ht in NASA's the Space Shuttle program, and
the disastrous final flight of Space Shuttle Columbia. The mission
launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on January 16, 2003, and
during its 16 days in orbit conducted a multitude of international
scientific experiments.
The seven member crew (from left to
right) were mission specialist Kalpana Chawla, mission specialist Laurel
Clarks, pilot William McCool, Commander Rick Husband,
mission specialist David Brown, mission specialist Michael Anderson and
Israeli payload specialist Ilan Ramon were killed on February 1, 2003
when Columbia disintegrated during re-entry into the atmosphere. The
Columbia Accident Investigation Board determined the failure was caused
by a piece of foam that broke off during launch and damaged the thermal
protection system (reinforced carbon-carbon panels and thermal
protection tiles) on the leading edge of the orbiter's left wing. During
re-entry the damaged wing slowly overheated and came apart, eventually
leading to loss of control and disintegration of the vehicle.
(credit: NASA-KSC)
Apolo 10, May 25, 1969
Life aboard the Apollo 10 Command Module, Commander (CDR) Thomas P.
Stafford during a shaving exercise. Apollo 10 was the fourth manned
mission in NASA's Apollo space program. Launched on May 18, 1969, it was
the F mission: a "dress rehearsal" for the first Moon landing, testing
all of the components and procedures, just short of actually landing.
The Lunar Module (LM) came to within 8.4 nautical miles (15.6 km) of the
lunar surface, the point where the powered descent to the lunar surface
would begin. Its success enabled the first landing to be attempted on
Apollo 11 in July, 1969.
(credit: NASA-ALSJ)
Apollo 11, May 14, 1969
Buzz Aldrin is seen holding a model of the Lunar Module during a press
conference, Apollo 11 was the spaceflight that landed the first humans
on the Moon, Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, on July 20, 1969,
at 20:18 UTC. Armstrong became the first to step onto the lunar surface
six hours later on July 21 at 02:56 UTC. Armstrong spent about two and a
half hours outside the spacecraft, Aldrin slightly less, and together
they collected 47.5 pounds (21.5 kg) of lunar material for return to
Earth. The third member of the mission, Michael Collins, piloted the
command spacecraft alone in lunar orbit until Armstrong and Aldrin
returned to it just under a day later for the trip back to Earth.
(credit: NASA-ALSJ)
Apollo 11, April 18, 1969
Apollo 11 Commander Neil Armstrong in the spacesuit as he will appear
on the lunar surface at the Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston, TX.
Apollo 11 was the spaceflight that landed the first humans on the Moon,
Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, on July 20, 1969, at 20:18
UTC. Armstrong became the first to step onto the lunar surface six hours
later on July 21 at 02:56 UTC. Armstrong spent about two and a half
hours outside the spacecraft, Aldrin slightly less, and together they
collected 47.5 pounds (21.5 kg) of lunar material for return to Earth.
The third member of the mission, Michael Collins, piloted the command
spacecraft alone in lunar orbit until Armstrong and Aldrin returned to
it just under a day later for the trip back to Earth.
(credit: NASA-ALSJ)
Gemini 4, May 29, 1965
In the elevator on the way to the White Room at Pad 19 for simulations
on May 29, 1965, astronauts James A. McDivitt (right), command pilot,
and Edward H. White II, pilot, are shown with suit technicians Clyde
Teague (right center) and Joe Schmitt. The National Aeronautics and
Space Administration's two-man Gemini-4 mission is scheduled for 62
revolutions in four days. The backup crew, astronauts Frank Borman and
James A. Lovell Jr. (both out of frame), will replace the prime crew if
either crewman should become ineligible for the flight.
(credit: NASA-KSC)
STS-77, May 29, 1996
Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) Coordinator Larry Parker keeps close
watch during the landing of the orbiter Endeavour on Runway 33.
Endeavour touched down at 7:09:18 a.m. EDT, May 29, 1996, bringing to a
successful close Space Shuttle Mission STS-77. As SLF coordinator Parker
oversees all aircraft landings at KSC from the NASA tower, located near
the midpoint of the three-mile long Shuttle runway. During an orbiter
end-of-mission landing, he monitors all traffic
in the immediate airspace to insure that all is in readiness for the
return of the orbiter from space. This includes providing air traffic
control support to the Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA) being flown by an
astronaut monitoring area weather, the search and rescue helicopters
which are stationed at the SLF ready to assist in the event of a
contingency, and the NASA security helicopter patrolling the airspace.
Communication with the orbiter, however, is handled by Mission Control
in Houston. Parker's job also includes overseeing the many ground-based
vehicles and personnel who make up the Orbiter Recovery Convoy team that
moves onto the runway after landing to safe the orbiter and help the
astronauts egress the vehicle. Parker is an employee of KSC Base
Operations Contractor EG&G Florida. This photo was taken with a
35-mm Canon camera and a 20-mm lens, and appears courtesy of Chris
O'Meara of The Associated Press in cooperation with NASA.
(credit: NASA-Chris O'Meara)
Apollo 15, May 27, 1971
Apollo 15 commander David Scott practices with lunar surface drill,
Apollo 15 lunar surface operations were conducted from July 30 to August
2, 1971, by Apollo 15 Commander David Scott and lunar module Pilot
James Irwin, who used the first lunar rover to make three exploratory
trips away from their landing site at the base of the Apennine
Mountains, near Hadley Rille. They collected a total of 77 kg (170 lb)
of lunar surface material during 18½ hours outside their lunar module,
Falcon.
(credit: NASA-ALSJ)
LIFT-OFF!
STS-96, May 27, 1999
Dawn view of Discovery's liftoff from Launch Pad 39B at 6:49:42 a.m. on
May 27, 1999, STS-96 was a Space Shuttle mission to the International
Space Station (ISS) flown by Space Shuttle Discovery, and the first
shuttle flight to dock with the International Space Station. The shuttle
carried the Spacehab module in the payload, filled with cargo for
station outfitting. STS-96 launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida,
on 27 May 1999 at 06:49:42 A...
Apollo 10, May 26, 1969
The Apollo 10 astronauts Thomas P. Stafford (center), John W. Young
(left) and Eugene A. Cernan (waving) are greeted by Donald E. Stullken
(lower left) of the Manned Space Center's (MSC) recovery operations
team. The Apollo 10 crew splashed down in the South Pacific recovery
area to conclude a successful eight-day lunar orbit mission. Splashdown
occurred at 11:53 a.m. (CDT), May 26, 1969, about 400 miles east of
American Samoa and about four miles from the prime recovery ship, USS
Princeton.
(credit: NASA-JSC)
Apolo 10, May 26, 1969
A member of the Apollo 10 crew is hoisted up to a helicopter from the
prime recovery ship, USS Princeton. Splashdown occurred at 11:53 a.m.,
May 26, 1969, about 400 miles east of American Samoa.
(credit: NASA-JSC)
Apollo 10, May 26, 1969
The Apollo 10 spacecraft, with astronauts Thomas P. Stafford, John W.
Young and Eugene A. Cernan onboard, approaches touchdown in the South
Pacific recovery area to conclude a successful eight-day lunar orbit
mission. Splashdown occurred at 11:53 a.m. (CDT), May 26, 1969, about
400 miles east of American Samoa, and about four miles from the prime
recovery ship, USS Princeton.
Hi-res: reshttp://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/apollo/apollo10/hires/s69-36594.jpg
STS-132, May 26, 2010
Space shuttle Atlantis' underside is visible as it approaches Runway 33
at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in
Florida. Landing was at 8:48 a.m. (EDT) on May 26, 2010, completing the
12-day STS-132 mission to the International Space Station. Main gear
touchdown was at 8:48:11 a.m., followed by nose gear touchdown at
8:48:21 a.m. and wheelstop at 8:49:18 a.m. Onboard are NASA astronauts
Ken Ham, commander; Tony Antonelli, pilot; Garrett Reisman, Michael
Good, Steve Bowen and Piers Sellers, all mission specialists. The
six-member STS-132 crew carried the Russian-built Mini Research Module 1
(MRM1) to the orbital complex. STS-132 is the 34th shuttle mission to
the station, the 132nd shuttle mission overall and the last planned
flight for Atlantis.
(credit: NASA-KSC)
STS-132, May 26, 2010
Space shuttle Atlantis nears touchdown on Runway 33 at the Shuttle
Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Landing was
at 8:48 a.m. (EDT) on May 26, 2010, completing the 12-day STS-132
mission to the International Space Station. Main gear touchdown was at
8:48:11 a.m., followed by nose gear touchdown at 8:48:21 a.m. and
wheelstop at 8:49:18 a.m. Onboard are NASA astronauts Ken Ham,
commander; Tony Antonelli, pilot; Garrett Reisman, Michael Good, Steve
Bowen and Piers Sellers, all mission specialists. The six-member STS-132
crew carried the Russian-built Mini Research Module 1 (MRM1) to the
orbital complex. STS-132 is the 34th shuttle mission to the station, the
132nd shuttle mission overall and the last planned flight for Atlantis.
(credit: NASA-KSC)
Apollo 10, May 23, 1969
The ascent stage of the Apollo 10 Lunar Module (LM) is photographed
from the Command Module prior to docking in lunar orbit. The LM is
approaching the Command and Service Modules from below. The LM descent
stage had already been jettisoned. The lunar surface in the background
is near, but beyond the eastern limb of the moon as viewed from Earth
(about 120 degrees east longitude). The red/blue diagonal line is the
spacecraft window.
(credit: NASA-JSC)
STS-7, May 9, 1983
At NASA's Johnson Space Center, astronaut Sally K. Ride takes a break
from training as a mission specialist for NASA's STS-7 spaceflight in
Earth orbit.
(credit: NASA-JSC)
