/2009
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Explorer 1 launch, first satellite launched by U.S. (1958)
1958 - Explorer 1 launch, first satellite launched by U.S.

1961 - MR-2 ("Ham" the Chimp) launch

1971 - Apollo 14 launch

1972 - HEOS 2 launch
1/31/2009
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Ham the Chimp Launch (1961)
historic event
1/31/2009
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Columbia Accident (2003)
historic event
2/1/2009
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KH 7-36 launch (1967)
This US Air Force photo surveillance satellite was launched from Vandenberg AFB aboard a Atlas Agena D rocket. It was a KH-7 (Key Hole-7) type spacecraft.
2/2/2009
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OSO 2 launch (1965)
1965 - OSO 2 launch

1966 - ESSA 1 launch

1970 - SERT 2 launch

1984 - STS-41B launch, first KSC landing

1994 - STS-60 launch, 1st Russian cosmonaut, Spacehab 2, Wake Shield Facility

1995 - STS-63 launch, MIR rendezvous, first female shuttle pilot
2/3/2009
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1st Flight of Douglas D-558-II (1948)
historic event
2/4/2009
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Bruce McCandless 1st Untethered EVA (1984)
February 4, 1984: American astronauts performed the first untetheredexcursions wearing the Manned Maneuvering Unit, a rocket propelledbackpack. During the space shuttle Challenger's STS-41Bmission, Bruce McCandless II flew 320 feet away from the orbiter --further away from the safety of a ship than any previous astronaut hadever been.
2/4/2009
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ODERACS 2A launch, deployed by STS-63 (1995)
ODERACS-2A was one of six spheres deployed from the shuttle mission STS-63. The purpose of the Orbital Debris Calibration Spheres experiment was to calibrate the radars and telescopes used for orbital debris measurements by putting objects of the size of interest into orbit for observation. One of the pair was polished, the other diffuse. The 3 pairs were 2, 4, and 6 inches in diameter.
2/4/2009
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Intelsat 3 F-3 launch (1969)
Intelsat 3 spacecraft were used to relay commercial global telecommunications including live TV. Three of the 8 satellites in the series (F1, F5, F8) were unusable due to launch vehicle failures, and most of the remainder did not achieve their desired lifetimes. F2 operated for 1.5 years, F3 was partially operational for 7 years, F4 lasted 3 years, F6 survived 2 years, and F7 remained usable for 16 years.
2/5/2009
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Alan Shepherd Plays Golf on the Moon (1971)
historic event
2/6/2009
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Herschel/ Planck Launch (2009)
Launch of Herschel and Planck
2/6/2009
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NOAA N' Launch (2009)
NOAA-N' will continue to provide a polar-orbiting platform to support (1) environmental monitoring instruments for imaging and measuring the Earth's atmosphere, its surface, and cloud cover, including Earth radiation, atmospheric ozone, aerosol distribution, sea surface temperature, and vertical temperature and water profiles in the troposphere and stratosphere; (2) measurement of proton and electron flux at orbit altitude; (3) data collection from remote platforms; and (4) the Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking (SARSAT) system. Additionally, NOAA-N' will be the fifth in the series of support dedicated microwave instruments for the generation of temperature, moisture, surface, and hydrological products in cloudy regions where visible and infrared (IR) instruments have decreased capability.
2/6/2009
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Columbus Module Launch to ISS (2008)
Columbus will expand the research facilities of the station and provide scientists around the world with the ability to conduct a variety of life
2/7/2009
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New Moon/Annular Solar Eclipse
The path of annularity will only be visible over some parts of Antarctica. A partial eclipse will be visible throughout New Zealand and some parts of eastern Australia.
2/7/2009
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Stardust Launch (1999)
February 9, 1999: The Stardustprobe launched atop a Delta II rocket from Florida's Cape Canaveral AirStation, becoming the first U.S. mission destined for a comet and thefirst-ever spacecraft sent to bring a comet sample back to Earth.
2/7/2009
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STS-98 Launch (2001)
2001 - STS-98 Launch 2008 - STS-122 Launch
2/7/2009
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Year of Apollo Gala (U.S. and Rocket Center)
Black-tie gala celebration to mark the 40th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration. Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke is the featured speaker. The first annual Ernst Stuhlinger Visionary Award for Space Research & Development will be presented to Dr. George Mueller.  Former CNN space correspondent Miles O'Brien was part of ablack-tie gala celebration to mark the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo moonlanding at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration in Huntsville, AL.  Astronaut Charlie Duke also participated.
2/7/2009
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Last Skylab Mission (4) Ends (1974)
historic event
2/8/2009
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TIROS 4 launch (1962)
1962 - TIROS 4 launch

TIROS spacecraft were the beginning of a long series of polar-orbiting meteorological satellites. TIROS was followed by the TOS (TIROS Operational System) series, and then the ITOS (Improved TIROS) series, and later the NOAA series. TIROS spacecraft were developed by GSFC and managed by ESSA (Environmental Science Services Administration). The objective was to establish a global weather satellite system.

1988 - SDI-2 launch

USA 30 was launched by the United States Department of Defense.
2/8/2009
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FLTSATCOM 1 launch (1978)
The FLTSATCOM system provides worldwide, high-priority UHF communications between naval aircraft, ships, submarines, and ground stations and between the Strategic Air Command and the national command authority network. Fully operational in January 1981, the FLTSATCOM constellation is being replaced by the UFO (UHF Follow-on) spacecraft.
2/9/2009
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Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse
celestial event
2/9/2009
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DSCS III-08 launch (1992)
Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS III-08) was part of a US military satellite constellation placed in geosynchronous orbit to provide high-volume, secure voice and data communications. Phase II was a successor to the IDSCS (Initial Defense Satellite Communications System) program which began in 1966 with the launch of the first 8 satellites of this constellation. The DSCS III system was used for high priority communications such as the exchange of wartime information between defense officials and battlefield commanders. The military also used DSCS to transmit space operations and early warning data to various systems and users. Each satellite orbits the earth at an altitude of more than 23,000 miles. They carried a single channel transponder used for disseminating emergency action and force direction messages to nuclear capable forces. Each satellite utilized six super high frequency transponder channels capable of providing worldwide secure voice and high rate data communications.
2/10/2009
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Titan Centaur launch, first proof flight (1974)
1974 - Titan Centaur launch, first proof flightThe Centaur Proof Flight was a launch vehicle development test of the Titan 3E/Centaur (TC-1) rocket. It carried a simulated Viking spacecraft and Sphinx. The liquid oxygen boost pump failed to operate during the Centaur starts. The destruct command was sent 748 seconds after liftoff. 1997 - STS-82 launch, 2nd Hubble servicing missionSpace Shuttle Launches2000 - STS-99 SRTM launchSTS-99 Crew Works in Shifts to Complete Mapping MissionEndeavour's international crew of seven spent 11 days in orbit during February 2000 mapping the Earth's surface with radar instruments.
2/11/2009
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Galileo Faces Heresy Charges for Advocating Copernican Theory (1633)
On this day in 1633, Italian philosopher, astronomer and mathematician Galileo Galilei arrives in Rome to face charges of heresy for advocating Copernican theory, which holds that the Earth revolves around the Sun. Galileo officially faced the Roman Inquisition in April of that same year and agreed to plead guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence. Put under house arrest indefinitely by Pope Urban VIII, Galileo spent the rest of his days at his villa in Arcetri, near Florence, before dying on January 8, 1642.

Galileo, the son of a musician, was born February 15, 1564, in Pisa, Italy. He entered the University of Pisa planning to study medicine, but shifted his focus to philosophy and mathematics. In 1589, he became a professor at Pisa for several years, during which time he demonstrated that the speed of a falling object is not proportional to its weight, as Aristotle had believed. According to some reports, Galileo conducted his research by dropping objects of different weights from the Leaning Tower of Pisa. From 1592 to 1630, Galileo was a math professor at the University of Padua, where he developed a telescope that enabled him to observe lunar mountains and craters, the four largest satellites of Jupiter and the phases of Jupiter. He also discovered that the Milky Way was made up of stars. Following the publication of his research in 1610, Galileo gained acclaim and was appointed court mathematician at Florence.

Galileo's research led him to become an advocate of the work of the Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1573). However, the Copernican theory of a sun-centered solar system conflicted with the teachings of the powerful Roman Catholic Church, which essentially ruled Italy at the time. Church teachings contended that Earth, not the sun, was at the center of the universe. In 1633, Galileo was brought before the Roman Inquisition, a judicial system established by the papacy in 1542 to regulate church doctrine. This included the banning of books that conflicted with church teachings. The Roman Inquisition had its roots in the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, the purpose of which was to seek out and prosecute heretics, considered enemies of the state.

Today, Galileo is recognized for making important contributions to the study of motion and astronomy. His work influenced later scientists such as the English mathematician and physicist Sir Isaac Newton, who developed the law of universal gravitation. In 1992, the Vatican formally acknowledged its mistake in condemning Galileo.
2/13/2009
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Galileo's Birthday (1564)
historic event
2/15/2009
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President's Day
holiday
2/16/2009
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Saturn (SA-9) orbited Pegasus-1 (1965)
historic event
2/16/2009
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Vanguard 2 Launch (1959)
February 17, 1959: The Navy launched the principal International Geophysical Year scientific satellite, Vanguard 2. This Earth-orbiting satellite measured cloud cover.
2/17/2009
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Vanguard 2 launch, first Earth photographs from space (1959)
1959 - Vanguard 2 launch, first Earth photographs from spaceVanguard 2 was an earth-orbiting satellite designed to measure cloud-cover distribution over the daylight portion of its orbit. The spacecraft was a magnesium sphere 50.8 cm in diameter. It contained two optical telescopes with two photocells. The sphere was internally gold-plated and externally covered with an aluminum deposit coated with silicon oxide of sufficient thickness to provide thermal control for the instrumentation. Radio communication was provided by a 1 W, 108.03 MHz telemetry transmitter and a 10 mW, 108 MHz beacon transmitter that sent a continuous signal for tracking purposes. A command receiver was used to activate a tape recorder that relayed telescope experiment data to the telemetry transmitter. Both transmitters functioned normally for 19 days. The satellite was spin stabilized at 50 rpm, but telemetry data were poor because of an unsatisfactory orientation of the spin axis. The power supply for the instrumentation was provided by mercury batteries. 1965 - Ranger 8 launch Ranger 8 was designed to achieve a lunar impact trajectory and to transmit high-resolution photographs of the lunar surface during the final minutes of flight up to impact. The spacecraft carried six television vidicon cameras, 2 full-scan cameras (channel F, one wide-angle, one narrow-angle) and 4 partial scan cameras (channel P, two wide-angle, two narrow-angle) to accomplish these objectives. The cameras were arranged in two separate chains, or channels, each self-contained with separate power supplies, timers, and transmitters so as to afford the greatest reliability and probability of obtaining high-quality video pictures. No other experiments were carried on the spacecraft. 2007 - THEMIS launch THEMIS is a mission to investigate what causes auroras in the Earth's atmosphere to dramatically change from slowly shimmering waves of light to wildly shifting streaks of color. Discovering what causes auroras to change will provide scientists with important details on how the planet's magnetosphere works and the important Sun-Earth connection.
2/17/2009
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Pluto Discovered (1930)
historic event
2/18/2009
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Marisat 1 launch (1976)
MARISAT 1, the first of a series of COMSAT maritime communications satellites, was successfully launched February 19, 1976. The spacecraft was capable of transmitting voice, data, facsimile and telex messages to and from ships at sea through special shore stations at Southbury, CT and Santa Paul, CA, which were interconnected with existing domestic terrestrial networks. The system was initially utilized primarily by the US Navy, with a limited amount of satellite capacity provided in different frequency bands (L-bands), through separate satellite transponders, for maritime communications services to commercial entities and other interested users. At such time as the Navy's requirements terminate (late 1970s) susstantial satellite capacity will become available for commercial maritime purposes. Following launch, satellite operation was nominal. It was placed in geosynchronous orbit at 15 degrees W.
2/19/2009
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Spacefest 2009
It will be the largest gathering of pioneer astronauts in the area,as well as some of the most compelling, charismatic and expertastronomy speakers on the planet. 2009 marks the 40th anniversary ofthe first moon landing by Apollo 11 in 1969, and also Apollo 9, Apollo10, and Apollo 12 successfully flew that year. 2009 is also the International Year of Astronomy.
Two of the Apollo 11 crew will attend, Dr. Buzz Aldrin, and MichaelCollins. Most of the 9 surviving moonwalkers will also attend. The San Diego Air & Space Museum isco-sponsor of Spacefest, and is also home to the Apollo 9 capsule(nicknamed "Gumdrop") prominently displayed in the entrance to themuseum.
Dr. Carolyn Porco, the popular, outspoken imaging team leader for the Cassini-Saturn spacecraft will give a featured presentation as will Peter Smith, who heads up the Phoenix-Mars lander project. For those who think the moon landings were an elaborate hoax, Dr. Phil Plait-- author and heavily-read bloggerwill clearly explain the truth. Over two dozen astronomers, spacecraftmanagers and authors are scheduled to give presentations.
There will also be the world's largest Space Art exhibit, featuringNASA artists, as well artists from TV, movies, documentaries, books,magazines, and digital media.
Astronauts:Buzz Aldrin, Jim McDivitt, Dave Scott; Speakers: Dr. Carolyn Porco (Cassini), Chris McKay (Phoenix). This Spacefest will build upon thesuccess of the 2007 show held in Phoenix.
2/19/2009
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Spacefest 2009
It will be the largest gathering of pioneer astronauts in the area,as well as some of the most compelling, charismatic and expertastronomy speakers on the planet. 2009 marks the 40th anniversary ofthe first moon landing by Apollo 11 in 1969, and also Apollo 9, Apollo10, and Apollo 12 successfully flew that year. 2009 is also the International Year of Astronomy.
Two of the Apollo 11 crew will attend, Dr. Buzz Aldrin, and MichaelCollins. Most of the 9 surviving moonwalkers will also attend. The San Diego Air & Space Museum isco-sponsor of Spacefest, and is also home to the Apollo 9 capsule(nicknamed "Gumdrop") prominently displayed in the entrance to themuseum.
Dr. Carolyn Porco, the popular, outspoken imaging team leader for the Cassini-Saturn spacecraft will give a featured presentation as will Peter Smith, who heads up the Phoenix-Mars lander project. For those who think the moon landings were an elaborate hoax, Dr. Phil Plait-- author and heavily-read bloggerwill clearly explain the truth. Over two dozen astronomers, spacecraftmanagers and authors are scheduled to give presentations.
There will also be the world's largest Space Art exhibit, featuringNASA artists, as well artists from TV, movies, documentaries, books,magazines, and digital media.
Astronauts:Buzz Aldrin, Jim McDivitt, Dave Scott; Speakers: Dr. Carolyn Porco (Cassini), Chris McKay (Phoenix). This Spacefest will build upon thesuccess of the 2007 show held in Phoenix.
2/20/2009
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John Glenn Mercury Orbital Flight (1962)
On Feb. 20, 1962 at 9:47 am EST, John Glenn launched from Cape Canaveral's Launch Complex 14 to become the first American to orbit the Earth. In this image, Glenn enters his Friendship 7 capsule with assistance from technicians to begin his historic flight.

Glenn rejoined NASA in 1998 as a member of the STS-95 Discovery crew. This 9-day mission, from Oct. 29-Nov. 7, supported a variety of research payloads including deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope Orbital Systems Test Platform and investigations on space flight and the aging process.
1975 - Intelsat 4 F-6 launch

The Intelsat 4 series continued the growth of the Intelsat communications network. The series included the first commercial communications satellite built outside of the United States (F4 was assembled by British Aircraft Corporation). Operational lifetimes were: F1 - 3 years for ITSO, then leased out; F2 - 12 years; F3 - 12 years, then placed into orbital storage; F4 - over 7 years; F5 - over 7 years ; F6 - 0 years (failed to orbit); F7 - over 6 years, then placed into orbital storage; F8 - 9 years (?).
2/20/2009
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Ranger 8 Reaches the Moon (1965)
On February 20, 1965, Ranger 8 swept an oblique course over the south of Oceanus Procellarum and Mare Nubium, to crash in Mare Tranquillitatis where Apollo 11 would land 4???? years later. It garnered more than 7,000 images, covering a wider area and reinforcing the conclusions from Ranger 7.

Ranger 8 was a spacecraft designed to achieve a lunar impact trajectory and to transmit high-resolution photographs of the lunar surface during the final minutes of flight up to impact. The spacecraft carried six television vidicon cameras, two wide angle (channel F, cameras A and B) and four narrow angle (channel P) to accomplish these objectives. The cameras were arranged in two separate chains, or channels, each self-contained with separate power supplies, timers, and transmitters so as to afford the greatest reliability and probability of obtaining high-quality video pictures. No other experiments were carried on the spacecraft.
2/20/2009
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White Sands Established (1945)
historic event
2/20/2009
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Spacefest 2009
It will be the largest gathering of pioneer astronauts in the area,as well as some of the most compelling, charismatic and expertastronomy speakers on the planet. 2009 marks the 40th anniversary ofthe first moon landing by Apollo 11 in 1969, and also Apollo 9, Apollo10, and Apollo 12 successfully flew that year. 2009 is also the International Year of Astronomy.
Two of the Apollo 11 crew will attend, Dr. Buzz Aldrin, and MichaelCollins. Most of the 9 surviving moonwalkers will also attend. The San Diego Air & Space Museum isco-sponsor of Spacefest, and is also home to the Apollo 9 capsule(nicknamed "Gumdrop") prominently displayed in the entrance to themuseum.
Dr. Carolyn Porco, the popular, outspoken imaging team leader for the Cassini-Saturn spacecraft will give a featured presentation as will Peter Smith, who heads up the Phoenix-Mars lander project. For those who think the moon landings were an elaborate hoax, Dr. Phil Plait-- author and heavily-read bloggerwill clearly explain the truth. Over two dozen astronomers, spacecraftmanagers and authors are scheduled to give presentations.
There will also be the world's largest Space Art exhibit, featuringNASA artists, as well artists from TV, movies, documentaries, books,magazines, and digital media.
Astronauts:Buzz Aldrin, Jim McDivitt, Dave Scott; Speakers: Dr. Carolyn Porco (Cassini), Chris McKay (Phoenix). This Spacefest will build upon thesuccess of the 2007 show held in Phoenix.
2/21/2009
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1st Powered Flight of Bell X-1A (1953)
historic event
2/21/2009
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Mercury Atlas 2 launch (1961)
1961 - Mercury Atlas 2 launchQualify Mercury Atlas interfaces 1981 - Comstar 4 launchCOMSTAR 4 was the fourth in the series of four domestic communications launched by NASA from Cape Canaveral for COMSAT
2/21/2009
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Spacefest 2009
It will be the largest gathering of pioneer astronauts in the area,as well as some of the most compelling, charismatic and expertastronomy speakers on the planet. 2009 marks the 40th anniversary ofthe first moon landing by Apollo 11 in 1969, and also Apollo 9, Apollo10, and Apollo 12 successfully flew that year. 2009 is also the International Year of Astronomy.
Two of the Apollo 11 crew will attend, Dr. Buzz Aldrin, and MichaelCollins. Most of the 9 surviving moonwalkers will also attend. The San Diego Air & Space Museum isco-sponsor of Spacefest, and is also home to the Apollo 9 capsule(nicknamed "Gumdrop") prominently displayed in the entrance to themuseum.
Dr. Carolyn Porco, the popular, outspoken imaging team leader for the Cassini-Saturn spacecraft will give a featured presentation as will Peter Smith, who heads up the Phoenix-Mars lander project. For those who think the moon landings were an elaborate hoax, Dr. Phil Plait-- author and heavily-read bloggerwill clearly explain the truth. Over two dozen astronomers, spacecraftmanagers and authors are scheduled to give presentations.
There will also be the world's largest Space Art exhibit, featuringNASA artists, as well artists from TV, movies, documentaries, books,magazines, and digital media.
Astronauts:Buzz Aldrin, Jim McDivitt, Dave Scott; Speakers: Dr. Carolyn Porco (Cassini), Chris McKay (Phoenix). This Spacefest will build upon thesuccess of the 2007 show held in Phoenix.
2/22/2009
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STS-75 Launch (1996)
Reflight of U.S./Italian Tethered Satellite System (TSS-1R) marred by loss of satellite on flight day three, although valuable scientific data was still gathered. Other primary payload, U.S. Microgravity Payload-3 (USMP-3), performed nominally. TSS considered primary payload at beginning of mission and USMP-3 primary following TSS operations.
2/22/2009
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NAVSTAR 2A-03 launch (1992)
Global Positioning System (GPS) was developed by the US Department of Defense to provide all-weather round-the-clock navigation capabilities for military ground, sea, and air forces. Since its implementation, GPS has also become an integral asset in numerous civilian applications and industries around the globe, including recreational used (e.g., boating, aircraft, hiking), corporate vehicle fleet tracking, and surveying. GPS employs 24 spacecraft in 20,200 km circular orbits inclined at 55 degrees. These vehicles are placed in 6 orbit planes with four operational satellites in each plane. GPS Block 2 was the operational system, following the demonstration system comprised of Block 1 (Navstar 1 - 11) spacecraft. These spacecraft were 3-axis stabilized, nadir pointing using reaction wheels. Dual solar arrays supplied 710 watts of power. They used S-band (SGLS) communications for control and telemetry and UHF cross-link between spacecraft. The payload consisted of two L-band navigation signals at 1575.42 MHz (L1) and 1227.60 MHz (L2). Each spacecraft carried 2 rubidium and 2 cesium clocks and nuclear detonation detection sensors. Built by Rockwell Space Systems for the US Air Force, the spacecraft measured 5.3 m across with solar panels deployed and had a design life of 7.5 years.
2/23/2009
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OCO Launch Mishap (2009)
The Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) is a new Earth orbiting mission sponsored by NASA's Earth System Science Pathfinder (ESSP) Program. The ESSP Program funds competitively selected, low to moderate cost Earth Science missions. These highly focused missions acquire exploratory measurements of the atmosphere, the oceans, the land surface and the solid Earth. These missions share a common goal of improving the capability of Earth scientists to predict changes in weather, climate and natural hazards.
1969 - Mariner 6 launch, first Mariner launch with Atlas/Centaur launch vehicle

Mariner 6 and 7 comprised a dual-spacecraft mission to Mars, the sixth and seventh missions in the Mariner series of spacecraft used for planetary exploration in the flyby mode. The primary objectives of the missions were to study the surface and atmosphere of Mars during close flybys to establish the basis for future investigations, particularly those relevant to the search for extraterrestrial life, and to demonstrate and develop technologies required for future Mars missions and other long-duration missions far from the Sun. Mariner 6 also had the objective of providing experience and data which would be useful in programming the Mariner 7 encounter 5 days later. Each spacecraft carried a wide- and narrow-angle television camera, an infrared spectroscope, an infrared radiometer, and an ultraviolet spectroscope. The spacecraft were oriented entirely to planetary data acquisition, and no data were obtained during the trip to Mars or beyond Mars.
2/24/2009
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Mariner 6 Launch (1969)
historic event
2/25/2009
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Westar 4 launch (1982)
Originally established by Western Union, the Westar satellite system was the first US domestic satellite system. The system relayed data, voice, video, and fax transmissions to the continental U.S., Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Alaska, and the Virgin islands. Western Union ended its role as a satellite service provider when it sold the Westar satellites to Hughes Communications Inc. in 1988. At the time of the sale, only the Westar 3, 4, 5 and satellites were operational, as Westar 1 and 2 had already been retired from service (Westar 1 in April 1983), and Westar 6 had not achieved GEO following its deployment from STS-10 in February '84. Westar 6 was retrieved by STS-51A in February 1984 and returned to Earth for refurbishment. Following its return, the vehicle was resold by the satellite's insurers to the Pan Am Pacific Satellite Corp., who in turn resold it to Asia Satellite, who renamed it AsiaSat 1. The satellite was relaunched in April 1990 aboard a Long March rocket. The Westar 6S satellite, procured by Western Union as a replacement for Westar 6, was still under development when Western Union was bought out by Hughes. The vehicle was subsequently renamed Galaxy 6.
2/25/2009
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Apollo Saturn AS-201 launch (1966)
1966 - Apollo Saturn AS-201 launchBoth booster and spacecraft performed adequately. From liftoff to touchdown in the South Atlantic, the mission lasted only 37 minutes. The spacecraft was recovered two and a half hours after splashdown. There were several malfunctions, mostly minor. Three were serious. First, after the service propulsion system fired, it operated correctly for only 80 seconds. Then the pressure fell 30 percent because of helium ingestion into the oxidizer chamber. Second, a fault in the electrical power system caused a loss of steering control, resulting in a rolling reentry. And, third, flight measurements during reentry were distorted because of a short circuit.
2/26/2009
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Relay 2 Provides 1st Visual Telecast: Liston vs Clay (1962)
February 26, 1964: The Sonny Liston vs. Cassius Clay Championship fightwas the first visual telecast via communications satellite. Thetelecast used the Relay 2 satellite. Before the fight, Clay, now knownas Muhammad Ali, predicted his win by writing a poem that included theline "Who on Earth thought, when they came to the fight, that theywould witness the launching of a human satellite."
2/26/2009
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New Horizons arrives @ Jupiter
historic event
2/28/2009
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STS-36 launch, 6th DOD mission (1990)
1990 - STS-36 launch, 6th DOD mission
2/28/2009
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Landsat 5 Launch (1984)
"The data provided by the Landsat series of satellites over the past 35 years are among the most valuable scientific assets available to the Earth science research community," Williams noted. "These data provide the most consistent, reliable documentation of global land-cover change ever assembled."
Landsat 5 has charted urban growth in Las Vegas, monitored fire scars in Yellowstone National Park, and tracked the retreat of a Greenland glacier. Data from the satellite turns up frequently in scientific literature, and should continue to do so, particularly now that the images are available free of charge or copyright.
Beyond observations of change, the individual, static images have also proven useful in unforeseen ways. Cell phone companies??????most of which did not even exist when the satellite was launched??????now use Landsat images to scout the best locations for cell towers. Pilots in training see Landsat images when they enter a flight simulator. The Landsat catalog provides the backbone of Google Earth. The list goes on.
3/1/2009
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Pioneer 10 Launch (1972)
Pioneer 10's first challenge was to pass through what was initially feared to be an impenetrable asteroid belt. The mission to Jupiter and beyond, managed by the NASA's Ames Research Center, was very successful resulting in the return of scientific data and images. It became the first artifact to leave the solar system on June 13, 1983 when it passed beyond the farthest known planet. It continued to search for the heliopause for another 20 years, exploring the very edges of interstellar space as it drifted onward in mankind's first journey to the stars. Pioneer's last, very weak signal was received on January 23, 2003. It is believed that its power source had run too low to transmit a signal. At the time, Pioneer 10 was more than 7.6 billion miles away from Earth.
3/2/2009
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Apollo 9 Launch (1969)
Demonstrate crew/space vehicle/mission support facilities during manned Saturn V/CSM/LM mission (Achieved). Demonstrate LM/crew performance (Achieved). Demonstrate selected lunar orbit rendezvous mission activities including transposition, docking withdrawal, intervehicular crew transfer, EVA, SPS and DPS burns, and LM active rendezvous and docking. All achieved except EVA (because of Schweickart's illness, most EVA's were canceled). Assess CSM/LM consumables used.

3/3/2009
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NACA Founded (1915)
In 1915, Congressional legislation created an Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. The prefix "National" soon became customary, was officially adopted, and the familiar acronym NACA emerged as a widely recognized term among the aeronautics community in America.
The genesis of what came to be known as the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) occurred at a time of accelerating cultural and technological change. Only the year before, Robert Goddard began experiments in rocketry and the Panama Canal opened. Amidst the gathering whirlwind of the First World War, social change and technological transformation persisted. During 1915, the NACA's first year, Albert Einstein postulated his general theory of relativity and Margaret Sanger was jailed as the author of Family Limitation, the first popular book on birth control. Frederick Winslow Taylor, father of "Scientific Management," died, while disciples like Henry Ford were applying his ideas in the process of achieving prodigies of production. Ford produced his one millionth automobile the same year. In 1915, Alexander Graham Bell made the first transcontinental call, from New York to San Francisco, with his trusted colleague, Dr. Thomas A. Watson, on the other end of the line. Motion pictures began to reshape American entertainment habits, and New Orleans jazz began to make its indelible imprint on American music. At Sheepshead Bay, New York, a new speed record for automobiles was set, at 102.6 MPH, a figure that many fliers of the era would have been happy to match.
American flying not only lagged behind automotive progress, but also lagged behind European aviation. This was particularly galling to many aviation enthusiasts in the United States, the home of the Wright brothers. True, Orville and Wilbur Wright benefited from the work of European pioneers like Otto Lilienthal in Germany and Percy Pilcher in Great Britain. In America, the Wrights had corresponded with the well-known engineer and aviation enthusiast, Octave Chanute, and they had knowledge of the work of Samuel P. Langley, aviation pioneer and secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. But the Wrights made the first powered, controlled flight in an airplane on 17 December 1903, on a lonely stretch of beach near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Ironically, this feat was widely ignored or misinterpreted by the American press for many years, until 1908, when Orville made trial flights for the War Department and Wilbur's flights overseas enthralled Europe. Impressed by the Wrights, the Europeans nonetheless had already begun a rapid development of aviation, and their growing record of achievements underscored the lack of organized research in the United States.
3/3/2009
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OGO 5 launch (1968)
1968 - OGO 5 launchThe fifth Orbiting Geophysical Observatory, OGO-5, was launched on 4 March 1968. The satellite, primarily devoted to Earth observation, was in a highly elliptical initial orbit with a 272 km perigee and an 148,228 km apogee. The orbital inclination was 31.1 degrees. The satellite took 3796 minutes to complete one orbit. Two experiments aboard OGO-5 produced cosmic high- energy results, although their intended target was the Sun. The spacecraft attitude control failed on 6 August 1971 and it was placed in a standby mode on 8 October 1971. Three experiments (none of which were related to cosmic high-energy detection) were reactivated from 1 June to 13 July 1972. Operation of OGO 5 terminated completely on 14 July 1972.1982 - Intelsat 5 F-4 launchThe last five of the nine spacecraft in this block carry a maritime mobile payload (seven additional transponders) for lease by Inmarsat.
3/4/2009
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1st X-24B Supersonic Flight (1974)
historic event
3/5/2009
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Explorer 2 launch (1958)
1958 - Explorer 2 launchThis Explorer launch failed on March 5, 1958. 1968 - Explorer 37 launchThis NRL satellite was one of the SOLRAD series that began in 1960 to provide continuous coverage of solar radiation with a set of standard photometers. SOLRAD 9 was a spin-stabilized satellite oriented with its spin axis perpendicular to the sun-satellite line so that the 14 solar X-ray and UV photometers pointing radially outward from its equatorial belt viewed the sun with each revolution. Data were simultaneously transmitted via FM/AM telemetry and recorded in a core memory that read out its contents on command. Individual scientists and institutions were invited to receive and use the data transmitted on the 136-MHz telemetry band on the standard IRIG channels 3 through 8. For the period July 1971 to June 1973, the core memory data of SOLRAD 10 were used rather than those from SOLRAD 9. The SOLRAD 10 core memory failed June 11, 1973, and SOLRAD 9 was heavily used until February 25, 1974, when the gas supply of the attitude control system was exhausted. Lacking attitude control, SOLRAD 9 was operationally useless and was turned off. For more details, see R. W. Kreplin and D. M. Horan, "The NRL SOLRAD 9 Satellite Solar Explorer B 1968-17A," NRL Report 6800, 1969.1978 - LANDSAT 3 launchThe first 3 Landsat missions were also known as the Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS) series. Images from Landsat 1 demonstrated the usefulness of remote sensing data for land surveys, land management, water resource planning, agricultural forecasting, forest management, sea ice movement, and cartography. When Landsat 1 was finally removed from service in January 1978 due to tape recorder faults, it had returned over 300000 images. Landsat 2 was removed from service on 2/25/82, and Landsat 3 was removed from service on 3/31/83. Archived images from these missions are available through EOSAT.
3/5/2009
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Kepler Launch (2009)
The Kepler Mission, a NASA Discovery mission, is specifically designed to survey our region of the Milky Way Galaxy to detect and characterize hundreds of Earth-size and smaller planets in or nearby the habitable zone. The habitable zone encompasses the distances from a start where liquid water can exist on a planet's surface. The scientific objective of the Kepler Mission is to explore the structure and diversity of planetary systems. This is achieved by surveying a large sample of stars to: 1) Determine the percentage of terrestrial and larger planets that are in or near the habitable zone of a wide variety of stars, 2) Determine the distribution of sizes and shapes of the orbits of these planets, 3) Estimate how many planets there are in the multiple-star systems, 4) Determine the variety of orbit sizes and planet reflectivities, sizes, masses and densities of short-period giant planets, 5) Identify additional members of each discovered planetary system using other techniques, and, 6) Determine the properties of those stars that harbor planetary systems
3/6/2009
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1st Photo from Space (1947)
First photo taken from space at an altitude greater than 100 miles on March 7, 1947.  Vanguard Scientific Earth Satellite Program.
3/7/2009
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OSO 1 launch (1962)
The objectives of the OSO satellite series were to perform solar physics experiments above the atmosphere during a complete solar cycle and to map the celestial sphere for direction and intensity of UV light, X-rays, and gamma radiation. The OSO 1 was the first satellite to have pointed instruments and onboard tape recorders for data storage. The OSO 1 platform consisted of a sail section, which pointed two experiments continuously toward the sun, supplying power to the experiments from the solar batteries and rechargeable chemical batteries; and a wheel section, which spun about an axis perpendicular to the pointing direction of the sail and carried seven experiments. Attitude adjustment was performed by gas jets. Data were simultaneously recorded on tape and transmitted by FM telemetry. A command system provided for 10 ground-based commands. The spacecraft performed normally until the second onboard tape recorder failed May 15, 1962. The spacecraft provided real-time data until May 1964, when the power cells failed. For more information, see A. W. L. Ball, Spaceflight, v. 12, p. 244, 1970.
3/7/2009
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ATV1 Launch (2008)
The International Space Station (ISS) depends onregular deliveries of experimental equipment and spare parts as well asfood, air and water for its permanent crew. From early 2008 onward,Europe's Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) will be one of theindispensable ISS supply spaceships.Every12 months or so, the ATV will haul 7.5 tonnes of cargo from its Kouroulaunch site in French Guiana to the Station 400 km above the Earth. Anon board high precision navigation system will guide the ATV on arendezvous trajectory towards ISS, where it will automatically dockwith the Station's Russian service module. The ATV will remain there asa pressurized and integral part of the Station for up to six monthsuntil its final mission: a fiery one-way trip into the Earth'satmosphere to dispose of up to 6.5 tonnes of Station waste.
3/8/2009
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OSO 3 launch (1967)
1967 - OSO 3 launchThe objectives of the OSO satellite series were to perform solar physics experiments above the atmosphere during a complete solar cycle and to map the celestial sphere for direction and intensity of UV light, X-ray, and gamma radiation. The OSO 3 platform consisted of a sail section, which pointed two experiments continually toward the sun, and a wheel section, which spun about an axis perpendicular to the pointing direction of the sail and carried seven experiments. Attitude adjustment was performed by gas jets and a magnetic torquing coil. Data were simultaneously recorded on tape and transmitted by PCM/PM telemetry. A command system provided for 94 ground-based commands. The spacecraft performed normally until the second onboard tape recorder failed in July 1968. The spacecraft was put in standby condition on November 10, 1969, and became inoperable shortly thereafter. For more details, see J. C. Brandt, Solar Phy., v. 6, p. 171, 1969. 2001 - STS-102 launchSpace Shuttle Launches
3/8/2009
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STS-75 launch (1996)
1996 - STS-75 launchSpace Shuttle Launches
3/9/2009
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1st captive flight of X-15 (1969)
historic event
3/10/2009
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MRO Arrives at Mars (2006)
historic event
3/10/2009
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Palapa 2 launch (1977)
The Palapa satellites form Indonesia's domestic satellite system. Meaning "fruits of labor", Palapa satellites provide regional communications between the country's 6000+ inhabited islands. Originally operated by a government-owned company, Perumtel, the Palapa system is now operated by Satelindo, a private Indonesian company established in 1993. The system began with the launch of Palapa A1 on July 8, 1976, with operational service beginning the following month. Palapa A1 and A2 were phased out of service (A1 - June '85, A2 - January '88) following the introduction of the Palapa B series, which increased coverage to include the Phillipines, Malaysia, and Singapore. Palapa B2, originally launched by STS-41B in February 1984, did not successfully reach orbit, and was subsequently retrieved by STS-51A in November, 1984. Following the failure of B2, Perumtel ordered an identical replacement satellite, B2P, which was launched in March 1987 on an expendable Delta rocket. Following return of B2 to Earth, it was sold by the satellite's insurers to Sattel Technologies, refurbished, relaunched in April 1990, and then resold back to Perumtel, where it was known as Palapa B2R. The newest Palapa series began with launch of Palapa C1 in January 1996, which replaced Palapa B2P (which ended service in February 1996). At least one more C series satellite will be built and launched, with a further option for a third C class vehicle.
3/10/2009
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Uranus Rings Discovered (1977)
historic event
3/10/2009
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Full Moon
celestial event
3/11/2009
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Pioneer 5 launch (1990)
1960 - Pioneer 5 launchPioneer 5 was designed to provide the first map of the interplanetary magnetic field. The vehicle functioned for a record 106 days, and communicated with Earth from a record distance of 36.2 million km. 1972 - TD-1A launch The TD-1 satellite carried seven experiments devoted to astophysical studies. Its scientific mission was to make a systematic sky survey in the ultraviolet and high-energy regions of the spectrum. The experiments were divided into two main categories: five experiments--measuring ultraviolet, x and gamma rays, and heavy nuclei--scanned strips of the sky; the other two viewed along the sun-pointing x axis and measured solar x and gamma rays. The satellite was a triaxially stabilized platform with the x axis always pointed at the center of the sun with an accuracy of 1 arc min. The satellite rotated around this axis at a constant rate of 1 revolution per orbit during normal operations when sun sensors were used for stabilization but it was spun up during eclipse periods to maintain attitude. The sky-scanning instruments were able to scan a narrow band of the sky during each orbit and the whole celestial sphere in 6 months. Two and one-half complete scans of the celestial sphere were completed before the attitude control was lost in May 1974 following exhaustion of the on-board gas supply. Despite intermittent tape recorder failure, data coverage was achieved over 95 percent of the celestial sphere and many areas were observed during two or three separate scans. The spacecraft was a rectangular structure and comprised a bottom compartment containing the spacecraft subsystems and a top compartment containing the outward-viewing science instruments. It had a cross section of 1 by 0.9 m and was 2.2 m high; its mass was 473 kg including 120 kg of instruments. For additional information see "ESRO Report Presented to the Eighteenth COSPAR Meeting, Varna, Bulgaria, June 1975". 2008 - STS-123 launchSTS-123 was the 25th shuttle mission to the International Space Station.
3/11/2009
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STS-123 Launch (1JA) (2008)
Space shuttle Endeavour's nextflight to the International Space Station will truly be an internationalendeavor as it requires every single partner actively participating to makeeverything work. Topping the list ofmilestones is the delivery of part of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency'smodule, marking the beginning of the agency's presence on the station.
Japanese Logistics Module (Kibo).
3/11/2009
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KH 7-16 launch (1965)
This US Air Force photo surveillance satellite was launched from Vandenberg AFB aboard an Atlas Agena D rocket. It was a KH-7 (Key Hole-7) type satellite.
3/12/2009
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Explorer 43 launch (1971)
1971 - Explorer 43 launchIMP-I continued the study, begun by earlier IMPs, of the interplanetary and outer magnetospheric regions by measuring energetic particles, plasma, and electric and magnetic fields. A radio astronomy experiment was also included in the spacecraft payload. The 16-sided spacecraft was 182.12 cm high by 135.64 cm in diameter. The spacecraft spin axis was normal to the ecliptic plane, and its spin rate was 5 rpm. The initial apogee point lay near the earth-sun line. The solar-cell and chemical-battery powered spacecraft carried two transmitters. One continuously transmitted PCM encoder data at a 1600-bps information bit rate. The second transmitter was used for transmission of VLF data and for ranging information. Three orthogonal pairs of dipole antennas were used for the electric fields experiments, and one of these pairs was also used for the radio astronomy experiment. The members of the antenna pair along the spacecraft spin axis extended 2.9 m, the members of the pair used in both the electric field and radio astronomy experiments extended 45.5 m, and the members of the third pair were slightly unbalanced, extending 24.4 and 27.6 m, respectively. All four elements perpendicular to the spin axis were to have extended 45.5 m. The spacecraft reentered the earth's atmosphere October 2, 1974, after a highly successful mission. 1989 - STS-29 launch, 3rd TDRSSpace Shuttle Launches
3/13/2009
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Pluto Discovered (1930)
Pluto, (PLOO toh), is a dwarf planet that orbits far from the sun. Itshares the region of its orbit, known as the Kuiper belt, with acollection of similar icy bodies called Kuiper belt objects (KBO???s).From its discovery in 1930, people widely considered Pluto to be theninth planet of our solar system. However, because of its small sizeand irregular orbit, many astronomers questioned whether Pluto shouldbe grouped with worlds like Earth and Jupiter. Pluto seemed to sharemore similarities with KBO???s. In 2006, this debate led theInternational Astronomical Union, the recognized authority in namingheavenly objects, to formally classify Pluto as a dwarf planet. Plutocannot be seen without a telescope.
3/13/2009
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Uranus Discovered (1781)
historic event
3/13/2009
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1st Jupiter Rocket Launch
historic event
3/14/2009
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Helios 1 Launch
Helios 1 was a joint German- American deep space mission to study themain solar processes and solar-terrestrial relationships. Specifically,the spacecraft's instruments were designed to investigate phenomenasuch as solar wind, magnetic and electric fields, cosmic rays, andcosmic dust in regions between Earth's orbit and approximately 0.3 AUfrom the Sun.
3/15/2009
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SOLRAD 11A launch (1976)
1976 - SOLRAD 11A launchSOLRAD 11A was one of a pair of identical satellites that were placed in a circular equatorial orbit of 20 earth radii. The satellites, which were oriented towards the sun, provided 100 percent real-time, continuous monitoring of solar X-ray, UV, and energetic particle emissions. Experiments included broadband ion chambers observing solar X rays between 0.1 and 60 a, proportional counters and scintillators observing solar X rays between 2 and 150 keV, and EUV detector covering three bands between 170 and 1000 a, a variable resolution Ebert-Fastie spectrometer covering the wavelength range of 1100 to 1600 a (resolution: 1 to 25 a), a solar wind monitor, solar proton, electron, and Alpha particle monitors, two X-ray polarimeters (one utilizing Bragg scattering and the other utilizing Thompson scattering), a Bragg spectrometer observing magnesium-11 and -12 lines, a large-area auroral X-ray detector, and a passively cooled solid-state X-ray detector to measure background X-ray emissions. 2009 - STS-119 Launch STS-119 is the 28th shuttle mission to the International Space Station. Discovery also carried the S6 truss segment to the orbital outpost.
3/15/2009
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STS-119 (15A) (2009)
S6 Truss Segment and Solar Arrays.
3/15/2009
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Gemini Titan 8 Launch (1966)
historic event
3/16/2009
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Goddard Launched 1st Liquid Propelled Rocket (1926)
historic event
3/16/2009
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GSFC Dedicated (1961)
"The TV production group at Goddard is currently exploring the idea of producing a 50th anniversary documentary about the history of our center.  And no, this will not be your typical NASA historical film, but a behind-the-scenes look at the major Goddard events that shook the world, told through the stories of some of our original employees and by our current ones, namely you!

I'm currently heading-up the effort (born from one of Kevin's brilliant ideas [Check's in the mail, Stef. -K]), but in order to make this community-driven film come together by Goddard's anniversary on May 1st, we'll need as much help as we can get.  Basically, we need volunteers who would like to be interviewed about the OpenGoddard theme of living their childhood dream here...what obstacles you've overcome to get here, what has changed at the center for better or worse since its inception, what are we nostalgic about, and how can we use the past to drive us into a more community-oriented future.  If you'd like to be involved in some of the behind-the-camera work as well, we could use help thinking of great folks to interview, major Goddard events to cover, and untold stories that need to be heard.  We'll also need help looking for archival photos and/or video, and if you would like to help out on the film crew, we might be able to take a couple of you along to different shoots (we need to keep the crew small for our interviewees' comfort).
3/16/2009
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Robert Goddard's first liquid fuel rocket launch at Auburn, Mass. (1926)
1926 - Robert Goddard's first liquid fuel rocket launch at Auburn, Mass.On March 16, 1926, Robert Goddard successfully launched the first liquid-fueled rocket in Auburn, Mass. The first-of-its-kind rocket reached an altitude of 41 feet, lasted 2 seconds and averaged about 60 miles per hour. 1966 - Gemini 8 launch Gemini 8 was the sixth crewed Earth-orbiting spacecraft of the Gemini series, carrying astronauts Neil Armstrong and David Scott. The primary mission objectives were to perform rendezvous and four docking tests with the Agena target vehicle and to execute an ExtraVehicular Activity (EVA) experiment. Other objectives included parking the Agena in a 410 km circular orbit, performing a rerendezvous with the Agena, conduct systems evaluation, evaluating the auxiliary tape memory unit, and demonstration of controlled reentry. Ten technological, medical, and scientific experiments were carried on board.
3/16/2009
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Vanguard 1 launch, second U.S. satellite (1958)
Vanguard 1 was a small earth-orbiting satellite designed to test the launch capabilities of a three-stage launch vehicle and the effects of the environment on a satellite and its systems in Earth orbit. It also was used to obtain geodetic measurements through orbit analysis.
3/17/2009
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Little Joe 5A launch (1961)
Max Q escape and impact test. Purpose was to demonstrate primarily the structural integrity of the highest dynamic pressure anticipated during an Atlas launch for orbital flight.
3/18/2009
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1xt X-24A Powered Flight (1970)
historic event
3/19/2009
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Beacon Explorer-A launch (1964)
Beacon Explorer-A was a small ionospheric research satellite instrumented with an electrostatic probe, a 20-, 40-, and 41-Hz ionospheric radio beacon, a passive laser tracking reflector, and a navigation experiment. Its primary objective was to obtain worldwide observations of total electron content between the spacecraft and the earth. The spacecraft was an octagonal right prism (24.5-cm high x 45.7-cm diam) terminated on top with a truncated octagonal pyramid on which the laser reflectors were mounted. Appended were four hinged paddles carrying solar cells. Each paddle was 167.6 x 25.4 cm. During the third stage operation, a malfunction of unidentified origin prevented successful orbit. Satellite and third stage descent were in the south Atlantic with no useful scientific data obtained.
3/19/2009
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Palapa-B2-P launch (1987)
Palapa B satellites were four times as powerful and twice the size of their predecessors, the Palapa A series. While the A series was designed for domestic/regional communications within Indonesia, the new system also served the Phillipines, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Palapa B2 was originally placed into a useless orbit due to malfunctions of its PAM-D upper stage. The Indonesian government claimed $75 million insurance and ordered a replacement (B2P), which was successfully orbited 3 years later. The original B2 was recovered by the STS-51A mission on November 12, 1984 under an arrangement between the satellite's insurers, NASA and Hughes. The satellite was then sold by the insurers to an intermediary company, refurbished, and then resold back to Indonesia following its launch in 1990.
3/20/2009
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Ranger 9 launch (1965)
Ranger 9 was designed to achieve a lunar impact trajectory and to transmit high-resolution photographs of the lunar surface during the final minutes of flight up to impact. The spacecraft carried six television vidicon cameras, 2 full-scan cameras (channel F, one wide-angle, one narrow-angle) and 4 partial scan cameras (channel P, two wide-angle, two narrow-angle) to accomplish these objectives. The cameras were arranged in two separate chains, or channels, each self-contained with separate power supplies, timers, and transmitters so as to afford the greatest reliability and probability of obtaining high-quality video pictures. No other experiments were carried on the spacecraft.
3/21/2009
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Intelsat 2 F-3 launch (1967)
1967 - Intelsat 2 F-3 launchThe Intelsat 2 series expanded ITSO coverage to include 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Intelsat 2A was never operationally useful due to a bad orbit, Intelsat 2B lasted for 2 years, and Intelsat 2C and 2D lasted for 3.5 years each. 1982 - STS-3 launch, first landing at White Sands, New MexicoSpace Shuttle Launches1985 - Intelsat 5A F-10 launchThe Intelsat 5A series is very similar to the Intelsat 5 series. Modifications include a larger communications payload with internal weight savings to accommodate the additional mass. The 5A series (F1-F6) is also known as Intelsat 5 (F10-F15). 1996 - STS-76 launchSpace Shuttle Launches2006 - Space Technology 5 launchThe ST5 micro-satellites successfully launched on March 22, 2006 aboard an Orbital Sciences Pegasus Rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The official launch time was 9:03:45 a.m. EST. NASA's three micro-sats were launched to test and validate new technologies for future science missions.
3/22/2009
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1st Underwater Launch of Polaris (1958)
historic event
3/23/2009
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Gemini 3 launch, first manned Gemini mission (1965)
Demonstrate manned orbital flight; evaluate two-man design. Demonstrate and evaluate tracking network. Demonstrate OAMS capability in orbital maneuvers and in retrofire backup. Demonstrate controlled reentry and landing. Evaluate major spacecraft subsystems. Demonstrate systems checkout, prelaunch, and launch procedures. Demonstrate and evaluate recovery procedures and systems. Spacecraft weight: 3225kg.
3/23/2009
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Gemini Titan 3 Launch (1965)
historic event
3/23/2009
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Mercury BD launch (1961)
1961 - Mercury BD launchPerfect Mercury Redstone Booster Operations. Qualify booster for manned operation.1992 - STS-45 - Atlas-1 launchSpace Shuttle Launches
3/24/2009
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San Marco D/L launch (1988)
1988 - San Marco D/L launchThe primary purpose of the San Marco-D/L Spacecraft was to explore the relationship between solar activity and thermosphere-ionosphere phenomena. The spacecraft had a planned lifetime of one year. The science investigations used the following five flight sensors: a Drag Balance Instrument (DBI) for determining neutral density, a Wind and Temperature Spectrometer (WATI), an Ion Velocity Instrument (IVI), an Airglow-Solar Spectrometer (ASSI), and an Electric Field Meter (EFI). The satellite was a 96.5 cm-diameter sphere with four 48 cm canted monopole telemetry antennas and three orthogonal pairs of electric field probe sensors (one pair oriented along the spacecraft spin axis). An internal structural cylinder (26 cm diameter) extends slightly through the sphere and was coincident with the satellite spin axis. The power supply consisted of a solar-cell array split into two sections, two rechargeable NiCd batteries, and associated circuitry. The satellite attitude data were provided by a triaxial magnetometer, a horizon sensor, a digital sun sensor, and a star tracker for calibration. A magnetic torquing system was used to control spin rate and spacecraft attitude. The spacecraft reentered on schedule on December 6, 1988. All instruments operated as planned, except WATI which failed to respond to commands after 20 days (fuse failure). The spacecraft performed nominally throughout its lifetime. Final data were acquired at 150 Km during re-entry. 1961 - Explorer 10 launch
3/25/2009
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Astronaut Thomas Mattingly's Ambassador of Exploration Award Ceremony
Former Astronaut Thomas K. Mattingly will receive the Ambassador of Exploration Award and then present it to Auburn University.
3/26/2009
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Explorer 3 launch, third U.S. IGY satellite (1958)
1958 - Explorer 3 launch, third U.S. IGY satelliteExplorer 3 (1958 Gamma 1) was launched in conjunction with the IGY by the U.S. Army (Ordinance) into an eccentric orbit. The objective of this spacecraft was a continuation of experiments started with Explorer 1. The payload consisted of a cosmic ray counter (a Geiger-Mueller tube), and a micrometeorite detector (erotion gauge). The Explorer 3 spacecraft was spin stabilized and had an on-board tape recorder to provide a complete radiation history for each orbit. It was discovered soon after launch that the satellite was in a tumbling motion with a period of about 7 s. Explorer 3 decayed from orbit on June 27, 1958, after 93 days of operation. 1987 - FLTSATCOM F-6 launchThe FLTSATCOM system provides worldwide, high-priority UHF communications between naval aircraft, ships, submarines, and ground stations and between the Strategic Air Command and the national command authority network. Fully operational in January 1981, the FLTSATCOM constellation is being replaced by the UFO (UHF Follow-on) spacecraft.
3/26/2009
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Mariner 7 launch (1969)
Mariner 6 and 7 comprised a dual-spacecraft mission to Mars, the sixth and seventh missions in the Mariner series of spacecraft used for planetary exploration in the flyby mode. The primary objectives of the missions were to study the surface and atmosphere of Mars during close flybys to establish the basis for future investigations, particularly those relevant to the search for extraterrestrial life, and to demonstrate and develop technologies required for future Mars missions and other long-duration missions far from the Sun. Mariner 6 also had the objective of providing experience and data which would be useful in programming the Mariner 7 encounter 5 days later. Each spacecraft carried a wide- and narrow-angle television camera, an infrared spectroscope, an infrared radiometer, and an ultraviolet spectroscope. The spacecraft were oriented entirely to planetary data acquisition, and no data were obtained during the trip to Mars or beyond Mars.
3/27/2009
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Saturn SA-4 launch (1963)
1963 - Saturn SA-4 launchThis was an uncrewed test flight of the Saturn 1 (SA-4) booster and the final of a series of four tests of the Saturn first stage. The rocket was launched on a sub-orbital flight to an altitude of 129 km and a peak velocity of 5906 km/hr. After 100 seconds of flight, a pre-set timer cut off engine no. 5 as planned to test the "engine-out" capability of the booster. Fuel was successfully routed to the other seven engines and the flight continued. This completed the Block 1 Saturn tests. 1983 - NOAA 8 launchNOAA is part of the ongoing US series of polar-orbiting weather satellites. These were preceded by the TIROS series and the ITOS (Improved TIROS) series. These satellites make measurements of atmospheric temperature and humidity, surface temperature, cloud cover, water-ice-moisture boundaries, and space proton and electron fluxes. They can receive, process, and retransmit data from free-floating balloons, buoys, and remote automatic stations around the globe. These satellites are managed by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and NASA is responsible for developing and launching the spacecraft. The NOAA spacecraft use a letter designator (NOAA G) before launch, when it receives a numeric designator. TIROS-N through NOAA-D are called the TIROS-N series. NOAA-E through NOAA-N are called the TIROS ATN series (Advanced TIROS N). NOAA-D was launched out of sequence and later became NOAA 12. (NOAA 11 shown in photo).
3/28/2009
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Mariner 10-1st Mercury Flyby (1974)
historic event
3/29/2009
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SEDS-1 Launch (1993)
historic event
3/29/2009
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ISIS 2 launch (1971)
1971 - ISIS 2 launchISIS 2 was an ionospheric observatory instrumented with a sweep- and a fixed-frequency ionosonde, a VLF receiver, energetic and soft particle detectors, an ion mass spectrometer, an electrostatic probe, a retarding potential analyzer, a beacon transmitter, a cosmic noise experiment, and two photometers. Two long crossed-dipole antennas (73 and 18.7 m) were used for the sounding, VLF, and cosmic noise experiments. 1978 - Intelsat 5A F-6 launch The Intelsat 5A series is very similar to the Intelsat 5 series. Modifications include a larger communications payload with internal weight savings to accommodate the additional mass. The 5A series (F1-F6) is also known as Intelsat 5 (F10-F15).
3/31/2009
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TIROS 1 launch, world's first weather satellite (1990)
TIROS spacecraft were the beginning of a long series of polar-orbiting meteorological satellites. TIROS was followed by the TOS (TIROS Operational System) series, and then the ITOS (Improved TIROS) series, and later the NOAA series. TIROS spacecraft were developed by GSFC and managed by ESSA (Environmental Science Services Administration). The objective was to establish a global weather satellite system.
4/1/2009
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Explorer 17 Launch (1962)
historic event
4/2/2009
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Astronaut James Lovell's Ambassador of Exploration Award Ceremony
Former Astronaut James Lovell will recive the Ambassador of Exploration Award and present it to the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum.
4/3/2009
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Apollo 6 Launch (1968)
Demonstrate structure and thermal integrityand compatibility of launch vehicle and spacecraft; confirm launchloads and dynamic characteristics (Achieved). 
Demonstrate separation of launch vehicle stages (Achieved). 
Evaluate performance of emergency detection system in closed-loop configuration (Achieved). Verify operation of Saturn V propulsion, guidance and control, and electrical systems. (Not Achieved. Due to early cutoff of two S-II stage J-2 engines and failure of S-IVB J-2 engine to restart.) 
Demonstrate performance of mission support facilities (Achieved).
4/4/2009
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STS-6 Launch (1983)
4/4/2009
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ATS-2 launch (1967)
1967 - ATS-2 launchATS-2 was placed into an undesirable orbit due to a launch vehicle failure. Atmospheric torques in this orbit overcame the satellite's gravity gradient stabilization system, and caused a slow tumble. Although the satellite remained functional, the satellite was deactivated after six months due to the limited amount of data that could be received from the spacecraft. 1991 - STS-37 launchSpace Shuttle Launches
4/5/2009
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Pioneer 11 Launch (1973)
Pioneer 11 flew by Jupiter, and then moved on to Saturn, where itdiscovered a couple of previously unknown small moons around theplanet, and a new ring. Both probes have stopped sending data, and arecontinuing out on their one-way voyages beyond the solar system.
4/5/2009
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Intelsat 1 launch (1965)
1965 - Intelsat 1 launch, also known as Early Bird 1, first commercial satellite launched by NASA on a reimbursable basisIntelsat 1, also called Early Bird, was the world's first commercial communications satellite. It provided the first scheduled transoceanic TV service and was operational for 3.5 years. In 1984, the satellite was briefly reactivated to celebrate ITSO's 20th anniversary. 1984 - STS-41C launch, first in-flight capture, repair and redeployment of satellite in space
4/6/2009
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Centaur AC-8 launch (1966)
1966 - Centaur AC-8 launch2001 - 2001 Mars Odyssey launch
4/7/2009
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Gemini 1 Launch (1964)
historic event
4/8/2009
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OAO 1 launch (1966)
1966 - OAO 1 launchOAO 1 was a solar-cell-powered satellite instrumented to make precision astronomical observations and to measure the absorption and emission characteristics of the stars, planets, nebulae, and the interplanetary and interstellar media from visible to gamma-ray regions. The stabilization system permitted three axes a pointing accuracy of 1 arc minute after the star tracker acquired a guide star. The control system permitted an ultimate pointing accuracy of 0.1 arc second. OAO 1 was launched in a nominal nearly perfect circular orbit and operate as planned for the first 7 min after separation. Suqsequent high voltage arcing and battery depletion caused the mission to be terminated as a failure after 20 orbits without activating the experiments. Major problems were attributed to a failure in the power supply system and to high volatage arcing in the star trackers. 1993 - STS-56 launch, Atlas-22002 - STS-110 launch
4/8/2009
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Full Moon
astronomical event
4/9/2009
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GEOS 3 launch (1975)
1975 - GEOS 3 launch1994 - STS-59 SRL-1 launch
4/9/2009
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Mercury Astronauts Selected (1959)
Project Mercury
4/9/2009
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INSAT-1A launch (1982)
1982 - INSAT-1A launchThe INSAT-1 satellite program incorporated two three-axis stabilized spacecraft in geostationary orbit (INSAT-1A at 74 degrees E and INSAT-1B at 94 degrees E) with a host of ground stations throughout India. The INSAT-1A satellite, built by the Ford Aerospace and Communications Corporation, was designed to provide combined telecommunications, direct TV broadcast, and meteorological service to India's civilian community over a 7-year-in-orbit lifespan. The telecommunications package provided two-way, long distance telephone circuits and direct radio and TV broadcasting to the remotest areas of India. The meteorology package was composed of a scanning very-high-resolution, two-channel radiometer (VHRR) to provide full-frame, full-earth coverage every 30 minutes. The visual channel (0.55-0.75 micrometer) had a 2.75-km resolution while the IR channel (10.5-12.5 micrometers) had an 11-km resolution. Using the Insat TV capability, early warnings of impending disasters (i.e., floods, storms, etc.) could directly reach the civilian population, even in remote areas. The INSAT-1A also had a data channel for relaying meteorological, hydrological, and oceanographic data from unattended land-based or ocean-based data collection and transmission platforms.
4/10/2009
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Apollo 13 Launch (1970)
Apollo 13 was intended to be the third mission to carry humans to thesurface of the Moon, but an explosion of one of the oxygen tanks andresulting damage to other systems resulted in the mission being abortedbefore the planned lunar landing could take place. The crew, commanderJames A. Lovell, Jr., command module pilot John L. Swigert, Jr., andlunar module pilot Fred W. Haise Jr., were returned safely to Earth on17 April 1970.
4/11/2009
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STS-1 Launch (1981)
Demonstrate safe launch into orbit and safe return of the orbiter andcrew. Verify the combined performance of the entire shuttle vehicle -orbiter, solid rocket boosters and external tank.

Payloads included the Developmental Flight Instrumentation (DFI) andthe Aerodynamic Coefficient Identifications Package (ACIP) palletcontaining equipment for recording temperatures, pressures andacceleration levels at various points on the vehicle.
4/12/2009
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STS-51D launch (1985)
1985 - STS-51D launch, first U.S. elected official - Sen. Jake Garn - to be part of Shuttle crew
4/12/2009
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Yuri Gagarin Launch (1961)
On April 12, 1961 the first earthling escaped the gravity well of planet earth. In the spaceship Vostok 1, Senior Lieutenant Yuri Alexeyevich Gagarin orbited earth one time at an altitude of 187 3/4 miles (302 kilometers) for 108 minutes at 18,000 miles an hour. He was the first man to see that the earth was indeed round, indeed mostly water, and indeed magnificent.
4/12/2009
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EGRS 13 launch (1969)
1969 - EGRS 13 launchSECOR 13 provided geodetic position determination measurements. It was launched from the White Sands Missile Center on the same Thor-Agena rocket with Nimbus 3. 1974 - Westar 1 launch, first satellite for domestic communicationsOriginally established by Western Union, the Westar satellite system was the first US domestic satellite system. The system relayed data, voice, video, and fax transmissions to the continental U.S., Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Alaska, and the Virgin islands. Western Union ended its role as a satellite service provider when it sold the Westar satellites to Hughes Communications Inc. in 1988. At the time of the sale, only the Westar 3, 4, 5 and satellites were operational, as Westar 1 and 2 had already been retired from service (Westar 1 in April 1983), and Westar 6 had not achieved GEO following its deployment from STS-10 in February '84. 1969 - Nimbus 3 launch
4/13/2009
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STS-1 landing (1981)
1981 - STS-1 landing, first space shuttle landing at Edwards Air Force BaseSpace Shuttle Columbia lifted off from Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on April 12, 1981, at 6 a.m. CST (12:00 GMT) to begin the first shuttle mission, STS-1. The primary mission objectives for STS-1 were to accomplish a safe ascent into orbit, check out all the systems on the space shuttle and to return to Earth for a safe landing. All of these objectives were met successfully.
4/14/2009
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DART launch (2005)
2005 - DART launchNASA released a summary on May 15, 2006, of the findings about why its Demonstration of Autonomous Rendezvous Technology spacecraft did not complete its mission and collided with the intended rendezvous satellite on April 15, 2005.
4/15/2009
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Apollo 16 Launch (1972)
4/16/2009
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1st X-24 Glide Flight (1969)
4/17/2009
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Helios 2 Flyby of the Sun (1976)
4/17/2009
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Surveyor 3 launch (1967)
1967 - Surveyor 3 launchSurveyor 3 launches for the Moon. The purpose of the seven Surveyor missions (five of which are successful) is to land safely on the Moon, test the landing techniques planned for the manned Apollo lunar landers, take close-up images of the surface, and make other observations to find locations that will be safe for Apollo landings.1998 - STS-90 launch, NeurolabSpace Shuttle Launches
4/17/2009
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STS-100 launch (2001)
2001 - STS-100 launchShuttle Mission STS-100 Orbiter - Endeavour April 19, 2001
4/18/2009
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Anik A2 launch (1973)
1973 - Anik A2 launchAnik A2 (Telesat 2) was a telecommunications satellite weighing approximately 272.7 kb operating in a geostationary orbit with an anticipated life of 7 years. It was approximately 1.85 m in diameter and 3.38 m in height. The satellite communications system provided for 12 rf channels, two of which were protection channels for the traffic carrying channels. Up link transmission was in the 5.925- to 6.425-gHz band, and the down link operated in the 3.7- to 4.2-gHz band. Telemetry, tracking and command functions required for satellite station keeping and positioning were also provided in those frequency bands. 1977 - ESA/Geos 1 launchThe ESA-GEOS 1 spacecraft was to have been the first satellite placed in the equatorial geostationary orbit that was dedicated completely to scientific measurements. Unfortunately, a launch vehicle failure made it impossible to achieve this orbit and resulted in the decision to place the spacecraft in a 12-h, commensurate, final orbit where the instruments could make the planned measurements for about 6 h each revolution between 5 and 7 earth radii. In this orbit the mission was still able to serve as a core or reference spacecraft for the International Magnetospheric Study (IMS), and carried out planned correlative measurements with extensive ground-based networks in Scandinavia and conjugate point measurements between a station in Iceland and in Antarctica. In addition, because of a second daily apogee at a different geographic position, correlative measurements with IMS ground-based networks in Alaska and western Canada were also carried out. The payload consisted of instruments to measure (1) dc and AC electric and magnetic fields; (2) gradients of the magnetic field; (3) thermal and suprathermal plasma parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic field; (4) energy spectra, angular distribution, and composition of positive ions; and (5) angular distribution and energy spectra of energetic electrons and protons. In the following NSSDC experiment descriptions, ESA Exp. S-300 was divided into five separate experiments: 77-029A-05, -06, -07, -10, and -11. A detailed description of the payload can be found in K. Knott, ESA Scientific and Technical Review, v. 1, pp. 173-196, 1975. The spacecraft was cylindrical with a height of 1.321 m. The total mass exclusive of propellants was 273.6 kg. There were four telescopic axial booms of 2.5-m length for the wire-mesh spheres of an AC electric field experiment; two 20-m cable booms for magnetic and electric field sensors and for an excitation antenna for plasma resonances; and two locking radiant booms of 3-m length for a variety of instruments. There were six hydrazine thrusters; two were to tilt and precess the spacecraft, two were used to modify the orbit so the longitude of the apogee could be moved to different geographic locations, and two were used for spin up and spin down. The spin rate was nominally 10 rpm. Since this mission was planned for the geostationary orbit, no storage of data was provided. Data were telemetered in real time at 137.2 MHz (186 and 744 bps) and at 2299.5 MHz (11.91 or 95.25 kbs). Altitude measurements were obtained by a sun sensor, dual infrared earth sensor, and accelerometers. Power was supplied by 7200 solar cells mounted on the cylindrical spacecraft surface. To prevent spacecraft differential charging, 96% of the surface was made electrically conductive. Because of the importance of the magnetic field measurements, the spacecraft residual field at the magnetometer was made less than 0.3 nT. More detailed information on the spacecraft can be found in ESA Bulletin, n. 9, May 1977. 2003 - Gravity Probe B launchGravity Probe B is the relativity gyroscope experiment being developed by NASA and Stanford University to test two extraordinary, unverified predictions of Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity.1967 - ESSA-5 launch
4/20/2009
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Earth Day
NASA participation TBD.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Organizers of the annual Earth Day celebration are heeding President Barack Obama's inauguration call to service by asking volunteers to make tangible improvements in parks, schools and on beaches to help tackle climate change.
Service projects are being planned in 10 cities, including New York, Atlanta, Chicago, and San Francisco for April 17 to 19. Organizers said Monday that the flagship event will again be on the National Mall in Washington.
The service projects will be followed by "thank-you" concerts in each city on April 19. Organizers aren't yet revealing any of the musical performers.
Earth Day Network, which grew out of the original Earth Day in 1970, is teaming up with the four-year-old Green Apple Festival to stage the events.
4/22/2009
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Intelsat 3 F-7 launch (1970)
1970 - Intelsat 3 F-7 launchIntelsat 3 spacecraft were used to relay commercial global telecommunications including live TV. Three of the 8 satellites in the series (F1, F5, F8) were unusable due to launch vehicle failures, and most of the remainder did not achieve their desired lifetimes. F2 operated for 1.5 years, F3 was partially operational for 7 years, F4 lasted 3 years, F6 survived 2 years, and F7 remained usable for 16 years. 1976 - NATO 3-A launchNATO 3-A, the first in a series of NATO defense-related communications satellites, was successfully launched on April 22, 1976. The spacecraft was capable of transmitting voice, data, facsimile and telex messages among military ground stations. It was placed in a synchronous orbit over the Atlantic and, following launch, was operating nominally.
4/22/2009
major_event
Apollo 8 Reunion
@ LBJ Library
4/23/2009
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Full Details
Ranger 4 launch (1962)
1962 - Ranger 4 launchRanger 4 was designed to transmit pictures of the lunar surface to Earth stations during a period of 10 minutes of flight prior to impacting on the Moon, to rough-land a seismometer capsule on the Moon, to collect gamma-ray data in flight, to study radar reflectivity of the lunar surface, and to continue testing of the Ranger program for development of lunar and interplanetary spacecraft. An onboard computer failure caused failure of the deployment of the solar panels and navigation systems, the spacecraft impacted on the far side of the Moon without returning any scientific data.
4/23/2009
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XV-15-2 (TRR Aircraft) (1979)
4/23/2009
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Puppids Meteor Shower Peak
astronomical event
4/24/2009
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Full Details
STS-31 Launched HST (1990)
STS-31 was the tenth launch of the shuttle Discovery. On board wereLoren Shriver, Charles Bolden, Bruce McCandless, Steven Hawley, andKathryn Sullivan. The main purpose of this mission was to deploy theHubble Space Telescope (HST) astronomical observatory. It was designedto operate above the earth's turbulent and obscuring atmosphere toobserve celestial objects at ultraviolet, visible and near-infraredwavelengths. This was a joint NASA-ESA effort. The rest of the missionwas devoted to photography and onboard experiments. To launch HST intoan orbit that guaranteed longevity, Discovery soared to 600 km - thehighest shuttle altitude to date. The record height permitted the crewto photograph earth's large scale geographic features not apparent fromlower orbits. Motion pictures were recorded by two IMAX cameras.Experiment activity included a biomedical technology study, advancedmaterials research; particle contamination and ionizing radiationmeasurements; and student science project studying zero gravity effectson electronic arcs. Discovery's reentry from its higher than usualorbit call for a 4-mn, 58-sec deorbit burn, the longest in shuttlehistory. It touched down on Edwards AFB runway 22 at 13:49, April 29,after 5 days, 1 hr, 16 mn.
4/24/2009
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Full Details
Mercury-Atlas 3 launch (1961)
1961 - Mercury-Atlas 3 launchQuick test of Spacecraft/Atlas orbit 2007 - AIM launch Launch of AIM Aboard a Pegasus XL Rocket
4/25/2009
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Saturn 2 Launch (1962)
4/25/2009
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XF-91 Launch (1947)
4/25/2009
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Full Details
Ariel 1 launch (1961)
1961 - Ariel 1 launch, first international satellite, U.S. and United KingdomAriel 1 was designed to contribute to the current knowledge of the ionosphere and of sun-ionosphere relationships. The satellite was a 62-kg cylinder with a 58-cm diameter and a height of 22 cm. A tape recorder and instrumentation for one cosmic-ray, two solar emissions, and three ionospheric experiments were on board the satellite. Except for failure at launch of the solar Lyman-alpha experiment, the spacecraft operated nominally until July 9, 1962. Between that date and September 8, 1962, spacecraft operation was limited. The spacecraft was operated again from August 25, 1964, to November 9, 1964, to obtain data concurrent in time with Explorer 20 (64-051A). 1993 - STS-55 launch, second German SpacelabSpace Shuttle Launches
4/26/2009
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Ariel 1 Launch (1962)
4/26/2009
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Full Details
Explorer 11 launch (1961)
1961 - Explorer 11 launchExplorer 11, also known as S 15, was launched for the purpose of detecting the sources of high-energy gamma rays. The spacecraft achieved an orbit with an apogee of 1786 km, a perigee of 486 km, a period of 108.1 min, and an inclination of 28.9 deg. In addition to detecting gamma rays, Explorer 11 was designed to map their direction with emphasis on the plane of the galaxy, the galactic center, the sun, and other known radio noise sources; to relate the measurements to the cosmic-ray flux density and the density of interstellar matter; and to measure the high-energy gamma-ray albedo of the earth's atmosphere. The satellite was a spin-stabilized octagonal aluminum box (30.5 by 30.5 by 58.5 cm) on a cylinder (15.2 cm in diameter and 52.2 cm long). Explorer 11 was constructed so that its stable motion was an end-over-end tumble about the transverse principal axis that had the largest moment of inertia. The gamma-ray telescope assembly was mounted so that its axis of sensitivity, which was parallel to the long axis of the satellite, would rotate in the plane of tumble. The orientation of this axis in space was determined to approximately 5 deg by means of optical aspect detectors and the use of the known radiation pattern of the vehicle antenna. Telemetry was provided only in real time by two PM transmitters, since the onboard tape recorder failed at launch.
4/27/2009
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Full Details
Vanguard test vehicle launch (1958)
1958 - Vanguard test vehicle launch1983 - GOES 6 launch1991 - STS-39 launch2003 - GALEX launch2006 - CALIPSO/CloudSat launch
4/28/2009
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Full Details
STS-51B launch of Spacelab 3 (1985)
1985 - STS-51B launch of Spacelab 3, first operational flight of Spacelab
4/29/2009
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Full Details
NASA GSFC Celebrates Opens (1959)
GSFC anniversary
5/1/2009
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Van Allen Radiation Belts Announced (1958)
5/1/2009
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Full Details
Space Day @ NASM
Space Day is a family day event, sponsored by Lockheed Martin.  The event runs from 10 AM - 3 PM.  We are looking for variety of speakers and presentation styles (panel with Q&A, presenters to stand at tables, solo speakers) who can address human space flight past, present and future.
Other scheduled speakers:  Former astronauts Dan Barry, Ken Reightler, Roger Crouch.  Current Astronaut Lee Morin
5/2/2009
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Full Details
JPL Open House
This popularevent celebrates JPL's accomplishments with exhibits and demonstrationsabout the Laboratory's ongoing research and space exploration.
5/2/2009
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Full Details
JPL Open House
This popularevent celebrates JPL's accomplishments with exhibits and demonstrationsabout the Laboratory's ongoing research and space exploration.
5/3/2009
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Full Details
LAGEOS 1 launch (1976)
1976 - LAGEOS 1 launchLAGEOS (Laser Geodetic Satellite) was a very dense (high mass-to-area ratio) laser retroreflector satellite which provided a permanent reference point in a very stable orbit for such precision earth-dynamics measurements as crustal motions, regional strains, fault motions, polar motion and earth-rotation variations, solid earth tides, and other kinematic and dynamic parameters associated with earthquake assessment and alleviation. In conjunction with appropriate laser-tracking systems, LAGEOS permitted extreme precision-ranging measurements for both geometric mode (multilateration) and orbital dynamic mode determinations of positions of points on the earth. It was the first spacecraft dedicated exclusively to high-precision laser ranging and provided the first opportunity to acquire laser-ranging data that were not degraded by errors originating in the target satellite. The high-accuracy range measurements from this permanent-orbiting reference point were used to accomplish many extreme precision earth-dynamics measurements required by the earthquake hazard assessment and alleviation objectives of the Earth and Ocean Physics Applications Program (EOPAP). The performance in orbit of LAGEOS was limited only by degradation of the retroreflectors, so many decades of useful life can be expected. The high mass-to-area ratio and the precise, stable (attitude-independent) geometry of the spacecraft, together with the orbit, made this satellite the most precise position reference available. Because it is visible in all parts of the world and has an extended operation life in orbit, LAGEOS can serve as a fundamental standard for decades. 1979 - FLTSATCOM 2 launchThe FLTSATCOM system provides worldwide, high-priority UHF communications between naval aircraft, ships, submarines, and ground stations and between the Strategic Air Command and the national command authority network. Fully operational in January 1981, the FLTSATCOM constellation is being replaced by the UFO (UHF Follow-on) spacecraft. 1989 - STS-30 launch, first planetary probe launch - MagellanSpace Shuttle Launches
5/4/2009
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Full Details
Lunar Orbiter 4 Launch (1967)
Lunar Orbiter 4 was designed to take advantage of the fact that the three previous Lunar Orbiters had completed the required needs for Apollo mapping and site selection. It was given a more general objective, to "perform a broad systematic photographic survey of lunar surface features in order to increase the scientific knowledge of their nature, origin, and processes, and to serve as a basis for selecting sites for more detailed scientific study by subsequent orbital and landing missions. It was also equipped to collect selenodetic, radiation intensity, and micrometeoroid impact data. The spacecraft was placed in a cislunar trajectory and injected into an elliptical near polar high lunar orbit for data acquisition. The orbit was 2706 km x 6111 km with an inclination of 85.5 degrees and a period of 12 hours.
After initial photography on 11 May 1967 problems started occurring with the camera's thermal door, which was not responding well to commands to open and close. Fear that the door could become stuck in the closed position covering the camera lenses led to a decision to leave the door open. This required extra attitude control manuevers on each orbit to prevent light leakage into the camera which would ruin the film. On 13 May it was discovered that light leakage was damaging some of the film, and the door was tested and partially closed. Some fogging of the lens was then suspected due to condensation resulting from the lower temperatures. Changes in the attitude raised the temperature of the camera and generally eliminated the fogging. Continuing problems with the readout drive mechanism starting and stopping beginning on 20 May resulted in a decision to terminate the photographic portion of the mission on 26 May. Despite problems with the readout drive the entire film was read and transmitted. The spacecraft acquired photographic data from May 11 to 26, 1967, and readout occurred through June 1, 1967. The orbit was then lowered to gather orbital data for the upcoming Lunar Orbiter 5 mission.
A total of 419 high resolution and 127 medium resolution frames were acquired covering 99% of the Moon's near side at resolutions from 58 meters to 134 meters. Accurate data were acquired from all other experiments throughout the mission. Radiation data showed increased dosages due to solar particle events producing low energy protons. The spacecraft was used for tracking purposes until it impacted the lunar surface due to the natural decay of the orbit no later than October 31, 1967, between 22--30 degrees W longitude.
5/4/2009
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Public Services Recognition
Public Service Recognition Week honors the men and women who serve America as federal, state and local government employees.  This event is held on the National Mall.
Throughout the Nation and around the world, public employees use Public Service Recognition Week to educate citizens about the many ways in which the Federal government serves the people and how federal government services make life better for all of us
5/4/2009
major_event
Public Services Recognition
Public Service Recognition Week honors the men and women who serve America as federal, state and local government employees.  This event is held on the National Mall.
Throughout the Nation and around the world, public employees use Public Service Recognition Week to educate citizens about the many ways in which the Federal government serves the people and how federal government services make life better for all of us
5/5/2009
major_event
Full Details
Freedom 7/Alan Shepherd Launch (1961)
The main scientific objective of project Mercury was to determine man's capabilities in a space environment and in those environments to which he will be subject upon going into and returning from space. A few of the basic flight problems included: The development of an automatic escape system, vehicle control during insertion, behavior of space systems, evaluation of pilots capabilities in space, in flight monitoring, retrofire and reentry maneuvers and landing and recovery. 
5/5/2009
major_event
Public Services Recognition
Public Service Recognition Week honors the men and women who serve America as federal, state and local government employees.  This event is held on the National Mall.
Throughout the Nation and around the world, public employees use Public Service Recognition Week to educate citizens about the many ways in which the Federal government serves the people and how federal government services make life better for all of us
5/6/2009
major_event
Public Services Recognition
Public Service Recognition Week honors the men and women who serve America as federal, state and local government employees.  This event is held on the National Mall.
Throughout the Nation and around the world, public employees use Public Service Recognition Week to educate citizens about the many ways in which the Federal government serves the people and how federal government services make life better for all of us
5/7/2009
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Full Details
Anik 3 launch (1975)
1975 - Anik 3 launchTelesat 3 (Anik A3) was the third domestic communications satellite launched by NASA from Cape Canaveral for the Canadian company Telesat. It weighed approximately 281 kg in a geostationary orbit with an anticipated life of seven years. It was about 1.83 m in diameter and 3.35 m high. The satellite communications system provided for 12 RF channels, two of which were protection channels for the 10 traffic carrying channels. Up-link transmission was the 5.925- to 6.425-gHz band, and the down-link operated in the 3.7- to 4.2-gHz band. Telemetry, tracking, and command functions required for satellite station keeping and positioning were also provided in those frequency bands. 1992 - STS-49 launch, first Endeavour launch and test of drag chuteSpace Shuttle Launches
5/7/2009
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STS-49 Launch (1992)
NASA launched Space Shuttle Endeavor to begin its first flight. During the STS-49 mission, the crew captured a stranded INTELSAT VI satellite, added a new kick motor and released it into orbit. The new kick motor then fired to boost the satellite up to a geosynchronous orbit.
5/7/2009
major_event
Public Services Recognition
Public Service Recognition Week honors the men and women who serve America as federal, state and local government employees.  This event is held on the National Mall.
Throughout the Nation and around the world, public employees use Public Service Recognition Week to educate citizens about the many ways in which the Federal government serves the people and how federal government services make life better for all of us
5/8/2009
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Full Details
Centaur 1 launch (1962)
1962 - Centaur 1 launch
5/8/2009
major_event
Public Services Recognition
Public Service Recognition Week honors the men and women who serve America as federal, state and local government employees.  This event is held on the National Mall.
Throughout the Nation and around the world, public employees use Public Service Recognition Week to educate citizens about the many ways in which the Federal government serves the people and how federal government services make life better for all of us
5/9/2009
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Full Moon
astronomical event
5/9/2009
major_event
Public Services Recognition
Public Service Recognition Week honors the men and women who serve America as federal, state and local government employees.  This event is held on the National Mall.
Throughout the Nation and around the world, public employees use Public Service Recognition Week to educate citizens about the many ways in which the Federal government serves the people and how federal government services make life better for all of us
5/10/2009
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1st HIMAT Supersonic Flight (1982)
5/11/2009
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Full Details
STS-125 HST Servicing Mission (2009)
1978 - OTS 2 launch
OTS 2 (Orbital Test Satellite 2) was an experimental satellite inherited by ESA in 1975 from its predecessor, the European Space Research Organization (ESRO). The first of the pair of OTS satellites was lost at launch in September 1977. OTS 2 became one the the first GEO communications satellites to carry six Ku-band (14/11 GHz) transponders and was capable of handling 7,200 telephone circuits. With a mass of approximately 445 kg on station, the OTS 2 bus was hexagonal with overall dimensions of 2.4 m by 2.1 m. Two solar panels with a span of 9.3 m provided 0.6 kW of electrical power. British Aerospace was the prime contractor from the European MESH consortium which developed the OTS vehicle. It completed its primary mission in 1984 after which the spacecraft was involved in a 6-year program of experiments, including the testing of a new attitude control technique taking advantage of solar wind forces. In January 1991, OTS 2 was moved out of the geostationary ring and into a graveyard orbit.
 2009 - STS-125 launch. Final servicing mission for NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.
HST Service Mission
5/11/2009
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Bell X-1 Final Flight w/pilot Chuck Yeager
historic event
5/12/2009
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Full Details
Echo launch, first Delta launch vehicle (1960)
1960 - Echo launch, first Delta launch vehicleThe Echo satellites were NASA's first experimental communications satellite project. Each spacecraft was a large metallized balloon designed to act as a passive communications reflector to bounce communication signals transmitted from one point on Earth to another. Following the failure of the launch vehicle carrying Echo 1, Echo 1A (commonly referred to as Echo 1) was successfully orbited, and was used to redirect transcontinental and intercontinental telephone, radio, and television signals. The success of Echo 1A proved that microwave transmission to and from satellites in space was understood and demonstrated the promise of communications satellites. The vehicle also provided data for the calculation of atmospheric density and solar pressure due to its large area-to-mass ratio. Echo 1A was visible to the unaided eye over most of the Earth (brighter than most stars) and was probably seen by more people than any other man-made object in space. Echo 2 continued the passive communications experiments, and also investigated the dynamics of large spacecraft and was used for global geometric geodesy. Although NASA abandonded passive communications systems in favor of active satellites following Echo 2, the Echo systems demonstrated several ground station and tracking technologies that would be used by active systems. Echo 1A reentered on May 24, 1968 followed by Echo 2 on June 7, 1969. 1976 - Comstar D-1 launchCOMSTAR 1 was launched May 13, 1976 from Cape Canaveral and was one of the four COMSTAR project spacecraft built by COMSAT. The project was designed to place domestic communications repeater satellites in orbit for domestic use. All systems operated nominally.
5/13/2009
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Full Details
Herschel/Planck Launch (2009)

5/14/2009
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Missile Test Center established at Cape Canaveral (1951)
5/14/2009
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Full Details
Skylab 1 Launch (1973)
The Skylab (SL) was a manned, orbiting spacecraft composed of five parts, the Apollo telescope mount (ATM), the multiple docking adapter (MDA), the airlock module (AM), the instrument unit (IU), and the orbital workshop (OWS). The Skylab was in the form of a cylinder, with the ATM being positioned 90 deg from the longitudinal axis after insertion into orbit. The ATM was a solar observatory, and it provided attitude control and experiment pointing for the rest of the cluster. It was attached to the MDA and AM at one end of the OWS. The retrieval and installation of film used in the ATM was accomplished by astronauts during extravehicular activity (EVA). The MDA served as a dock for the command and service modules, which served as personnel taxis to the Skylab. The AM provided an airlock between the MDA and the OWS, and contained controls and instrumentation. The IU, which was used only during launch and the initial phases of operation, provided guidance and sequencing functions for the initial deployment of the ATM, solar arrays, etc. The OWS was a modified Saturn 4B stage suitable for long duration manned habitation in orbit. It contained provisions and crew quarters necessary to support three-person crews for periods of up to 84 days each. All parts were also capable of unmanned, in-orbit storage, reactivation, and reuse. The Skylab itself was launched on May 14, 1973. It was first manned during the period May 25 to June 22, 1973, by the crew of the SL-2 mission (73-032A). Next, it was manned during the period July 28 to September 25, 1973, by the crew of the SL-3 mission (73-050A). The final manned period was from November 16, 1973, to February 8, 1974, when it was manned by the crew from the SL-4 mission (73-090A).
The total budget for Skylab was approximately $2,147,100,000.
5/14/2009
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Mercury/Atlas-9 Launch (1963)
Manned 1-day mission in orbit 
5/15/2009
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Nimbus 2 launch (1966)
1966 - Nimbus 2 launchNimbus 2, the second in a series of second-generation meteorological research-and-development satellites, was designed to serve as a stabilized, earth-oriented platform for the testing of advanced meteorological sensor systems and the collecting of meteorological data. The polar-orbiting spacecraft consisted of three major elements: (1) a sensory ring, (2) solar paddles, and (3) the control system housing. The solar paddles and the control system housing were connected to the sensory ring by a truss structure, giving the satellite the appearance of an ocean buoy. Nimbus 2 was nearly 3.7 m tall, 1.5 m in diameter at the base, and about 3 m across with solar paddles extended. The sensory ring, which formed the satellite base, housed the electronics equipment and battery modules. The lower surface of the torus-shaped sensory ring provided mounting space for sensors and telemetry antennas. An H-frame structure mounted within the center of the torus provided support for the larger experiments and tape recorders. Mounted on the control system housing, which was located on top of the spacecraft, were sun sensors, horizon scanners, gas nozzles for attitude control, and a command antenna. Use of a stabilization and control system permitted the spacecraft's orientation to be controlled to within plus or minus 1 deg for all three axes (pitch, roll, and yaw). The spacecraft carried (1) an advanced vidicon camera system (AVCS) for recording and storing remote cloudcover pictures, (2) an automatic picture transmission (APT) camera for providing real-time cloudcover pictures, and (3) both high- and medium-resolution infrared radiometers (HRIR and MRIR) for measuring the intensity and distribution of electromagnetic radiation emitted by and reflected from the earth and its atmosphere. The spacecraft and experiments performed normally after launch until July 26, 1966, when the spacecraft tape recorder failed. Its function was taken over by the HRIR tape recorder until November 15, 1966, when it also failed. Some real-time data were collected until January 17, 1969, when the spacecraft mission was terminated owing to deterioration of the horizon scanner used for earth reference. More detailed information can be found in the "Nimbus II Users' Guide" (TRF B03406), available from NSSDC. 1997 - STS-84 launch, 6th MIR dockingSpace Shuttle Launches
5/15/2009
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Full Details
SMS 1 launch (1974)
1974 - SMS 1 launchThe SMS 1 was a NASA-developed, NOAA-operated spacecraft. The spin-stabilized, earth-synchronous spacecraft carried (1) a visible infrared spin-scan radiometer (VISSR) which provided high-quality day/night cloudcover data and made radiance temperatures of the earth/atmosphere system, (2) a meteorological data collection and transmission system which relayed processed data from central weather facilities to small APT-equipped regional stations and collected and retransmitted data from remotely located earth-based platforms, and (3) a space environmental monitor (SEM) which measured proton, electron, and solar X-ray fluxes and magnetic fields. The cylindrically shaped spacecraft measured 190.5 cm in diameter and 230 cm in length, exclusive of a magnetometer that extended an additional 83 cm beyond the cylinder shell. The primary structural members were a honeycombed equipment shelf and a thrust tube. The VISSR telescope was mounted on the equipment shelf and viewed the earth through a special aperture in the side of the spacecraft. A support structure extended radially out from the thrust tube and was affixed to the solar panels, which formed the outer walls of the spacecraft and provided the primary source of electrical power. Located in the annulus-shaped space between the thrust tube and the solar panels were station-keeping and dynamics control equipment, batteries, and most of the SEM equipment. Proper spacecraft attitude and spin rate (approximately 100 rpm) were maintained by two separate sets of jet thrusters mounted around the spacecraft equator and activated by ground command. The spacecraft used both UHF and S-band frequencies in its telemetry and command subsystem. A low-power VHF transponder provided telemetry and command during launch and then served as a backup for the primary subsystem once the spacecraft had attained synchronous orbit. For more detailed information, see "The GOES/SMS User's Guide."
5/17/2009
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Apollo 10 Anniversary at the Newseum
Apollo 10 crew will participate in a question and answer session about their mission, etc.
5/18/2009
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Full Details
Apollo 10 Launch (1969)
1969 - Apollo 10 first launch from Pad 39B
The primary objectives of the mission were to demonstrate crew, space vehicle, and mission support facilities during a manned lunar mission and to evaluate LM performance in cislunar and lunar environment. The mission was a full "dry run" for the Apollo 11 mission, in which all operations except the actual lunar landing were performed. The flight carried a three man crew: Commander Thomas P. Stafford, Command Module (CM) Pilot John W. Young, and Lunar Module (LM) Pilot Eugene A. Cernan.
1968 - Nimbus B launch, first NASA launch using long-tank Thor-Agena
Nimbus-B meteorological R and D satellite was designed to serve as a stabilized, earth-oriented platform for the testing of advanced systems for sensing and collecting meteorological data. The spacecraft consisted of three major structures -- (1) a sensor mount, (2) solar paddles, and (3) the control housing unit, which was connected to the sensor mount by a truss structure. Shaped somewhat like an ocean buoy, Nimbus-B was nearly 3.7 m tall, 1.5 m in diameter at the base, and about 3 m across with solar paddles extended.
5/18/2009
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Full Details
TacSat-3/PharmaSat launch (2009)
Launch of the AFRL TacSat-3 satellite on an Air Force Minotaur 1 rocket from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility. The Ames Research Center's PharmaSat will fly as secondary payload as will 3 CubeSats from industry and universities.
5/19/2009
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Pioneer Launch to Venus (1978)
5/20/2009
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Amelia Earhart Flight Across the Atlantic (1932)
Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. Her flight took nearly 15 hours to complete and earned her the National Geographic Society's gold medal from President Herbert Hoover as well as a Distinguished Flying Cross.
5/20/2009
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Lindbergh Flight Across the Atlantic (1927)
Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis took 33.5 hours to complete the flight.
5/20/2009
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Amelia Earhart Flight Across the Atlantic (1932)
Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. Her flight took nearly 15 hours to complete and earned her the National Geographic Society's gold medal from President Herbert Hoover as well as a Distinguished Flying Cross.
5/21/2009
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Lindbergh Flight Across the Atlantic (1927)
Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis took 33.5 hours to complete the flight.
5/21/2009
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Mercury/Atlas-7 Launch (1962)
5/24/2009
major_event
Peaceful Cooperation in Space Agreement Signed (1972)
5/24/2009
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F-8 1st Flight (1972)
5/25/2009
major_event
JFK Speech (1961)
5/25/2009
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Full Details
Phoenix Lands on Mars (2008)
Phoenix is designed to study the history of water and habitability potential in the Martian arctic's ice-rich soil.
Southern California Members of Congress and Staff, State and Local elected officials andCommunity Leaders will be invited to attend. JPL/Rhee will accompany. (OLIA/Stehmer)
5/25/2009
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Skylab 2 Launch (1973)
5/25/2009
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Full Details
Able and Baker Launch (1959)
Able, now a preserved female Rhesus Monkey, flew inside aJupiter nose cone with Baker, a female squirrel monkey on May 28, 1959,in an Army experiment designed to test the biomedical effects of spacetravel. Launched from Cape Canaveral, they reached a maximum altitudeof 300 miles and travelled downrange 2,000 miles at speeds reaching10,000 mph before reentering the Earth's atmosphere and being recoveredby Navy ships. Both monkeys survived the trip well, but Able died fromthe anesthesia during a routine post-flight operation.

The Army transferred Able to NASM in 1960 and the National Museum of Natural History preserved her.
5/28/2009
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STS-124 Kibo Launch (2008)
Japanase Kibo Laboratory. Launch event at ARC, public and media invited. 150+ attendees expected. Elected officials fromMinnesota, New York and South Dakota will be honored at the launch.
5/31/2009
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1st M2-F2 Glide Flight (1970)
6/2/2009
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Surveyor 1 Landed on the Moon (1966)
6/2/2009
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Gemini 3 Launch (1965)
6/3/2009
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Gemini 9 Launch (1966)
6/3/2009
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Last Flight of the X-24A (1971)
6/4/2009
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Full Details
X-15 1st Glide Flight (1959)
6/8/2009
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GLAST Launch (2008)
GLAST will study the universe's most extreme objects, observing physical processes far beyond the capabilities of earthbound laboratories. GLAST's main instrument, the Large Area Telescope (LAT), operates like a particle detector rather than a conventional telescope. It is 30 times more sensitive (and even more at higher energies) than the best previous missions, enabling it to detect thousands of new gamma-ray sources while extending our knowledge of previously unidentified sources. For example, it will study how some black holes accelerate matter to near light speed and perhaps even reveal the nature of dark matter. The other instrument, the GLAST Burst Monitor (GBM), will detect roughly 200 gamma-ray bursts per year. Together with the LAT, the GBM will enable GLAST to make gamma-ray burst observations spanning a factor of a million in energy.
6/11/2009
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Mariner 5 Launch (1967)
6/14/2009
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ARMD @ Paris Air Show
Paris Air Show
6/15/2009
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ARMD @ Paris Air Show
Paris Air Show
6/16/2009
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ARMD @ Paris Air Show
Paris Air Show
6/17/2009
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ARMD @ Paris Air Show
Paris Air Show
6/18/2009
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Gravity Probe A Launch (1976)
6/18/2009
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Full Details
LRO/LCROSS Launch (2009)
Cameras and sensors will look for the presence of water on the moon. The goal of the mission is to confirm the presence or absence of water ice in a permanently shadowed crater at the moon's south pole. In 2009, LCROSS will separate into two parts and create a pair of impacts on the permanently dark floor of one of the moon's polar craters. The spent Centaur upper stage of the Atlas V rocket will hit the moon, causing an explosion of material from the crater's surface. The instruments aboard the satellite will analyze the plume for the presence of water ice or water vapor, hydrocarbons and hydrated materials. The satellite then will fly through the plume on a collision course with the lunar surface. Both impacts will be visible to Earth and lunar-orbiting instruments.

6/18/2009
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ARMD @ Paris Air Show
Paris Air Show
6/19/2009
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ARMD @ Paris Air Show
Paris Air Show
6/20/2009
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NASA Night at the Houston Dynamo
On June 20, 2009, the Houston Dynamo will host NASA Night at the Houston Dynamo vs Real Salt Lake soccer game.  JSC will have an exhibit in the fan Soccer Fest area to educate the public about NASA's Apollo 40th anniversary and new Constellation program.  Astronauts will sign autographs and participate in an interview with ESPN 790 during the game.
6/20/2009
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Full Details
OSTM Launch (2008)
Ocean Surface Topography from Space Mission.
Science Objectives
- Extend the timeseries of ocean surface topography measurements beyond TOPEX/Poseidon(T/P) and Jason to accomplish two decades of observations
- Provide a minimum of 3 years measurement of global ocean surface topography
- Determine the variability of ocean circulation at decadal time scalesfrom combined data record with T/P and Jason
- Improve the measure of the time-averaged ocean circulation
- Improve the measure of global sea-level change
- Improve open ocean tide models

6/20/2009
major_event
Full Details
STS-78 Launch (1996)
6/20/2009
major_event
Full Details
ARMD @ Paris Air Show
Paris Air Show
6/21/2009
major_event
Apollo Space Exhibit
@ LBJ Library with Eugene Cernan
6/21/2009
major_event
Full Details
1st Round the World Flight (1931)
Aviators Wiley Post and Harold Gatty flew their single-engine plane, the Winnie Mae, with the goal of successfully completing the first round-the-world flight. They took off from Roosevelt Field in Long Island, N.Y. and set the new record after landing nearly nine days later.
6/23/2009
major_event
Full Details
1st Round the World Flight (1931)
Aviators Wiley Post and Harold Gatty flew their single-engine plane, the Winnie Mae, with the goal of successfully completing the first round-the-world flight. They took off from Roosevelt Field in Long Island, N.Y. and set the new record after landing nearly nine days later.
6/24/2009
major_event
Full Details
1st Round the World Flight (1931)
Aviators Wiley Post and Harold Gatty flew their single-engine plane, the Winnie Mae, with the goal of successfully completing the first round-the-world flight. They took off from Roosevelt Field in Long Island, N.Y. and set the new record after landing nearly nine days later.
6/25/2009
major_event
Full Details
1st Round the World Flight (1931)
Aviators Wiley Post and Harold Gatty flew their single-engine plane, the Winnie Mae, with the goal of successfully completing the first round-the-world flight. They took off from Roosevelt Field in Long Island, N.Y. and set the new record after landing nearly nine days later.
6/26/2009
major_event
Full Details
Exploration Experience Tour (ESMD Outreach) @ Charleston Harborfest
TheExploration Experience traveling exhibit travels the United States in pursuit
ofeducating, informing, and inspiring the grassroots areas of America. The
exhibitcontains interactive technology to better engage visitors and is
complimentedby NASA speakers and educational activities. 

An additional exhibits tent will also be at the event with items from SOMD, ARMD, SMD, and LaRC.
6/26/2009
major_event
Full Details
1st Round the World Flight (1931)
Aviators Wiley Post and Harold Gatty flew their single-engine plane, the Winnie Mae, with the goal of successfully completing the first round-the-world flight. They took off from Roosevelt Field in Long Island, N.Y. and set the new record after landing nearly nine days later.
6/27/2009
major_event
Full Details
Exploration Experience Tour (ESMD Outreach) @ Charleston Harborfest
TheExploration Experience traveling exhibit travels the United States in pursuit
ofeducating, informing, and inspiring the grassroots areas of America. The
exhibitcontains interactive technology to better engage visitors and is
complimentedby NASA speakers and educational activities. 

An additional exhibits tent will also be at the event with items from SOMD, ARMD, SMD, and LaRC.
6/27/2009
major_event
Full Details
GOES-O Launch (2009)
GOES - NO/P is the next series of GOES satellites. The multimission GOES series N-P will be a vital contributor to weather, solar, and space operations and science. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are actively engaged in a cooperative program to expand the existing GOES system with the launch of the GOES N-P satellites.
6/27/2009
major_event
Full Details
Moon Bounce
On Saturday, June 27th, many of theworld's large parabolic antennas (sometimes called dishes) will stoptheir normal space work and swing around to track the moon when itrises. EOA volunteers will then use the EME or Moon Bouncetransmissions to link up with other dishes worldwide via the moon.Signals are literally being bounced off the moon's surface and back toother stations on earth where they are received some 2.5 seconds later.
There has never been so many dishes pointed at the moon since the lunar landings and possibly this will even break that record.
6/27/2009
major_event
X-15 Unofficial World Speed Record Set (1962)
6/27/2009
major_event
Full Details
1st Round the World Flight (1931)
Aviators Wiley Post and Harold Gatty flew their single-engine plane, the Winnie Mae, with the goal of successfully completing the first round-the-world flight. They took off from Roosevelt Field in Long Island, N.Y. and set the new record after landing nearly nine days later.
6/28/2009
major_event
Full Details
Exploration Experience Tour (ESMD Outreach) @ Charleston Harborfest
TheExploration Experience traveling exhibit travels the United States in pursuit
ofeducating, informing, and inspiring the grassroots areas of America. The
exhibitcontains interactive technology to better engage visitors and is
complimentedby NASA speakers and educational activities. 

An additional exhibits tent will also be at the event with items from SOMD, ARMD, SMD, and LaRC.
6/28/2009
major_event
LaRC Established (1917)
6/28/2009
major_event
Full Details
1st Round the World Flight (1931)
Aviators Wiley Post and Harold Gatty flew their single-engine plane, the Winnie Mae, with the goal of successfully completing the first round-the-world flight. They took off from Roosevelt Field in Long Island, N.Y. and set the new record after landing nearly nine days later.
6/29/2009
major_event
Full Details
Exploration Experience Tour (ESMD Outreach) @ Charleston Harborfest
TheExploration Experience traveling exhibit travels the United States in pursuit
ofeducating, informing, and inspiring the grassroots areas of America. The
exhibitcontains interactive technology to better engage visitors and is
complimentedby NASA speakers and educational activities. 

An additional exhibits tent will also be at the event with items from SOMD, ARMD, SMD, and LaRC.
6/29/2009
major_event
Full Details
1st Round the World Flight (1931)
Aviators Wiley Post and Harold Gatty flew their single-engine plane, the Winnie Mae, with the goal of successfully completing the first round-the-world flight. They took off from Roosevelt Field in Long Island, N.Y. and set the new record after landing nearly nine days later.
6/30/2009
major_event
Full Details
1st Round the World Flight (1931)
Aviators Wiley Post and Harold Gatty flew their single-engine plane, the Winnie Mae, with the goal of successfully completing the first round-the-world flight. They took off from Roosevelt Field in Long Island, N.Y. and set the new record after landing nearly nine days later.
7/1/2009
major_event
Apollo & So-Called Moon Landing Hoax
Former NASA Historian and Smithsonian curator will speak about this at the National Air and Space Museum as part of the Ask an Expert series at noon.
7/1/2009
major_event
Full Details
Lunar Sample Lab - Live Shots with Curators
Johnson Space Center's Lunar sample lab - live shots with curators
7/1/2009
major_event
MSFC Officially Opens (1960)
7/1/2009
major_event
NASM Opens to the Public (1976)
7/1/2009
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Full Details
Freedom Over Texas
OnJuly 4, 2009, JSC will open its "Driven to Explore" trailer exhibit tothe Freedom Over Texas celebration in downtown Houston to showcase theConstellation Program, starting with Shuttle, the progress of theInternational Space Station and how the past has laid a rich foundationfor future exploration.  This annual Independence Day event featureslive entertainments and fireworks for attendees from Houston andsurrounding communities.  Approximately 35,000 visitors are expected.
7/4/2009
major_event
Mars Pathfinder Lands (1997)
7/4/2009
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Full Details
Saturn AS-203 launch (1966)
Evaluate performance on S-IVB instrument unit stage under orbital conditions and obtain flight information on venting and chill-down systems, fluid dynamics and heat transfer of propellant tanks; attitude and thermal control system, launch vehicle guidance, and checkout in orbit (Achieved).
7/5/2009
major_event
Apollo 40th - How We Remember Apollo
Former NASA Historian Roger Lanius will present "How We Remember Apollo." Presentation to be held at NASA Langley's Reid Conference Center for all employees. Presentation will also be given at the Virginia Air and Space Center, NASA LaRC's Official Visitor Center, that evening.
7/7/2009
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Full Details
Voyage to the Moon and Beyond Workshop
On July 7, we will blast off with a day full of great educationalexperiences! Each educator will leave this workshop with newcurriculum, lunar sample certification, 6 hours of continuing educationcredit and an appreciation for our moon and beyond.
7/7/2009
major_event
Full Details
MLAS Launch (2009)
The NASA Constellation Program is developing an astronaut escape systemfor its Orion spacecraft, designed to carry humans to the InternationalSpace Station by 2015 and to the lunar surface by 2020. In a paralleleffort, another NASA team, led by the NASA Engineering and SafetyCenter (NESC), is preparing to demonstrate an alternate escape systemto explore different technological approaches to the same task.
7/8/2009
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Palapa 1 launch (1976); STS-65 launch (1994)
Palapa 1 launch (1976); STS-65 launch (1994)
7/8/2009
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Driven to Explore
On July 9, 2009, Space Center Houston will be opening their facility to the public for several hands-on educational activities and hosting the "Driven to Explore" (DTE) trailer exhibit. Younger visitors will learn to build telescopes, create moon rock replicas, and learn about the solar system. While touring the "Driven to Explore" exhibit, all will learn about the Constellation Program, starting with the Shuttle Program, the progress of the International Space Station and how the past has laid a rich foundation for future exploration.
7/9/2009
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Voyager 2 Jupiter Flyby (1979)
7/9/2009
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Sixth Annual Saturn/Apollo Reunion
The Sixth Annual Saturn/Apollo Reunion will be held Friday, July 10, 2009, at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The first reunion, held in June 2004, helped educate the community about the Saturn V Restoration Project. The outpouring of community support following that first reunion enabled the museum not only to restore the rocket but also to upgrade its planned housing from a temporary facility to a permanent structure where exhibits are planned that will feature Apollo, Space Shuttle, and Constellation Programs.
7/10/2009
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Full Details
Telstar 1 launch (1963), first privately financed satellite
In the fall of 1960, AT&T began development of a satellite communications system called Telstar. The operational system would consist of between 50 and 120 simple active satellites in orbits about 7,000 miles high. Using large launch vehicles that were then being developed, it was envisioned that a dozen or more of these satellites could be placed in orbit in a single launching. With the satellites in random orbits, Bell Labs figured that a system of 40 satellites in polar orbits and 15 in equatorial orbits would provide service 99.9% of the time between any two points on earth. AT&T has proposed that the system contain about 25 ground stations so placed as to provide global coverage."
7/10/2009
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Full Details
TIROS 3 launch (1961); STS-104 launch (2001)
TIROS 3 launch (1961); STS-104 launch (2001)
7/12/2009
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Full Details
STS-70 launch (1995), 6th operational TDRS
Primary objective of the mission accomplished when Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-G deployed from orbiter payload bay about six hours after liftoff. Approximately one hour after deployment, Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) booster attached to TDRS-G completed first of two scheduled burns to place TDRS-G in geosynchronous orbit. Once it completes on-orbit checkout, TDRS-G will become operational spare, completing existing TDRS network of advanced tracking and communications satellites.During remainder of mission, five crew members completed variety of experiments. Biological Research in Canister (BRIC) experiments study effects of microgravity on wide range of physiological processes in plants, insects and small invertebrate animals. BRIC-4 examined how hormone system and muscle formation of tobacco hornworm affected by microgravity; BRIC-5 tested whether cell division changes in daylily are due to microgravity or other causes. Also, Bioreactor Development System (BDS), composed of device developed at Johnson Space Center, used colon cancer cells to test bioreactor performance in microgravity; this experiment worked extremely well, yielding tissue cultures better than any seen previously.National Institutes of Health-R-2 featured suite of experiments examining how microgravity affects different aspects of rodent pre- and post-natal development.Commercial Protein Crystal Growth (CPCG) experiment featured Protein Crystallization Facility (PCF) on its eighth flight. Five of these flights have yielded space-grown protein crystals of superior X-ray quality. Human insulin crystals grown on SPACEHAB 1 and 2 missions yielded most detailed analysis ever made of this protein, which is key medication used to treat diabetes. Industry now using this structural information to develop new and improved time-release insulin formulation. On STS-70, crystals of alpha interferon protein -- used to treat human viral hepatitis B and C -- were grown.Other experiments: Space Tissue Loss-B (STL-B), studying effect of microgravity on embryogenesis; and Hand-Held, Earth-Oriented, Cooperative, Real-Time, User-Friendly, Location Targeting and Environmental System (HERCULES), a space-based geolocating system that features video camera and electronic still camera to document locations on Earth and tag every frame with latitude and longitude to within three nautical miles. Crew had difficulty at first aligning HERCULES camera, but eventually obtained 95% of planned photographic targets.Also, Microencapsulation in Space-B (MIS-B), making its second flight aboard the Shuttle. MIS-B designed to produce better microencapsulated antibiotic; this type of antibiotic has proven extremely effective in treating wound infections, as it releases antibiotic at precise and predictable rate to cure infection. First flight of MIS-B yielded purer microcapsules than could be obtained on Earth, but only a small quantity was produced. Researchers hoped second flight of MIS-B on STS-70 would yield greater quantity of antibiotic.Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) required no onboard hardware; military MSX satellite used Shuttle during mission as tracking and calibration target. Military Applications of Ship Tracks (MAST) required crew to photograph ship tracks as part of effort to determine how pollutants generated by ships modify reflective properties of clouds. Radiation Monitoring Equipment-III (RME-III) is prototype dosimeter instrument which has been flying on shuttle since STS-31, and measures exposure to ionizing radiation on shuttle; data from RME-III is archived and used to update and refine models of space radiation environment in low-Earth orbit.Objective of Window Experiment (WINDEX), another military experiment, is to gain understanding of chemistry and dynamics of low Earth orbit by collecting variety of data about such phenomena as shuttle thruster plumes, water dumps and atmospheric nightglow.
7/13/2009
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Mariner 4 took 1st close-up photos of Mars (1965)
7/14/2009
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Full Details
Aura Launch (2004)
The Earth's Ozone Shield Protects All LifeStratospheric ozone has decreased 3% globally between 1980 and 2000 and thins by 50% over Antarctica in winter and spring. Depletion of the ozone layer allows more ultraviolet radiation to reach the surface. Increases in UV radiation are known to have harmful effects on living things. The Montreal Protocol and its amendments have banned the use of ozone destroying chemicals and the rate of ozone depletion seems to have slowed. Climate change will have an impact on how quickly ozone recovers.The Earth's Air Quality Is Fundamental To Public Health And EcosystemsThe atmosphere has no political boundries; air pollution moves great distances across oceans and continents. The quality of air has degrated over certain parts of the world and has become a health issue. Severe pollution episodes increase mortality.The Earth's Climate Is Affected By Changes In Atmospheric CompositionIt is undeniable that human activity is beginning to alter the climate. The global rise in surface temperatures since the 1950's is correlated with the increase in greenhouse gases. Changes in carbon dioxiode, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, cloud cover, water vapor and aerosols all contribute to climate change.Aura Is Designed To Answer Questions About Changes In Our Life-Sustaining AtmosphereAura's four instruments study the atmosphere's chemistry and dynamics. Aura's measurements will enable us to investigate questions about ozone trends, air quality changes and their linkage to climate change.Aura's measurements will provide accurate data for predictive models and provide useful information for local and national agency decision support systems.
7/15/2009
major_event
Full Details
STS-127 Kibo EF Launch (2009)
Mark L. Polansky commanded the shuttle Endeavour for STS-127. DouglasG. Hurley served as the pilot. Mission specialists were Christopher J.Cassidy, Thomas H. Marshburn, David A. Wolf and Julie Payette, aCanadian Space Agency astronaut.

The mission deliveredTimothy L. Kopra to the station as a flight engineer and scienceofficer and returned Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata to Earth. Hurley,Cassidy, Marshburn and Kopra made their first trips to space.

Endeavour set sail on its 23rd mission with the Kibo JapaneseExperiment Module Exposed Facility and Experiment Logistics ModuleExposed Section. The facility provides a type of "front porch" forexperiments in the exposed environment, and a robotic arm that isattached to the Kibo Pressurized Module and is used to positionexperiments outside the station. The mission included five spacewalks.

STS-127 was the 29th shuttle mission to the International Space Station.
7/15/2009
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Full Details
Apollo 11 Launch (1969)
Apollo 11 was the first manned mission to land on the Moon.

July 16, 1969; 09:32:00 am EDT. Launch Complex 39-A Kennedy Space Center, FL. No launch delays.

The splashdown May 26, 1969, of Apollo 10 cleared the way for the first formal attempt at a manned lunar landing. Six days before, the Apollo 11 launch vehicle and spacecraft half crawled from the VAB and trundled at 0.9 mph to Pad 39-A. A successful countdown test ending on July 3 showed the readiness of machines, systems, and people. The next launch window (established by lighting conditions at the landing site on Mare Tranquillitatis) opened at 9:32 AM EDT on July 16, 1969. The crew for Apollo 11, all of whom had already flown in space during Gemini, had been intensively training as a team for many months. The following mission account makes use of crew members' own words, from books written by two of them, supplemented by space-to-ground and press-conference transcripts. Click Here for Transcripts.

First manned lunar landing mission and lunar surface EVA. "HOUSTON, TRANQUILITY BASE HERE.THE EAGLE HAS LANDED." July 20, Sea of Tranquility. 

1 EVA of 02 hours, 31 minutes. Flag and instruments deployed; unveiled plaque on the LM descent stage with inscription: "Here Men From Planet Earth First Set Foot Upon the Moon. July 1969 A.D. We Came In Peace For All Mankind." 

Lunar surface stay time 21.6 hours;59.5 hours in lunar orbit, with 30 orbits. LM ascent stage left in lunar orbit. 20kg (44 lbs) of material gathered.

7/16/2009
major_event
Apollo 40th Anniversary - Third Thursday @ Your Library
"Third Thursday @ Your Library" at the Williamsburg Regional Library. Richard Brown will present "The Eagle Has Landed ... One Small Step for Man..." Richard will recount stories about that first landing on the moon, the astronauts, and NASA's role in making it  success. He will also talk about NASA's current exploration programs and plans for additional moon flights.
7/16/2009
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Full Details
Countdown to the Moon Day!
Thursday, July 16
10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Throughout the National Mall building
Admission: Free

In commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing, Countdown to the Moon Day! will feature a variety of fun and educational family activities throughout the Museum.
Visitors can:
???  Talk with scientists active in lunar research and mission planning
???  Touch a real piece of the Moon.
???  Participate in hands-on activities.
???  Learn about lunar geology
???  View 3D & HD images of the lunar surface!
???  Learn about lunar missions past, present and future.
7/16/2009
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Explorer 7X launch (1959); LANDSAT 4 launch (1982)
Explorer 7X launch (1959); LANDSAT 4 launch (1982)
7/16/2009
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Full Details
KSC Apollo 40th Anniversary activities at KSC Visitor Center
Time: 11:00 a.m. Location: Apollo/Saturn V Center (along the tour route)Join Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in celebrating the 40th Anniversary of mankind's famous first steps on the moon. Astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11; Charlie Duke, Apollo 16; Al Worden, Apollo 15; Edgar Mitchell, Apollo 14; and Walt Cunningham, Apollo 7, will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, and mark the opening of a new exhibit at the Apollo/Saturn V Center, the Apollo Treasures Gallery. The new Apollo Treasures Gallery showcases treasures from the Apollo moon missions, including Apollo 14 Commander Alan Shepard's space suit along with a rare collection of space suits and other gear used by the Apollo moonwalkers to explore the lunar surface. Also on display is Apollo 16 astronaut John Young's cuff check list with instructions on how to deploy the American flag on the moon and Apollo 13's space suit repair kit and service module rescue book. Must arrive by 10:00 a.m. to be processed through Visitor Complex security and transported via bus to the event site.
7/16/2009
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Full Details
NASA History Apollo 40th Anniversary Symposium at NASA HQ
Event:Apollo: History and Legacy Panel Location:NASA Headquarters Auditorium, 300 E. St. SW, Washington, DCTime:1 p.m. EDTDescription:Marking the 40th anniversary of the launch of Apollo11, a roundtable discussion will be held on the Apollo Program.Participants:The panel will be moderated by Steven J. Dick, NASA chief historian. The panelists include:- John Logsdon, PhD, Charles A. Lindbergh chair in aerospace history NASA, Smithsonian Institution- Roger Launius, PhD, senior curator in space history at NASM - Craig Nelson, author- Michael Neufeld, PhD, chair of the Division of Space History at NASMMedia: No press event is planned. The discussion will air live on NASA TV.
7/16/2009
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The Eagle has Landed at Auburn
A commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of the first Moon landing.
7/16/2009
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Astronaut Space Foundation Apollo 11 40th anniversary
This event will include a ribbon cutting ceremony for "Treasures from the Vault," a new exhibit in ASVC showcasing Apollo artifacts. Buzz Aldrin will be at the event. The Space Walk Of Fame will host a monument dedication ceremony the following day, July 17 in Titusville. Astronauts are planned to be in attendance at this event as well. The audience includes VIPs, Apollo 11, ASF scholars and general public.
7/16/2009
major_event
New Mexico Space History Museum - Apollo 40th Anniversary
July 16 Alamogordo - Apollo 40th Anniversary Event to be held at the Space History Museum 16-18th. July 17 WSMR - Apollo 11 tour of WSMR Approximately 100 participants will be bussed over from Alamogordo for tour of museum and LC-33 (CEV)Orion's launch abort tests launch services where someone will speak on the Orion/CEV program out by the LAS Pathfinder display. July 18 - Continuation of Apollo 11 events
7/16/2009
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Full Details
Astronaut Space Foundation Apollo 11 40th anniversary
This event will include a ribbon cutting ceremony for "Treasures from the Vault," a new exhibit in ASVC showcasing Apollo artifacts. Buzz Aldrin will be at the event. The Space Walk Of Fame will host a monument dedication ceremony the following day, July 17 in Titusville. Astronauts are planned to be in attendance at this event as well. The audience includes VIPs, Apollo 11, ASF scholars and general public.
7/17/2009
major_event
New Mexico Space History Museum - Apollo 40th Anniversary
July 16 Alamogordo - Apollo 40th Anniversary Event to be held at the Space History Museum 16-18th. July 17 WSMR - Apollo 11 tour of WSMR Approximately 100 participants will be bussed over from Alamogordo for tour of museum and LC-33 (CEV)Orion's launch abort tests launch services where someone will speak on the Orion/CEV program out by the LAS Pathfinder display. July 18 - Continuation of Apollo 11 events
7/17/2009
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Full Details
ITOS-E launch (1973)
ITOSImproved TIROS Operational SystemITOS was the follow-on to the TIROS series of polar-orbiting US weather satellites, and marked the beginning of the use of the NOAA designator. The program was initially managed by the ESSA (Environmental Science Services Administration). NOAA later became the managing organization.
7/17/2009
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National Aviation Hall of Fame
Panel Discussion with Apollo Astronauts, Inductees Ed White, Eileen Collins
7/17/2009
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Space Camp Hall of Fame Reunion Weekend
Apollo astronauts
7/17/2009
major_event
New Mexico Space History Museum - Apollo 40th Anniversary
July 16 Alamogordo - Apollo 40th Anniversary Event to be held at the Space History Museum 16-18th. July 17 WSMR - Apollo 11 tour of WSMR Approximately 100 participants will be bussed over from Alamogordo for tour of museum and LC-33 (CEV)Orion's launch abort tests launch services where someone will speak on the Orion/CEV program out by the LAS Pathfinder display. July 18 - Continuation of Apollo 11 events
7/18/2009
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Full Details
National Aviation Hall of Fame
Panel Discussion with Apollo Astronauts, Inductees Ed White, Eileen Collins
7/18/2009
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Space Camp Hall of Fame Reunion Weekend
Apollo astronauts
7/18/2009
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40th Anniversary of Apollo 11
The public is invited to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11 and learn about NASA's new spacecraft that will return humans to the moon. This event is part of Glenn's Third Saturday event series.
7/18/2009
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Gemini 10 Launch (1966)
Primary objective was to rendezvous anddock with Gemini Agena target vehicle (GATV-5005) launched as TLV-5305from Complex 14 on 7/18/66. Secondary objectivesincluded: Rendezvous and dock in 4th revolution. Rendezvous withGemini Agena target vehicle GATV-8 using Agena propulsion systems,Conduct EVA, Practice docking, Perform 14 experiments, Perform systemevaluation on bending-mode tests; docked maneuvers; static discharge;monitoring;post-docked Agena maneuvers; reentry guidance; park Gemini Agena targetvehicle (GATV) in 352 km (190.3 nm) orbit. Spacecraft weight:3763kg. GATV weight: 8097kg 
7/18/2009
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Honoring the Past, Creating the Future
NASA Glenn Visitor Center - 40th Anniversary of Apollo"Honoring the Past, Creating the Future"Join us for a look back at the historic events as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11 and look at NASA's ongoing work to develop the new rockets and spacecraft that will enable humans to return to the moon and beyond. Get your picture taken with a NASA "astronaut.
7/18/2009
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Salute to Apollo, The Kennedy Legacy
Event: National Symphony Location: The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, 2700 F. St. NW, Washington, DC Time: 8:00 pm Description: The Kennedy Center will host a concert Salute to Apollo: The Kennedy Legacy with the National Symphony Orchestra in the Concert Hall. Performers include:- Chaka Kahn- Denyse Graves- Jamia Nash. The narrators with NSO are:-Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin- STS-125 Commander Scott Altman Public: The event is free and open to the public.  No press event is planned. Excerpts from the performance will air on NASA TV video file.
7/18/2009
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SAMOS 9 launch (1962); Explorer 35 launch (1967)
SAMOS 9 launch (1962); Explorer 35 launch (1967)
7/18/2009
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U of H Clear Lake Celebration
The University of Houston - Clear Lake (UHCL) is organizing a community celebration on July 18, 2009 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing on the moon. The event features live entertainment, games and activities for children, guest speakers, and the "Driven to Explore" trailer exhibit. UHCL will play actual film footage of the Apollo 11 astronauts on the moon and have several telescopes set up for visitors to view the night sky.
7/18/2009
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Exploration Days at Virginia Living Museum
40th Anniversary celebration of the moon landing. Hands-on activities and exhibits pertaining to the future of Exploration.
7/18/2009
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NewSpace 2009
Conference will bring together a unique mix of revolutionary space entrepreneurs, investors, scientists, engineers and space policy leaders to explore the opportunities and challengesof opening the Space Frontier to human settlement.
7/18/2009
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Space Camp Hall of Fame Reunion Weekend
Apollo astronauts
7/19/2009
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Exploration Days at Virginia Living Museum
40th Anniversary celebration of the moon landing. Hands-on activities and exhibits pertaining to the future of Exploration.
7/19/2009
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NewSpace 2009
Conference will bring together a unique mix of revolutionary space entrepreneurs, investors, scientists, engineers and space policy leaders to explore the opportunities and challengesof opening the Space Frontier to human settlement.
7/19/2009
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Apollo 40th activities at Neil Armstrong Museum
Named in honor of Neil Armstrong, first man to set foot on the moon, this museum in Wapakoneta chronicles Ohio's contributions to the history of space flight. Among the items on display are a F5D Sky Lancer, the Gemini VIII spacecraft, Apollo 11 artifacts and a moon rock. In the museum's Astro-theater, multimedia presentations of the sights and sounds of space unfold against a starry background.
7/19/2009
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Explorer 35 launch (1967)
Goals: Explorer 35 was a small spacecraft designed to study interplanetary space phenomena near the Moon.Accomplishments: In particular, Explorer 35 studied the solar wind, the interplanetary magnetic field, dust distribution near the Moon, the lunar gravitational field, the weak lunar ionosphere and the radiation environment. It found that the Moon has no magnetosphere, enabling the charged particles of the solar wind to hit the lunar surface.
7/19/2009
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Glenn Lecture Series at NASM - Sold out!
This event is sold out Annual John H. Glenn Lecture 40th Anniversary of Apollo 11 Sunday, July 19 8:00 pm Lockheed Martin Imax Theater National Mall Building Admission: Free tickets distributed by drawing. See ticketing instructions below.Everyone who requested tickets before the June 1st deadline will be notified via e-mail of their placement by June 5, 2009.On the eve of the fortieth anniversary of Apollo 11's first human landing on the Moon, the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum welcomes the Apollo 11 crew, as well as Mission Control creator and former Johnson Space Center director Chris Kraft as the speakers for the Museum's 2009 John H. Glenn lecture in space history. Forty years ago, the United States sent the first human beings to land on the surface of the Moon. Apollo 11 was the culmination of years of research, engineering, and hard work by the crew as well as by thousands of people on the ground. Join these distinguished speakers as they each offer their own unique perspectives on flight in America.The speakers will not be signing autographs at the lecture.
7/19/2009
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Moonfest
The Moonfest, sponsored by the NASA Lunar Science Institute, will be a family event that provides opportunities for the public to learn about past, current and future moon exploration activities through lectures, hands-on activities and exhibits. Featured will be the 40th anniversary of Apollo and the LCROSS/LRO missions.
7/19/2009
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Armstrong Museum Celebration of Apollo 11 Anniversary
NASA Glenn has been invited to join the local celebration at the Neil Armstrong Museum in his hometown.Glenn's Journey to Tomorrow trailer and other exhibits will be on hand.
7/19/2009
major_event
Full Details
Exploration Days at Virginia Living Museum
40th Anniversary celebration of the moon landing. Hands-on activities and exhibits pertaining to the future of Exploration.
7/20/2009
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Full Details
NewSpace 2009
Conference will bring together a unique mix of revolutionary space entrepreneurs, investors, scientists, engineers and space policy leaders to explore the opportunities and challengesof opening the Space Frontier to human settlement.
7/20/2009
major_event
Armstrong Museum Celebration of Apollo 11 Anniversary
NASA Glenn has been invited to join the local celebration at the Neil Armstrong Museum in his hometown.Glenn's Journey to Tomorrow trailer and other exhibits will be on hand.
7/20/2009
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Full Details
1st Manned Lunar Landing (1969)
ARMSTRONG: Once [we] settled on the surface, the dust settled immediately and we had an excellent view of the area surrounding the LM. We saw a crater surface, pockmarked with craters up to 15, 20, 30 feet, and many smaller craters down to a diameter of 1 foot and, of course, the surface was very fine- grained. There were a surprising number of rocks of all sizes. 

A number of experts had, prior to the flight, predicted that a good bit of difficulty might be encountered by people due to the variety of strange atmospheric and gravitational
characteristics. This didn't prove to be the case and after landing we felt very comfortable in the lunar gravity. It was, in fact, in our view preferable both to weightlessness and to the Earth's gravity. 

When we actually descended the ladder it was found to be very much like the lunar-gravity simulations we had performed here on Earth. No difficulty was encountered in descending the ladder. The last step was about 31/2 feet from the surface, and we were somewhat concerned that we might have difficulty in reentering the LM at the end of our activity period.  So we practiced that before bringing the camera down. 

ALDRIN: We opened the hatch and Neil, with me as his navigator, began backing out of the tiny opening. It seemed like a small eternity before I heard Neil say, "That's one small step for man . . . one giant leap for mankind." In less than fifteen minutes I was backing awkwardly out of the hatch and onto the surface to join Neil, who, in the tradition of all tourists, had his camera ready to photograph my arrival. 

I felt buoyant and full of goose pimples when I stepped down on the surface. I immediately looked down at my feet and became intrigued with the peculiar properties of the lunar dust. If one kicks sand on a beach, it scatters in numerous directions with some grains traveling farther than others. On the Moon the dust travels exactly and precisely as it goes in various directions, and every grain of it lands nearly the same distance away.

7/20/2009
major_event
Apollo 40th Anniversary Celebratory Reception at NASM
Time: 7 p.m. (program begins at 8 p.m.) EDT Description: Event will be a celebratory reception for approximately 2,000 invited guests, including current and former NASA employees, posthumously honoring President John F. Kennedy with the Ambassador of Exploration award. Participants: Apollo 11 crew and the rest of the Apollo astronauts, the STS-125 space shuttle crew, and former Apollo employees. Media: No press event is planned, but program will be broadcast on NASA TV and streamed at http://www.nasa.gov/ntv.
7/20/2009
major_event
Apollo 40th Anniversary Educational Forum at the Newseum
Location:     Newseum, Washington, DC
Time:     2 p.m. to 3 p.m. (approximate) EDT
Description:     NASA and the Newseum plan to broadcast a special panel event commemorating the first human landing on our moon. Journalist Nick Clooney will moderate, asking and facilitating questions from the audience. The program also will be streamed into science centers and museums around the country. Six museums and science centers have been selected to participate:
    - Boston Museum of Science (Boston)
    - California Science Center (Los Angeles)
    - Denver Museum of Nature and Science (Denver)
    - Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago)
    - St. Louis Science Center (St. Louis)
    - American Museum of Natural History (New York)
Participants:     Panelists include:
    - Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11)
    - Charles Duke (Apollo 16)
    - Alan Bean (Apollo 12)
    - A current NASA astronaut
    - Laurie Leshin, PhD., deputy director for Science and Technology at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.
Public:     Program is free with museum admission or membership.
Media:     No specific media events, but program will be broadcast on NASA TV and streamed at http://www.nasa.gov/ntv.
7/20/2009
major_event
Apollo 40th Anniversary Event at US Space and Rocket Center
Marshall will conduct an event to celebrate the accomplishments of the past and look toward future exploration goals. Activities will include demonstrations, exhibits, and documentary presentations. Astronauts and former Apollo team members will talk with attendees about science and exploration. Location: U.S. Space and Rocket Center Principal Participants: NASA employees, contractors, retirees, and families
7/20/2009
major_event
Apollo 40th Anniversary News Conference at NASA Headquarters
James Webb Auditorium at NASA Headquarters in Washington, 300 E St., S.W. 9:30-10:30 a.m. EDT.  Apollo astronauts will discuss the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 flight and answer questions from reporters. Participants: Apollo astronauts (TBD). Not open to the general public.  The news conference will be carried live on NASA TV and streamed at http://www.nasa.gov/ntv.Media representatives may ask questions from participating NASA fieldcenters. Reporters should call their local center to confirm itsparticipation in the event.
7/20/2009
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Full Details
Lunar Landing Overnight Adventure
This special Overnight Adventure is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunityfor Camp Kennedy Space Center (KSC) participants to experience theApollo/Saturn V Center at night and camp-out below an authentic SaturnV rocket - the same kind of rocket that launched astronauts to themoon.
7/20/2009
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MSFC - USSRC Apollo 40th Celebration
An Apollo 40th anniverary celebration will occur July 20th at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama from 1:00-5:00 PM for MSFC employees, on-site and near-site contractors and retirees.  Planned activities include: real-time broadcast of the Apollo 11 crew ceremonies from Washington, D.C.; history tables staffed by representatives of Marshall Apollo/Saturn, Shuttle and Constellation programs located around the Davidson Center Saturn V rocket; interactive exhibits describing current NASA lunar programs; moon-themed movies in the Davidson Center 3-D Theater and other activities.
7/20/2009
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NASA Driven to Explore at Discovery Green
Tocelebrate the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11, Discovery Green will hostthe Driven to Explore exhibit as well as several other NASA exhibitsfor the general public from Houston and surrounding communities toenjoy.   Visitors will be able to view artifactsfrom the Apollo era and learn about the history of the Apollo programas well as how NASA's Constellation Program will build on the best ofthat history for a new lunar return.
7/20/2009
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Full Details
NASA Night at the Houston Astros
On July 20, 2009, the Houston Astros will host NASA Night at the Houston Astros vs St. Louis Cardinals baseball game at Minute Maid Park. The Astros will wear the Apollo 11 mission patch on their uniform, recognize NASA as a special guest, and have seven Apollo-era veterans toss out the first pitch.  Astronaut Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger will sing the national anthem.  Minute Maid Park's Union Station will feature several NASA exhibits and volunteers to interact with the public prior to the beginning of the game. Volunteers will engage game attendees with information about the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing as well as the Constellation program. Discounted tickets are available to NASA employees and contractors.
7/20/2009
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Full Details
Robots in the Race to the Moon Lecture
On July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin 'Buzz' Aldrin,landed an ungainly vehicle on the moon. Their lunar sojourn marked theconclusion of the "moon race" unleashed by President John F. Kennedy inMay 1961. It was also the end of a longer series of lunar visits byrobotic pathfinders, sent to prepare the way for men. In this talk,we'll explore the role of robots in opening the 'lunar frontier.'
7/20/2009
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Full Details
Viking 1 lands on Mars (1976)
The results from the Viking experiments gave our most complete view of Mars at the time. Volcanoes, lava plains, immense canyons, cratered areas, wind-formed features, and evidence of surface water are apparent in the Orbiter images. The planet appears to be divisible into two main regions, northern low plains and southern cratered highlands. Superimposed on these regions are the Tharsis and Elysium bulges, which are high-standing volcanic areas, and Valles Marineris, a system of giant canyons near the equator. The surface material at both landing sites can best be characterized as iron-rich clay. Measured temperatures at the landing sites ranged from 150 to 250 K, with a variation over a given day of 35 to 50 K. Seasonal dust storms, pressure changes, and transport of atmospheric gases between the polar caps were observed. The biology experiment produced no evidence of life at either landing site.
7/20/2009
major_event
World's Largest MoonPie @ KSC
The Visitor Complex will host one of the world's largest MoonPies. The MoonPie will be available to the public to enjoy at 2:00 p.m. in the Rocket Garden. The MoonPie is 40 inches in diameter, six inches tall and weighs in at 55 pounds - a total of six pounds of chocolate and 14 pounds of marshmallow.
7/20/2009
major_event
Full Details
Telling the Stories of Apollo: A Conversation with Apollo Managers
Employees and guests are invited to travel back in time to learn about NASA's Apollo program from the managers and engineers who helped make it all happen. On July 20, July 22, and July 24, visitors will be able to view two films from the six part Discovery Channel documentary "Moon Machines"  along with Apollo-era panelist discussions and audience Q&A.  A distinguished panelist introduction will launch the presentations on July 20, followed by panelists topics "Command Module" and "Space Suits."  Guests visiting on July 22 will be able to hear the panelist presentations "Navigation Computer" and "Lunar Module."  The panelist presentations for July 24 are "Saturn V" and "Lunar Rover."
7/20/2009
major_event
Virginia Air & Space Center
Summer Science Camps pertaining to Apollo
Live science demonstration "Apollo Bound"
Apollo exhibits
7/20/2009
major_event
Full Details
Telling the Stories of Apollo: A Conversation with Apollo Managers
Employees and guests are invited to travel back in time to learn about NASA's Apollo program from the managers and engineers who helped make it all happen. On July 20, July 22, and July 24, visitors will be able to view two films from the six part Discovery Channel documentary "Moon Machines"  along with Apollo-era panelist discussions and audience Q&A.  A distinguished panelist introduction will launch the presentations on July 20, followed by panelists topics "Command Module" and "Space Suits."  Guests visiting on July 22 will be able to hear the panelist presentations "Navigation Computer" and "Lunar Module."  The panelist presentations for July 24 are "Saturn V" and "Lunar Rover."
7/21/2009
major_event
Virginia Air & Space Center
Summer Science Camps pertaining to Apollo
Live science demonstration "Apollo Bound"
Apollo exhibits
7/21/2009
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Full Details
The Wonder of It All
Pre-screening  of the film, "The Wonder of It All" at NASA Langley's Reid Conference Center and Virginia Air & Space Center. Producer Jeff Roth to introduce film.
7/21/2009
major_event
Full Details
Telling the Stories of Apollo: A Conversation with Apollo Managers
Employees and guests are invited to travel back in time to learn about NASA's Apollo program from the managers and engineers who helped make it all happen. On July 20, July 22, and July 24, visitors will be able to view two films from the six part Discovery Channel documentary "Moon Machines"  along with Apollo-era panelist discussions and audience Q&A.  A distinguished panelist introduction will launch the presentations on July 20, followed by panelists topics "Command Module" and "Space Suits."  Guests visiting on July 22 will be able to hear the panelist presentations "Navigation Computer" and "Lunar Module."  The panelist presentations for July 24 are "Saturn V" and "Lunar Rover."
7/22/2009
major_event
Virginia Air & Space Center
Summer Science Camps pertaining to Apollo
Live science demonstration "Apollo Bound"
Apollo exhibits
7/22/2009
major_event
Full Details
Telling the Stories of Apollo: A Conversation with Apollo Managers
Employees and guests are invited to travel back in time to learn about NASA's Apollo program from the managers and engineers who helped make it all happen. On July 20, July 22, and July 24, visitors will be able to view two films from the six part Discovery Channel documentary "Moon Machines"  along with Apollo-era panelist discussions and audience Q&A.  A distinguished panelist introduction will launch the presentations on July 20, followed by panelists topics "Command Module" and "Space Suits."  Guests visiting on July 22 will be able to hear the panelist presentations "Navigation Computer" and "Lunar Module."  The panelist presentations for July 24 are "Saturn V" and "Lunar Rover."
7/23/2009
major_event
Virginia Air & Space Center
Summer Science Camps pertaining to Apollo
Live science demonstration "Apollo Bound"
Apollo exhibits
7/23/2009
major_event
Full Details
40th Anniversary of Apollo Moon Landing (AIAA)
Visit the California Science Center??s SKETCH Foundation Gallery Air and Space Exhibit.
Attend a panel with Apollo XI Astronaut, Dr. Buzz Aldrin and other distinguished space professionals discussing ???From Apollo XI to the First Humans on Mars.???
View an exclusive, private screening of the IMAX film, ???Magnificent Desolation,??? with an introduction by Dr. Buzz Aldrin.
7/23/2009
major_event
Apollo 40th Teacher Workshop
On July 23rd 50 teachers in the formal and informal community will take part in a 40th Anniversary Event at Dryden. The day will begin with a Dryden tour highlighting the LLRV and the CEV . After tour, Apollo overview with former astronaut/pilot Gordon Fullerton followed by the Geology of the moon, showing/viewing of the moon rocks, and Dryden employee Laurie Grindle will talk about the Constellation program, ESMD Dryden Director Brent Colbeigh will discuss the work Dryden is doing with Orion abort flight tests.
7/23/2009
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Landsat 1 Launch (1972)
7/23/2009
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Full Details
Telling the Stories of Apollo: A Conversation with Apollo Managers
Employees and guests are invited to travel back in time to learn about NASA's Apollo program from the managers and engineers who helped make it all happen. On July 20, July 22, and July 24, visitors will be able to view two films from the six part Discovery Channel documentary "Moon Machines"  along with Apollo-era panelist discussions and audience Q&A.  A distinguished panelist introduction will launch the presentations on July 20, followed by panelists topics "Command Module" and "Space Suits."  Guests visiting on July 22 will be able to hear the panelist presentations "Navigation Computer" and "Lunar Module."  The panelist presentations for July 24 are "Saturn V" and "Lunar Rover."
7/24/2009
major_event
Virginia Air & Space Center
Summer Science Camps pertaining to Apollo
Live science demonstration "Apollo Bound"
Apollo exhibits
7/24/2009
major_event
Full Details
Apollo 11 Splashdown Celebration
Location: Space Center Houston Visitor's Complex Time: 6:30 - 10 p.m. CDT Description: Speaking Program honoring all Apollo team members. JSC Center Director Mike Coats, community and Apollo Program representatives will make remarks.Participants: JSC and the surrounding community will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11 with a Splashdown Celebration at Space Center Houston. The event will include a program with speakers from the Apollo era, a hot dog buffet and entertainment. Some Space Center Houston attractions will be open. Friends and family are welcome.Media: This event is open to the public. For more information:http://www.spacecenter.org/apollo11anniversary.html
7/24/2009
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The USS Hornet Museum
Apollo 11 and 12 crews
7/24/2009
major_event
Apollo 15 Launch (1971)
7/26/2009
major_event
Apollo 40th Anniversary - Oshkosh Air Show
Apollo astronauts
7/27/2009
major_event
Apollo 40th Anniversary - Oshkosh Air Show
Apollo astronauts
7/28/2009
major_event
Apollo 40th Anniversary - Oshkosh Air Show
Apollo astronauts
7/29/2009
major_event
Apollo Program Named (1960)
7/29/2009
major_event
National Aeronautics and Space Act Signed (1958)
7/29/2009
major_event
Apollo 40th Anniversary - Oshkosh Air Show
Apollo astronauts
7/30/2009
major_event
Galileo Observes Saturn's Rings (1630)
7/30/2009
major_event
Apollo 40th Anniversary - Oshkosh Air Show
Apollo astronauts
7/31/2009
major_event
Astronomy at New Quarter Park
Astronomy event at New Quarter Park to include moon viewing with Apollo landing sites highlighted.
8/1/2009
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Lunar Orbiter 5 Launch (1967)
8/1/2009
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STS-43 (TDRS-E) Launch (1991)
1991 - STS-43 launch
8/2/2009
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Full Details
Dynamics Explorer 1 Launch (1981); MESSENGER Launch (2004)
1981 - Dynamics Explorer 1 launch 2004 - MESSENGER launch
8/3/2009
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Mars Phoenix Lander launch (2007)
2007- Mars Phoenix Lander launch
8/4/2009
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Full Details
Mars 6 launch (1973)
1973 - Mars 6 launch
8/5/2009
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Full Details
FLTSATCOM 5 launch (1981)
1981 - FLTSATCOM 5 launch
8/6/2009
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Explorer 6 Launch (1959); STS-85 Launch w/2nd CRISTA-SPAS-2 (1997)
1959 - Explorer 6 launch 1997 - STS-85 launch, 2nd CRISTA-SPAS-2
8/7/2009
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Full Details
OSO 6 Launch (1969); Mars 7 Launch (1973); Westar 3 Launch (1979)
1969 - OSO 6 launch 1973 - Mars 7 launch 1979 - Westar 3 launch
8/9/2009
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Full Details
Lunar Orbiter 1 Launch (1966); ATS-4 Launch (1968); STS-105 Launch (2001)
1966 - Lunar Orbiter 1 launch 1968 - ATS-4 launch 2001 - STS-105 launch
8/10/2009
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Full Details
Surveyor Dynamic Model launch (1965)
1965 - Surveyor Dynamic Model launch
8/11/2009
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Full Details
Moon tree planting at Thursday Nights on the Square event
August 13, 2009
City of Palmdale is celebrating Apollo 40th anniversary at its annual:
Thursday Nights on the Square - August 13-- by planting a moon tree

The city will make an announcement at the Gazebo area when the band takes a break at 6:30pm.  City of Palmdale Mayor and Apollo/shuttle astronaut Vance Brand will say a few words commemorating the Apollo missions, while holding the tree, then will walk over to the planting site and continue the ceremony.

8/13/2009
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Beacon 2 launch (1959)
1959 - Beacon 2 launch
8/14/2009
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Explorer 12 launch (1961)
1961 - Explorer 12 launch
8/15/2009
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NASA Historical Events
ESSA 7 launch (1968); AMPTE launch (1984)
8/16/2009
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Full Details
Pioneer 7 launch (1966)
1966 - Pioneer 7 launch
8/17/2009
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Full Details
Voyager 2 Launch (1977)
historic event
8/20/2009
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Full Details
Gemini 5 launch (1965); OAO 3 launch (1972)
Gemini 5 launch (1965); OAO 3 launch (1972)
8/21/2009
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Full Details
Ranger 1 launch (1961); Intelsat 4 F-7 launch (1973)
Ranger 1 launch (1961); Intelsat 4 F-7 launch (1973)
8/23/2009
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Full Details
Explorer 5 launch (1958)
1958 - Explorer 5 launch
8/24/2009
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Symphonie 2 launch (1975); Anik D-1 launch (1982)
Symphonie 2 launch (1975); Anik D-1 launch (1982)
8/26/2009
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Wyoming Police Dept. 50th Anniversary and Moon Tree Planting Ceremony
Deputy AA/Office of Communications Planning, Kristen Erickson-NASA Senior Official to participate in this event along with other local and state officials, including the governor of Michigan.
8/26/2009
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Full Details
Nimbus 1 Launch (1964)
1964 - Nimbus 1 launch, first NASA program to develop and operate advanced meteorological space observations
8/28/2009
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Full Details
STS-128 Launch (2009)
Commander Rick Sturckow will lead the STS-128 mission to theInternational Space Station aboard space shuttle Discovery with KevinFord serving as pilot. Also serving aboard Discovery are missionspecialists Patrick Forrester, Jose Hernandez, John "Danny" Olivas,Christer Fuglesang and Nicole Stott.

Stott will remain on thestation as an Expedition 20 flight engineer replacing Timothy Kopra.Kopra will return home aboard Discovery as a mission specialist.

Discovery is carrying the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Modulecontaining life support racks and science racks. The LightweightMulti-Purpose Experiment Support Structure Carrier will also belaunched in Discovery's payload bay.

This is Discovery's 37thmission to space and the 30th mission of a space shuttle dedicated tothe assembly and maintenance of the International Space Station.
8/28/2009
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Full Details
Communications Satellite Act Signed (1962)
Communications Satellites: Making the Global Village Possible
8/31/2009
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Full Details
Orbiting Geophysical Observatories (OGO) 1 Launch (1964)
The purpose of the OGO 1 spacecraft, the first of a series of six Orbiting Geophysical Observatories, was to conduct diversified geophysical experiments to obtain a better understanding of the earth as a planet and to develop and operate a standardized observatory-type satellite. OGO 1 consisted of a main body that was parallelepipedal in form, two solar panels, each with a solar-oriented experiment package (SOEP), two orbital plane experiment packages (OPEP) and six appendages EP-1 through EP-6 supporting the boom experiment packages. One face of the main body was designed to point toward the earth (+Z axis), and the line connecting the two solar panels (X axis) was intended to be perpendicular to the earth-sun-spacecraft plane. The solar panels were able to rotate about the X axis. The OPEPs were mounted on and could rotate about an axis which was parallel to the Z axis and attached to the main body. Due to a boom deployment failure shortly after orbital injection, the spacecraft was put into a permanent spin mode of 5 rpm about the Z axis. This spin axis remained fixed with a declination of about -10 deg and right ascension of about 40 deg at launch. The initial local time of apogee was 2100 h. OGO 1 carried 20 experiments. Twelve of these were particle studies and two were magnetic field studies. In addition, there was one experiment for each of the following types of studies: interplanetary dust, VLF, Lyman-alpha, gegenschein, atmospheric mass, and radio astronomy. Real-time data were transmitted at 1, 8, or 64 kbs depending on the distance of the spacecraft from the earth. Playback data were tape recorded at 1 kbs and transmitted at 64 kbs. Two wideband transmitters, one feeding into an omnidirectional antenna and the other feeding into a directional antenna, were used to transmit data. A special-purpose telemetry system, feeding into either antenna, was also used to transmit wideband data in real time only. Tracking was accomplished by using radio beacons and a range and range-rate S-band transponder. Because of the boom deployment failure, the best operating mode for the data handling system was the use of one of the wideband transmitters and the directional antenna. All data received from the omnidirectional antenna were noisy. During September 1964, acceptable data were received over 70% of the orbital path. By June 1969, data acquisition was limited to 10% of the orbital path. The spacecraft was placed in a standby status November 25, 1969, and all support was terminated November 1, 1971. By April 1970 the spacecraft perigee had increased to 46,000 km and the inclination had increased to 58.8 deg.
9/4/2009
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Full Details
Voyager 1 Launch (1977)
Voyager 1 was one of a pair of spacecraft launched to explore the planets of the outer solar system and the interplanetary environment. Each Voyager had as its major objectives at each planet to: (1) investigate the circulation, dynamics, structure, and composition of the planet's atmosphere; (2) characterize the morphology, geology, and physical state of the satellites of the planet; (3) provide improved values for the mass, size, and shape of the planet, its satellites, and any rings; and, (4) determine the magnetic field structure and characterize the composition and distribution of energetic trapped particles and plasma therein.
9/5/2009
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Cleveland National Air Show
NASA Glenn has been invited exhibit at this major air show where the USAF Thunderbirds will be performing.
9/5/2009
major_event
Cleveland National Air Show
NASA Glenn has been invited exhibit at this major air show where the USAF Thunderbirds will be performing.
9/6/2009
major_event
Cleveland National Air Show
NASA Glenn has been invited exhibit at this major air show where the USAF Thunderbirds will be performing.
9/7/2009
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Full Details
Biosatellite 2 launch (1967); STS-69 launch (1995)
Biosatellite 2 launch (1967); STS-69 launch (1995)
9/7/2009
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Full Details
JFK Moon Speech @ Rice U (1961)
We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.
9/12/2009
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Mercury Atlas 4 launch (1961); OTS 1 launch (1977)
Mercury Atlas 4 launch (1961); OTS 1 launch (1977)
9/13/2009
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STS-79 launch (1996), 4th Shuttle-Mir Mission
STS-79 highlighted by return to Earth of U.S. astronaut Lucid after 188 days in space, first U.S. crew exchange aboard Russian Space Station Mir, and fourth Shuttle-Mir docking. Lucid???s long-duration spaceflight set new U.S. record as well as world record for a woman. She embarked to Mir March 22 with STS-76 mission. Succeeding her on Mir for an approximately four-month stay is Blaha, who will return in January 1997 with STS-81 crew; U.S. astronaut Jerry Linenger will replace him.STS-79 also marked second flight of SPACEHAB module in support of Shuttle-Mir activities and first flight of SPACEHAB Double Module configuration. Shuttle-Mir linkup occurred at 11:13 p.m. EDT, Sept. 18, following R-bar approach. Hatches opened at 1:40 a.m., Sept. 19, and Blaha and Lucid exchanged places at 7 a.m. EDT. Awaiting Blaha on Mir were Valery Korzun, Mir 22 commander, and Alexander Kaleri, flight engineer.During five days of mated operations, two crews transferred more than 4,000 pounds (1,814 kilograms) of supplies to Mir, including logistics, food and water generated by orbiter fuel cells. Three experiments also were transferred: Biotechnology System (BTS) for study of cartilage development; Material in Devices as Superconductors (MIDAS) to measure electrical properties of high-temperature superconductor materials; and Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA), containing several smaller experiments, including self-contained aquatic systems.About 2,000 pounds (907 kilograms) of experiment samples and equipment transferred from Mir to Atlantis; total logistical transfer to and from station of more than 6,000 pounds (2,722 kilograms) was most extensive to date. During her approximately six-month stay on Mir, Lucid conducted research in following fields: advanced technology, Earth sciences, fundamental biology, human life sciences, microgravity research and space sciences. Specific experiments included: Environmental Radiation Measurements to ascertain ionizing radiation levels aboard Mir; Greenhouse-Integrated Plant Experiments, to study effect of microgravity on plants, specifically dwarf wheat; and Assessment of Humoral Immune Function During Long-Duration Space Flight, to gather data on effect of long-term spaceflight on the human immune system and involving collection of blood serum and saliva samples. Some research conducted in newest and final Mir module, Priroda, which arrived at station during Lucid's stay.Three experiments remained on Atlantis: Extreme Temperature Translation Furnace (ETTF), a new furnace design allowing space-based processing up to 871 degrees Fahrenheit (1,600 degrees Centigrade) and above; Commercial Protein Crystal Growth (CPCG) complement of 128 individual samples involving 12 different proteins; and Mechanics of Granular Materials, designed to further understanding of behavior of cohesionless granular materials, which could in turn lead to better understanding of how Earth's surface responds during earthquakes and landslides.As with all Shuttle-Mir flights, risk-mitigation experiments were conducted to help reduce development risk for the International Space Station. Flying for first time was the Active Rack Isolation System (ARIS), an experiment rack designed to cushion payloads from vibration and other disturbances.Conducted near end of flight was test using orbiter's small vernier jets to lower Atlantis' orbit. A similar maneuver may be employed at the end of the second Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission, STS-82, to re-boost Hubble to a higher orbit while still in the orbiter payload bay.
9/16/2009
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Aerospace Walk of Honor
Celebrating the Apollo 11 40th anniversary,  Lancaster is honoring Jim McDivitt, who will be present, at its 20th Annual Aerospace Walk of Honor on September 19, 2009. Eugene Cernan will be the keynote speaker and Vance Brand will also be there to say a few words along with the Mayor of Lancaster.

Following the ceremony. A moon tree will be planted at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center.

BACKGROUND of ceremony:
Where Dreams Take Flight
http://www.cityoflancasterca.org/Index.aspx?page=80

2009 Honoree Awards Program - September 19, 2009

The Aerospace Walk of Honor and sidewalk monument display along Lancaster Boulevard pays tribute to distinguished Edwards Air Force Base test pilots whose history of achievement in the field has been continuously outstanding.

The first in the United States honoring test pilots, Lancaster's Aerospace Walk of Honor acknowledges the City's sixty-year tradition as the nation's aerospace center and host City to a distinguished group of internationally known experimental test pilots.

Established in 1990 by the Lancaster City Council, the Aerospace Walk of Honor awards recognition for test pilots whose aviation careers are marked by significant achievements beyond one specific accomplishment.

9/19/2009
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Surveyor 2 launch (1966); HEAO 3 launch (1979)
Surveyor 2 launch (1966); HEAO 3 launch (1979)
9/20/2009
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Galaxy C launch (1984)
Galaxy-C was a Hughes Corporation communications satellite launched by NASA with a Delta rocket.
9/21/2009
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Explorer 47 launch (1972); Galaxy 2 launch (1983)
Explorer 47 launch (1972); Galaxy 2 launch (1983)
9/22/2009
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SBS-2 launch (1981)
SBS 2 (Satellite Business Systems 2) was launched by NASA to provide fully switched private networks to businesses, government agencies, and other organizations with large, varied communications requirements.
9/24/2009
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STSS ATRR Demo Launch (2009)
Mission: STSS ATRR - Missile Defense Agency
Launch Vehicle: United Launch Alliance Delta II
Launch Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base - Launch Pad SLC-2
Description: STSS ATRR serves as a pathfinder for future launchand mission technology for the Missile Defense Agency. To be launchedby NASA for the MDA.  The STSS-ATRR (Space Tracking and Surveillance System AdvancedTechnology Risk Reduction), formerly known as STSS Block 2010 Risk Reduction,isa research and development mission for the Missile Defense Agency. Itis intended toexplore "alternate technology for potential missile defenseapplication". Reportedly the spacecraft was built by Northrop GrummanSpace Technology acting as overallsystem prime contractor and General Dynamics providing a SA-200HP bus.
9/25/2009
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Intelsat 2 F-4 launch (1967); Dawn launch (2007)
Intelsat 2 F-4 launch (1967); Dawn launch (2007)
9/27/2009
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MESSENGER Mercury Flyby #3 (2009)
On September 29, 2009, the MESSENGER spacecraft will pass by Mercury for the third time, flying 141.7 miles above the planet's rocky surface for a final gravity assist that will enable it to enter orbit about Mercury in 2011. With more than 90 percent of the planet's surface imaged, the team will turn its instruments on specific features and uncover more information about the planet closest to the Sun. The first two flybys of Mercury revealed new, previously unseen terrain. During this encounter, the MESSENGER camera will again image the planet, including a small amount of never-before-seen surface, providing better resolution for some regions previously imaged. With this third flyby, instruments will also target interesting areas identified in the second flyby for more detailed spectral measurements as well. And depending upon the Sun, MESSENGER may get yet another unique snapshot of how the planet interacts with conditions in interplanetary space driven by the Sun's behavior.
9/29/2009
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STS-68 launch (1994)
STS-68 marked second flight in 1994 of Space Radar Laboratory (first flight was STS-59 in April), part of NASA's Mission to Planet Earth. Flying SRL during different seasons allowed comparison of changes between first and second flights. SRL-2 was activated on flight day one, and around-the-clock observations conducted by astronauts split into two teams. Besides repeating data takes over same locations as on first flight, unusual events also imaged, including erupting volcano in Russia and islands of Japan after earthquake there. Also tested was ability of SRL-2 imaging radars, Spaceborne Imaging Radar-C (SIR-C) and X- band Synthetic Aperture Radar (X-SAR), to discern difference between such human-induced phenomena as an oil spill in the ocean and naturally occurring film.Mission also took advantage of opportunity to study fires set in British Columbia, Canada, for forest management purposes. Special readings were taken with another SRL element, Measurement of Air Pollution from satellites (MAPS), to gain better understanding of carbon monoxide emissions from burning forest. Flying for fourth time on the shuttle, MAPS is designed to measure global distribution of carbon monoxide.On flight day six, mission extended one day by Mission Management Team. The maneuvering capability of the orbiter was demonstrated anew in the latter half of mission, when different data-gathering method was tried. Called interferometry, it required repeated, nearly coincidental imaging passes with SIR-C/X-SAR over target sites. In one instance, Endeavour piloted to within 30 feet (nine meters) of where it was flown on first flight in April. Collected data can be transcribed into detailed topographic images showing elevation and other features. Interferometric passes completed over central North America, Amazon forests of central Brazil, and volcanoes of Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia. Such images, if produced regularly over long term, could provide information on the movements of Earth's surface as small as fraction of an inch, which could be invaluable in detecting pre-eruptive changes in volcanoes and movements in fault lines before earthquakes.Other cargo bay payloads included five Get Away Specials (GAS): two sponsored by university student groups, one by Swedish Space Corp., and two by U.S. Postal Service holding 500,000 commemorative stamps honoring 25th anniversary of Apollo 11.Middeck payloads: Commercial Protein Crystal Growth (CPCG) to study dynamics of protein crystallization and also to obtain protein crystals large enough to allow structural analysis; Biological Research in Canisters (BRIC-01), flying for first time and holding gypsy moth eggs to determine how microgravity affects moth development; CHROMEX-05, fifth in series designed to examine effects of microgravity on physiological processes in plants. Previous CHROMEX flights have shown that plants grown in space may not produce seed embryos; CHROMEX-05 designed to show whether infertility is due to microgravity or another environmental factor. Also in middeck: Cosmic Radiation Effects and Activation Monitor (CREAM), to collect data on cosmic rays; and Military Applications of Ship Tracks (MAST), part of five-year Navy effort to study effects of ships on marine environment.Problems included a missing tile around overhead window; suspect temperature sensor on the orbiter Reaction Control System (RCS) vernier thruster, which led to temporary cessation of SRL-2 radar observations; and failed primary RCS thruster.
9/30/2009
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NASA 1st Day of Operations (1958)
NASA's officially recognized birthday.
10/1/2009
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Explorer 14 launch (1962); ESSA 3 launch (1966)
Explorer 14 launch (1962); ESSA 3 launch (1966)
10/2/2009
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Sputnik Launch (1957)
historic event
10/4/2009
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STS-41 G Launch(1984)
This was the first flight to include two women, Ride and Sullivan. Sullivan was the first American woman to walk in space. The Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS) was deployed less than nine hours into the flight. The Office of Space and Terrestrial Applications-3 (OSTA-3) carried three experiments in the payload bay. Components of Orbital Refueling System (ORS) were connected, demonstrating it is possible to refuel satellites in orbit. Other Payloads were: Large Format Camera (LFC); IMAX Camera, flying for the third time; a package of Canadian Experiments (CANEX); Auroral Photography Experiment (APE); Radiation Monitoring Equipment (RME); Thermoluminiscent Dosimeter (TLD); and eight Get Away Specials.
10/5/2009
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STS-112 Launch (2002)
Primary payloads were the S1 integrated truss segment and the Crew and Equipment Translation Aid (CETA) Cart A. The CETA is the first of two human-powered carts that will ride along the ISS railway, providing mobile work platforms for future spacewalking astronauts.Activities included three spacewalks to attach the S1 truss to the space station. MS Sandra Magnus and ISS Science Officer Peggy Whitson lifted the 14-ton, 45-foot S1 truss from Atlantis' payload bay using the station's Canadarm2. They then attached it to the station with four remotely operated bolts.Other chores were repairing the station's exercise treadmill; adjusting protective circuits that measure current in the S1 truss radiator assembly to greater tolerance levels for space; removing and replacing a humidity separator in the Quest airlock.
10/7/2009
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HETE 2 Launch (2000)
HETE-2 is using UV, X-ray and gamma ray instruments to study gamma ray bursts (GRBs). HETE-2 can localize bursts with several arcsecond accuracy, in near real-time aboard the spacecraft. The coordinates of GRBs detected by HETE are distributed to interested ground-based observers within seconds of burst detection, thereby allowing detailed observations of the initial phases of GRBs.The HETE program is an international collaboration led by the Center for Space Research at the Massachussetts Institute of Technology. Our collaborating institutions include the Institute for Chemistry and Physics (RIKEN), the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), the Centre d'Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements (CESR), the University of Chicago, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of California, Santa Cruz, the Centre Nationale d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), the Ecole Nationale Superieure de l'Aeronautique et de l'Espace (Sup'Aero), the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE), and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).The primary goal of HETE-2 is to determine the origin and nature of cosmic gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). This is accomplished through the simultaneous, broad-band observation in the soft X-ray, medium X-ray, and gamma-ray energy ranges, and the precise localization and identification of cosmic gamma-ray burst sources (GRBs).The original HETE spacecraft was lost as a result of a launch failure on November 4, 1996.
10/9/2009
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LCROSS Lunar Impact (2009)
The primary goal of LCROSS is to measure the concentration of water ice (ice to dust ratio) in permanently shadowed lunar regolith. Setting constraints on water ice will set a fiducial for the LRO studies of hydrogen neutrons, that are expected to have water ice as a source. Several important processes occur when a body strikes the lunar surface, including the initial impact, ejecta and plume dispersion, and the exposure of fresh subsurface (Figure 1). Continuously monitoring the impact events at a variety of spatial (m to km to exosphere scales) and temporal scales (sec to minutes to days) allows us to understand lunar impact processes and assess the likelihood that water ice, due to impacts occurring within the permanently shadowed target crater, may be distributed non-uniformly.
10/9/2009
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Westar 2 Launch (1974)
Westar 2 was a domestic communications satellite launched by NASA for Western Union.
10/10/2009
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Explorer 7 launch (1959); TIROS N launch (1978)
Explorer 7 launch (1959); TIROS N launch (1978)
10/13/2009
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NOAA 2 launch (1972); OSCAR 6 launch (1972)
NOAA 2 launch (1972); OSCAR 6 launch (1972)
10/15/2009
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NASA Historic Events
1963 - Vela 1A & B launch, first nuclear explosion detection satellites; 1975 - GOES 1 launch
10/16/2009
major_event
Antelope Valley Symphony Orchestra???s ???New Frontiers??? concert
NASA video imagery, edited by the Dryden video team, of Mars, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter will be shown during a performance of four related segments of Gustav Holst???s ???The Planets??? suite. Dryden news chief presented a brief illustrated presentation on Dryden???s history, contributions to NASA space programs and the space missions. Dryden graphics chief designed an exhibit for the Lancaster Performing Arts Center lobby on Apollo 40th and Constellation.
10/17/2009
major_event
Geminids Meteor Shower Peak
10/18/2009
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IBEX Launch (2008
At the edge of our solar system in December2004, the Voyager 1 spacecraft encounteredsomething never before experienced during itsthen 26-year cruise through the solar system???aninvisible shock formed as the solar wind piles upagainst the gas in interstellar space. This boundary,called the termination shock, marks the beginningof our solar system???s final frontier, a vastexpanse of turbulent gas and twisting magneticfields.???IBEX will let us make the first global observationsof the region beyond the termination shockat the very edges of our solar system. This regionis critical because it shields out the vast majorityof the deadly cosmic rays that would otherwisepermeate the space around the Earth and otherplanets,??? says Dr. David J. McComas, IBEX PrincipalInvestigator (PI) from the Southwest ResearchInstitute (SwRI) in San Antonio, Texas. ???IBEX willlet us visualize our home in the galaxy for the firsttime and explore how it may have evolved overthe history of the solar system. Ultimately, bymaking the first images of the interstellar boundariesneighboring our solar system, IBEX willprovide a first step toward exploring the galacticfrontier.???
10/19/2009
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STS-73 Launch, USML-2 (1995)
STS-73 marked second flight of U.S. Microgravity Laboratory (USML) and built on foundation of its predecessor, which flew on Columbia during Mission STS-50 in 1992. Research during USML-2 concentrated within same overall areas of USML-1, with many experiments flying for second time. Crew divided into two teams to work around the clock in 23-foot (seven-meter) long Spacelab module located in Columbia's payload bay.Research was conducted in five areas: Fluid physics; materials science; biotechnology; combustion science; and commercial space processing. USML-2 activities were directed by NASA's Spacelab Mission Operations Control facility at Marshall Space Flight Center.Experiments went smoothly. In some cases, results re-confirmed existing theories, while in other cases results were new and unique. Highlights included unprecedented results from the Surface Tension Driven Convection Experiment, which flew for second time and studied in great detail basic fluid mechanics and heat transfer of thermocapillary flows, motions created within fluids by non-uniform heating of their free surfaces. Oscillations observed on USML-2 samples had never been observed on Earth, and researchers controlling experiment from the ground were able to pinpoint when fluid flows transitioned from stable to unstable. Research has direct applications on Earth, in that unwanted fluid flows during melting and resolidifying can create defects in high-tech crystals, metals, alloys and ceramics.Flying for first time was Fiber Supported Droplet Combustion experiment. More than 25 droplets of variety of fuels were ignited, confirming theories about how fuels burn in microgravity. Results revealed larger droplet extension diameter -- size of drop as it burns out -- than are capable of being studied on Earth, with burning times 10 times longer. Data confirmed scientific predictions about burn rate and amount of fuel left over after fire goes out. This will allow investigators to refine theories and possibly develop new ones about byproducts such as soot and smog.Five small potatoes were grown on-orbit from tubers in the Astroculture plant growth facility. USML-2 marked final test flight of Astroculture hardware, with unit set to become available commercially for sale or lease. Technologies incorporated in Astroculture hardware design already are finding application on Earth; for example, technology behind light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that provide high levels of light on-orbit within limited electrical power is finding its way into energy-efficient lighting systems for large-scale commercial plant nurseries. Successful on-orbit growth demonstrated Astroculture's usefulness as plant growth facility and showed edible foods could be grown in space.Record number of Protein Crystal Growth (PCG) samples -- around 1,500 -- were flown on USML-2 and initial results indicated many had produced crystals which will be further studied after landing. Other crystal growth experiments were equally successful. In the Crystal Growth Furnace, which flew for first time on USML-1, a crystal was grown for first time as a liquid bridge to minimize contact with container wall, thus decreasing number of defects in crystal. Eight semiconductor crystals were grown, also a very thin crystal and two crystals which could lead to products such as computer chips that are faster and use less power than traditional computer chips.Crew took time out from Spacelab work to tape ceremonial first pitch for Game Five of baseball World Series, marking first time the thrower was not actually in the ballpark for the pitch.
10/20/2009
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ITOS-B Launch (1971)
The ITOS-B meteorological satellite was designed to provide improved operational infrared and visual observations of earth cloud cover for use in weather analysis and forecasting. Secondary objectives included obtaining both solar proton and global heat balance data on a daily basis. To accomplish these tasks, the sun-synchronous spacecraft carried four cameras -- two television cameras for automatic picture transmissions (APT) and two advanced vidicon camera system (AVCS) cameras. It also carried a low-resolution flat plate radiometer, a solar proton monitor, and two scanning radiometers that not only could measure emitted IR radiation but could also serve as a backup system for the APT and AVCS cameras. The nearly cubical spacecraft measured 1 by 1 by 1.2 m. The TV cameras and infrared sensors were mounted on the satellite baseplate with their optical axes directed vertically earthward. The satellite was equipped with three curved solar panels that were folded during launch and were to be deployed after orbit was achieved. Each panel measured over 4.2 m in length when unfolded and was covered with 3420 solar cells, each 2 by 2 cm. A dynamics and attitude control system was designed to maintain desired spacecraft orientation through gyroscopic principles incorporated into the satellite design. Earth orientation was to be maintained by taking advantage of the precession induced from a momentum flywheel so that the satellite body precession rate of one revolution per orbit would provide the desired 'earth looking' attitude. Minor adjustments in attitude and orientation could be made by means of magnetic coils and by varying the speed of the momentum flywheel. ITOS-B failed to achieve a successful earth orbit. A malfunction in the second stage launch vehicle caused the spacecraft to reenter the earth's atmosphere about 1 hr after lift-off.
10/21/2009
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Beacon launch (1958); ISEE 1 & 2 launch (1977); STS-52 launch, USMP-1 (1992)
Beacon launch (1958); ISEE 1 & 2 launch (1977); STS-52 launch, USMP-1 (1992)
10/22/2009
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STS-120 Launch (2007)
STS-120 was the 23rd shuttle mission to the International Space Station, and launched an Italian-built U.S. multi-port module for the station.Retired Air Force Col. Pamela A. Melroy commanded the STS-120 mission which took the Harmony Node 2 connecting module to the station. Melroy, a veteran shuttle pilot, was the second woman to command a shuttle. Marine Corps Col. George D. Zamka served as pilot. The flight's mission specialists were Scott E. Parazynski, Army Col. Douglas H. Wheelock, Stephanie D. Wilson and Paolo A. Nespoli, a European Space Agency astronaut from Italy. Zamka, Wheelock and Nespoli were making their first spaceflight.Expedition 15/16 Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson returned to Earth from the space station aboard shuttle mission STS-120. That flight carried his replacement, Daniel Tani, to the station. Tani will return on shuttle mission STS-122.
10/23/2009
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NASA Historic Events
Gemini 6 launch (1965) (target vehicle); Explorer 50 launch (1973)
10/25/2009
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Intelsat 2 launch (1966); Centaur AC-9 launch (1966)
Intelsat 2 launch (1966); Centaur AC-9 launch (1966)
10/26/2009
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Saturn SA-1 Launch (1961)
This was the first flight test of the Saturn 1 launch vehicle. The uncrewed suborbital flight used a Saturn 1 first stage to carry water-filled dummy upper stages to an altitude of 136.5 km and a downrange distance of 345.7 km. The flight accomplished its objective of verifying the aerodynamical and structural design of the Saturn 1 booster.
10/27/2009
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Ares I-X Test Flight (2009)
Mission: Ares I-X Test Flight
Launch Vehicle: Ares I-X
Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center - Launch Pad 39B
Description: The Ares I-X test flight is NASA's first test flight for the Agency's new Constellation launch vehicle -- Ares I. The Ares I-X flight will provide NASA with an early opportunity to test and prove flight characteristics, hardware, facilities and ground operations associated with the Ares I.
10/28/2009
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STS-95 Launch, John Glenn's return to orbit after 36 years (1998)
The primary objectives of STS-95 included conducting a variety of science experiments in the pressurized SPACEHAB module, the deployment and retrieval of the Spartan free-flyer payload, and operations with the Hubble Space Telescope Orbiting Systems Test (HOST) and the International Extreme Ultraviolet Hitchhiker payloads being carried in the payload bay. The scientific research mission also returned space pioneer John Glenn to orbit - 36 years, eight months and nine days after he became the first American to orbit the Earth.A slate of more than 80 experiments filled the nearly nine days in space. In addition to a variety of medical and material research, the crew released the Petite Amateur Naval Satellite, or PANSAT, to test innovative technologies to capture and transmit radio signals that normally would be lost because the original signals were too weak or contained too much interference. The crew also released the Spartan free-flying satellite to study the sun and the solar wind in a research effort to help scientists better understand a phenomenon that sometimes can cause widespread disruptions of communications and power supplies on Earth.Medical research during the mission included a battery of tests on Payload Specialist Glenn and Mission Specialist Pedro Duque to further research how the absence of gravity affects balance and perception, immune system response, bone and muscle density, metabolism and blood flow, and sleep.The Hubble Space Telescope Orbital Systems Test provided an on-orbit test bed for hardware that will be used during the third Hubble servicing mission.
10/29/2009
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FLTSATCOM 4 launch (1980); STS-61A launch (1985), Spacelab D-1 flight
FLTSATCOM 4 launch (1980); STS-61A launch (1985), Spacelab D-1 flight
10/30/2009
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Mercury Scout 1 launch (1961)
This Mercury Scout (MS-1) spacecraft was to perform an orbital test of the Mercury Tracking System. The first stage exploded 26 seconds after liftoff. The other 3 stages were then destroyed by the Range Safety Officer 44 seconds after launch.
11/1/2009
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Mariner 3 Launch (1964); ATS 3 Launch (1967)
1964 - Mariner 3 launch1967 - ATS 3 launch
11/5/2009
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Surveyor 6 Launch (1967)
Surveyor 6 was the fourth of the Surveyor series to successfully achieve a soft landing on the Moon. The primary objectives of the Surveyor program, a series of seven robotic lunar softlanding flights, were to support the coming crewed Apollo landings by: (1) developing and validating the technology for landing softly on the Moon; (2) providing data on the compatibility of the Apollo design with conditions encountered on the lunar surface; and (3) adding to the scientific knowledge of the Moon. The specific primary objectives for this mission were to perform a soft landing on the Moon in the Sinus Medii region and obtain postlanding television pictures of the lunar surface. The secondary objectives were to determine the relative abundance of the chemical elements in the lunar soil by operation of the alpha-scattering instrument, obtain touchdown dynamics data, obtain thermal and radar reflectivity data, and conduct a vernier-engine erosion experiment.
11/7/2009
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Anik A1 launch (1972)
This satellite was a Canadian telecommunications satellite in geostationary orbit with an anticipated life of seven years. It was about 1.83 m in diameter and 3.35 m high. The satellite communication system provided for 12 C-band channels, two of which were protection channels for the ten traffic carrying channels. Uplink transmission was the 5.925-6.425 GHz band, and the down link operated in three 3.7-4.2 GHz band. Telemetry, tracking, and command functions required for satellite stationkeeping and positioning were also provided in those frequency bands.
11/9/2009
major_event
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Saturn/Apollo 4 Launch (1967)
Demonstrate structural and thermal integrity and compatibility of launch vehicle and spacecraft; confirm launch loads and dynamic characteristics. Verify operation of command module heatshield (adequacy of Block II design for reentry at lunar return conditions),service propulsion system (SPS; including no ullage start), and selective subsystems. Evaluate performance of emergency detection system in open-loop configuration. Demonstrate mission support facilities and operations needed for launch, mission conduct, and CM recovery. Allmission objectives achieved.
11/9/2009
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ESSA 6 launch (1967)
ESSA 6 was a sun-synchronous operational meteorological satellite designed to provide real-time earth cloudcover TV pictures to properly equipped ground receiving stations for use in weather analysis and forecasting. The satellite had essentially the same configuration as that of a TIROS spacecraft, i.e., an 18-sided right prism, 107 cm across opposite corners and 56 cm high, with a reinforced baseplate carrying most of the subsystems and a cover assembly (hat). Electrical power was provided by approximately 10,000 1- by 2-cm colar cells that were mounted on the cover assembly and by 21 nickel-cadmium batteries. Two redundant wide-angle Automatic Picture Transmission (APT) cameras were mounted on opposite sides of the spacecraft, with their optical axes perpendicular to the spin axis. Projecting downward from the baseplate were a pair of crossed-dipole command reception antennas. A monopole telemetry (136.500 MHz) and tracking (136.770 MHz) antenna extended outward from the top of the cover assembly. The satellite spin rate was controlled by means of a Magnetic Attitude Spin Coil (MASC), with the spin axis maintained normal to the orbital plane (cartwheel orbit mode) to within plus or minus 1 deg. The MASC was a current-carrying coil mounted in the cover assembly. The magnetic field induced by the current interacted with the earth's magnetic field to provide the torque necessary to maintain a desired spin rate of 10.9 rpm. The satellite performed normally after lanuch. The APT system was turned operationally off on July 25, 1969, and reactivated on September 11, 1969. The spacecraft was deactivated on November 4, 1969.
11/10/2009
major_event
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Gemini 12 launch (1966); STS-5 launch (1982), first operational flight
Gemini 12 launch (1966); STS-5 launch (1982), first operational flight
11/11/2009
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STS-2 launch (1981); STS-74 launch (1995), 2nd MIR docking
STS-2 launch(1981); STS-74 launch (1995), 2nd MIR docking
11/12/2009
major_event
Jules Verne Adventure FIlm Festival/Apollo Celebration
Annual Film Festival and education outreach science event. This year's event will feature a tribute to the Apollo 11 Moon Landing with a performance of a specially commissioned symphonic piece entitled, "Moonlight". Buzz Aldrin will participate; NASA participation currently under review.
11/12/2009
major_event
Jules Verne Adventure FIlm Festival/Apollo Celebration
Annual Film Festival and education outreach science event. This year's event will feature a tribute to the Apollo 11 Moon Landing with a performance of a specially commissioned symphonic piece entitled, "Moonlight". Buzz Aldrin will participate; NASA participation currently under review.
11/13/2009
major_event
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HEAO 2 launch (1978); NATO 3-D launch (1984)
HEAO 2 launch(1978); NATO 3-D launch (1984)
11/13/2009
major_event
Jules Verne Adventure FIlm Festival/Apollo Celebration
Annual Film Festival and education outreach science event. This year's event will feature a tribute to the Apollo 11 Moon Landing with a performance of a specially commissioned symphonic piece entitled, "Moonlight". Buzz Aldrin will participate; NASA participation currently under review.
11/14/2009
major_event
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Apollo 12 Commemorative Launch Reenactment
Staffing event at New Mexico Museum of Space History, which is celebrating a yearlong recognition of the 40th anniversary of Apollo. Talking to attendees about the Orion launch abort tests. The event, which includes the launch of model rockets reflecting the history of White Sands Missile Range and of the Apollo Manned Spaceflight Program, will be highlighted by the special appearance of Shuttle Astronaut Mike Mullane.
11/14/2009
major_event
Apollo 40th at Virginia Air & Space Center
Apollo 40th Anniversary Event at the Virginia Air & Space Center (VASC). This is anniversary of Apollo 12 mission; VASC has the Apollo 12 Command Module on display. Former Astronauts Dick Gordon and Allen Bean invited; Chris Kraft confirmed.
11/14/2009
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STS-126 (ULF-2) (2008)
ISS Utilization and Logistics Flight
11/14/2009
major_event
Jules Verne Adventure FIlm Festival/Apollo Celebration
Annual Film Festival and education outreach science event. This year's event will feature a tribute to the Apollo 11 Moon Landing with a performance of a specially commissioned symphonic piece entitled, "Moonlight". Buzz Aldrin will participate; NASA participation currently under review.
11/15/2009
major_event
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Saturn SA-3 launch (1962); Skylab 4 launch (1973)
Saturn SA-3 launch(1962); Skylab 4 launch (1973)
11/16/2009
major_event
STS- 129 Space Shuttle Launch
Space shuttle Discovery will deliver components including two sparegyroscopes, two nitrogen tank assemblies, two pump modules, an ammoniatank assembly and a spare latching end effector for the station'srobotic arm to the International Space Station.
11/16/2009
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Ranger 2 launch (1961); NATO 3-C launch (1978); COBE launch (1989)
Ranger 2 launch (1961); NATO 3-C launch (1978); COBE launch (1989)
11/18/2009
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Swift Launch (2004)
Swift is a first-of-its-kind multi-wavelength observatory dedicated to the study of gamma-ray burst (GRB) science. Its three instruments will work together to observe GRBs and afterglows in the gamma ray, X-ray, ultraviolet, and optical wavebands. The main mission objectives for Swift are to: * Determine the origin of gamma-ray bursts * Classify gamma-ray bursts and search for new types * Determine how the blastwave evolves and interacts with the surroundings * Use gamma-ray bursts to study the early universe * Perform the first sensitive hard X-ray survey of the sky
11/20/2009
major_event
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Intrepid Apollo 40th Event
3-day celebration and EPO event centered around Apollo 12
11/20/2009
major_event
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NASA To Be Honored at Homestead Miami Speedway
On November 22 Homestead Miami Speedway will host "The Championship Race." During the weekend's events the track would like to honor NASA as their "Best of The Best" for 2009. The focus will be on the Apollo 40th Anniversary and tentatively includes Buzz Aldrin as Grand Marshall, Apollo 40th logo on the Pace Car (hood), space vehicle launch on jumbotron to start the race, video congrats from space to drivers and a NASA exhibit. The race is televised Nationally and has an expected attendance of more than 100,000. (Note: An SAA is currently being circulated)
11/20/2009
major_event
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Intrepid Apollo 40th Event
3-day celebration and EPO event centered around Apollo 12
11/21/2009
major_event
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NASA To Be Honored at Homestead Miami Speedway
On November 22 Homestead Miami Speedway will host "The Championship Race." During the weekend's events the track would like to honor NASA as their "Best of The Best" for 2009. The focus will be on the Apollo 40th Anniversary and tentatively includes Buzz Aldrin as Grand Marshall, Apollo 40th logo on the Pace Car (hood), space vehicle launch on jumbotron to start the race, video congrats from space to drivers and a NASA exhibit. The race is televised Nationally and has an expected attendance of more than 100,000. (Note: An SAA is currently being circulated)
11/21/2009
major_event
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Intrepid Apollo 40th Event
3-day celebration and EPO event centered around Apollo 12
11/22/2009
major_event
Full Details
NASA To Be Honored at Homestead Miami Speedway
On November 22 Homestead Miami Speedway will host "The Championship Race." During the weekend's events the track would like to honor NASA as their "Best of The Best" for 2009. The focus will be on the Apollo 40th Anniversary and tentatively includes Buzz Aldrin as Grand Marshall, Apollo 40th logo on the Pace Car (hood), space vehicle launch on jumbotron to start the race, video congrats from space to drivers and a NASA exhibit. The race is televised Nationally and has an expected attendance of more than 100,000. (Note: An SAA is currently being circulated)
11/22/2009
major_event
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TIROS 2 launch (1960); STS-113 launch (2002)
TIROS 2 launch(1960); STS-113 launch (2002)
11/23/2009
major_event
Full Details
STS-44 Launch (1991)
A dedicated Department of Defense mission. The unclassified payload included a Defense Support Program (DSP) satellite and attached Inertial Upper Stage (IUS), which were deployed on flight day one. Cargo bay and middeck payloads: Interim Operational Contamination Monitor (IOCM); Terra Scout; Military Man in Space (M88-1); Air Force Maui Optical System (AMOS); Cosmic Radiation Effects and Activation Monitor (CREAM); Shuttle Activation Monitor (SAM); Radiation Monitoring Equipment III (RME III); Visual Function Tester-1 (VFT-1); Ultraviolet Plume Instrument (UVPI). Bioreactor Flow and Particle Trajectory experiment; and Extended Duration Orbiter Medical Project, a series of investigations in support of Extended Duration Orbiter.
11/24/2009
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Centaur 2 Launch (1963)
This Atlas Centaur 2 launch vehicle was used for a performance and structural integrity test. It was instrumented with 2000 pounds of sensors, equipment, and telemetry. First known ignition of liquid hydrogen-fueled rocket engines in space.
11/27/2009
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MA-5 (Chimp
11/29/61, 3 hours and 22min after launch. The capsule was spotted by a P5M search airplane at an altitude of 5000 ft. Ships Stormes and Compton were contacted and they moved into position from a distance of 30 miles away. The "Stormes" arrived in the area 1 hour and 15 minutes after landing and hauled the capsule aboard via its lanyard, cracking the onboard window.Enos, the orbiting chimpanzee fared well. He withstood a peak of 6.8g during booster-engine acceleration and 7.6g with the rush of the sustainer engine.
11/29/2009
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OAO-B launch (1970); STS-97 launch (2000), 6th ISS flight
OAO-B launch(1970); STS-97 launch (2000), 6th ISS flight
11/30/2009
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STS-61 Launch-1st HST Servicing Mission (1993)
The final shuttle flight of 1993 was one of most challenging andcomplex manned missions ever attempted. During a record fiveback-to-back space walks totaling 35 hours and 28 minutes, two teams ofastronauts completed the first servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope(HST). In many instances, tasks were completed sooner than expected anda few contingencies that did arise were handled smoothly.
12/2/2009
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Cassini Titan Flyby
Spacecraft Cassini will do a flyby of the Saturn moon Titan
12/5/2009
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HEOS 1 launch (1968); STS-108 launch (2001)
HEOS 1 launch(1968); STS-108 launch (2001)
12/5/2009
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WISE Launch
WISE Mission Launch
12/7/2009
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Launch of TV-0 (1956), the first Vanguard; NATO 4B launch (1993)
Launch of TV-0 (1956), the first Vanguard; NATO 4B launch (1993)
12/8/2009
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STS-116 Launch (2006)
During Space Shuttle Discovery's mission to the International Space Station, the STS-116 crew continued construction of the outpost adding the P5 spacer truss segment during the first of four spacewalks. The next two spacewalks rewired the station's power system, preparing it to support the station's final configuration and the arrival of additional science modules. A fourth spacewalk was added to allow the crew to retract solar arrays that had folded improperly.Discovery also delivered a new crew member and more than two tons of equipment and supplies to the station, most of which were located in the SPACEHAB cargo module. Almost two tons of items no longer needed on the station returned to Earth with STS-116.
12/9/2009
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Atlas Centaur 4 launch (1964); NOAA 1 launch (1970); Nimbus 5 launch (1975)
Atlas Centaur 4 launch(1964); NOAA 1 launch(1970); Nimbus 5 launch (1975)
12/11/2009
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RCA SATCOM 1 launch (1975); STS-74 launch (1995)
RCA SATCOM 1 launch(1975); STS-74 launch (1995)
12/12/2009
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Biosatellite 1 Launch (1966)
Biosatellite 1 carried biological specimens to determine the effects of the space environment on life processes. The reentry vehicle separated but the rocket failed, leaving the capsule in orbit. No useful scientific data were obtained.
12/14/2009
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Pioneer 6 Launch (1966)
Pioneer 6 was the first in a series of solar-orbiting, spin-stabilized, solar-cell and battery-powered satellites designed to obtain measurements on a continuing basis of interplanetary phenomena from widely separated points in space. Its experiments studied the positive ions and electrons in the solar wind, the interplanetary electron density (radio propagation experiment), solar and galactic cosmic rays, and the interplanetary magnetic field. Its main antenna was a high-gain directional antenna. The spacecraft was spin-stabilized at about 60 rpm, and the spin axis was perpendicular to the ecliptic plane and pointed toward the south ecliptic pole. By ground command, one of five bit rates, one of four data formats, and one of four operating modes could be selected. The five bit rates were 512, 256, 64, 16, and 8 bps. Three of the four data formats contained primarily scientific data and consisted of 32 seven-bit words per frame. One scientific data format was for use at the two highest bit rates. Another was for use at the three lowest bit rates. The third contained data from only the radio propagation experiment. The fourth data format contained mainly engineering data. The four operating modes were real time, telemetry store, duty cycle store, and memory readout. In the real-time mode, data were sampled and transmitted directly (without storage) as specified by the data format and bit rate selected. In the telemetry store mode, data were stored and transmitted simultaneously in the format and at the bit rate selected. In the duty-cycle store mode, a single frame of scientific data was collected and stored at a rate of 512 bps. The time interval between the collection and storage of successive frames could be varied by ground command between 2 and 17 min to provide partial data coverage for periods up to 19 h, as limited by the bit storage capacity. In the memory readout mode, data were read out at whatever bit rate was appropriate to the satellite distance from the earth. Although the spacecraft has not been regularly tracked for science data return in recent years, a successful telemetry contact was made on 8 Dec. 2000 to celebrate 35 years of continuous operation since launch.
12/16/2009
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Wright Brothers First Flight (1903)
On December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the Wright Flyer became the first powered, heavier-than-air machine to achieve controlled, sustained flight with a pilot aboard.
12/17/2009
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Intelsat 3 F-2 launch (1968); Symphonie 1 launch (1974); TERRA launch (1999)
Intelsat 3 F-2 launch(1968); Symphonie 1 launch(1974); TERRA launch (1999)
12/18/2009
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ACRIMSAT Launch (1999)
The ACRIMSAT Mission will measure Total Solar Irradiance (TSI) during its five-year mission life. The ACRIMSAT spacecraft, carrying the ACRIM III instrument, will be secondary payload on a Taurus vehicle scheduled to launch in December 1999. The instrument, third in a series of long-term solar-monitoring tools built for NASA by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will continue to extend the database first created by ACRIM I, which was launched in 1980 on the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) spacecraft. ACRIM II followed on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) in 1991.
12/20/2009
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Apollo 8 Launch (1968)
Demonstrate crew/space vehicle/mission support facilities during manned Saturn V/CSM mission. Demonstrate translunar injection, CSM navigation, communications, and midcourse corrections. Assess CSM consumables and passive thermal control. Demonstrate CSM performance in cislunar and lunar orbit environment. Demonstrate communications and tracking at lunar distances. Return high-resolution photographs of proposed Apollo landing sites and locations of scientific interest. All mission objectives were achieved.
12/21/2009
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TIROS 8 Launch (1963)
TIROS 8 (Television and InfraRed Observation Satellite) was designed to develop improved capabilities for obtained and using TV cloudcover pictures from satellites. The spin-stabilized spacecraft was in the form of an 18-sided right prism, 107 cm across opposite corners and 56 cm high, with a reinforced baseplate carrying most of the subsystems and a cover assembly (hat). Electrical power was supplied to the spacecraft by approximately 9000 1- by 2-cm silicon solar cells mounted on the cover assemby and by 21 nickel-cadmium batteries. A single monopole antenna for reception of ground commands extended from the top of the cover assembly. A pair of crossed-dipole telemetry antennas (235 Mhz) projected down and diagonally out from the baseplate. Mounted around the edge of the baseplate were five diametrically opposed paris of small solid-fuel thrusters that maintained the satellite spin rate between 8 and 12 rpm. Proper attitude was maintained to within a 1- to 2-deg accuracy by use of a magnetic control device consisting of 250 coil of wire wound around the outer surface of the spacecraft. The interaction by the induced magnetic field in the spacecraft and the earth's magnetic field provided the torque necessary for attitude control. TIROS 8 was the first satellite to be equipped with Automatic Picture Transmission (APT) capabilities. The APT experiment provided real-time earth-cloud pictures taken by the satellite to any properly equipped ground receiving station. In addition to an APT camera system, the satellite carried one wide-angle (104 deg) TV camera. Pictures taken by the TV camera were transmitted directly or were stored in a tape recorder on board for subsequent playback, depending on whether the spacecraft was within or beyond communication range of either of two ground receiving stations. The spacecraft performed normally after launch. Over 50 ground stations participated in the APT experiment, which was terminated by the end of April 1964 to degradation of the APT camera. The wide-angle TV camera transmitted useful data until February 12, 1966. The satellite was deactivated on July 1, 1967, after being left on for an additional time period for engineering purposes.
12/21/2009
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