On this day (February 11) in 1997, Space Shuttle Discovery launched on STS-82, the second mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The crew of six serviced the telescope during five spacewalks over the course of five days—with pairs of astronauts taking turns outside. Spacewalks 1, 3, & 5 were done by Mark Lee and Steve Smith. Spacewalks 2 & 4 were carried out by Greg Harbaugh and Joe Tanner. After the overhaul was complete, the crew released Hubble back into its own orbit in February 19.
Hubble would see Shuttle Discovery again almost three years later, when the crew of STS-103 arrived for the next servicing mission in December 1999.
Watch a servicing spacewalk here: https://youtu.be/J53_l6N_GJk?t=1675
On this day (February 10) in 2009, the Iridium-33 and Kosmos-2251 satellites collided—the first known collision between two artificial satellites. Iridium 33 was a operational communications satellite operated by Iridium Communications LLC (a U.S.-based company). Kosmos 2251 was an inoperative Russian military communications satellite. The collision (which took place about 490 miles above northern Siberia) created thousands of pieces of debris. On March 24, 2012, a piece of ...
Ver más
National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Smithsonian
Remembering Edgar D. Mitchell (1930-2016): curator Jennifer Levasseur recounts the career of the Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 14: http://s.si.edu/1PjKfxa
Image...
Ver más
On this day in 1980, the Navstar-5 or Global Positioning System (GPS) 1-5 launched. Navstar-5 helped establish the foundation of GPS technology, which we now use frequently on our phones and computers. 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. Carrying instruments that can detect nuclear detonation, the technology is also considered essential for nuclear deterrence...
Ver más
National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution
Today in 1974: Skylab 4 crew returned from the third and final mission to the first US space station in this Command Module: http://bit.ly/Skylab4_Command_Module
See it on display at our Museum in Washington, DC.
On this day in 1992, the Ulysses probe arrived at Jupiter to perform a swing-by maneuver in order to establish an orbit, non-coplanar with the Earth, around the Sun. The Ulysses mission was designed to study the Sun from its poles, a vantage point not often accessed, for 5 years. Exceeding all expectations, the Ulysses collected invaluable data on the heliosphere for 20 years, allowing scientists to map previously inaccessible parts of the heliosphere. Though not its primary objective, the Jupiter flyby led to significant discoveries; especially about the magnetic field of the largest planet in our solar system. (Read more about the findings at Jupiter: http://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/ulysses/jupiter-flyby )
Learn more here: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/ulysses/indepth
NASA's Stardust mission launched on this day (February 7) in 1999. The primary goal of the mission was to collect samples from the Comet Wild 2 and return them to the Earth. The team had expected the samples to contain materials from the formation of the early solar system, preserved in ice for billions of years. Indeed, researchers found what they expected, but with a surprise: Comet Wild 2 had formed under extremely hot conditions. It turns out that comets are not only made up of the ice from the outer solar system; but, also materials formed near the Sun, in an environment hot enough to evaporate bricks.
Learn more here: http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html
On this day in 1927, Gerard K. O’Neill (1927-1992) was born. O’Neill—physicist, author, inventor, space activist—was best known for his soaring ambitions for space colonization. He developed plans for building power plants in space and mining facilities on the Moon. In June 1975, he led a ten-week study of permanent space habitats at NASA's Ames Research Center. He later shifted his efforts toward privately funded space manufacturing and development. O’Neill’s work and passion for space colonization have had a significant and lasting impact on space development plans to this day.
Learn more about space settlement here: http://settlement.arc.nasa.gov/
On this day (February 5) in 1974, Mariner 10 flew by Venus—returning the 1st close-up images of our nearest neighbor. Data from the Mariner 10 helped us gain a better understanding the acid clouds of Venus. Passing Venus, Mariner 10 used the pull of Venus’s gravity to help it reach Mercury—making it the first spacecraft to do so. During the Mercury encounter Mariner 10 confirmed that the planet lacks an atmosphere and is cratered much like the Moon. After the unprecedented two-planet mission Mariner 10 wound up in an orbit around the Sun. Last contact was in March 1975.
See Mariner 10’s images of Venus and Mercury here:http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/Mariner%2B10
Astronaut Edward H. White II, pilot for the Gemini-Titan 4 (GT-4) spaceflight, floats in the zero-gravity of space in this image from June 3, 1965, as he makes the first U.S. spacewalk. White wears a specially designed spacesuit. His face is shaded by a gold-plated visor to protect him from unfiltered rays of the sun. In his right hand he carries a Hand-Held Self-Maneuvering Unit (HHSMU) that gives him control over his movements in space. White also wears an emergency oxygen ...
Ver más
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario