Monthly Archives: April 2012

Grant writes to his wife about being removed from field command 150 years ago today (1862)

Video: April 25, 1862 (at 47:09)

(Friday, April 25, 1862, during the American Civil War) — U.S. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant wrote his wife Julia today from Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, to inform her that he had been removed from field command two weeks before by Gen. Henry W. Halleck after the frightful losses (including nearly 3,500 deaths) in the victory of the Battle of Shiloh.

First satellite relay of a TV signal 50 years ago today (1962)


Video: 'Echo 1 Launched Communications Revolution'

(Tuesday, April 24, 1962) — The Massachusetts Institute of Technology achieved the first satellite relay of a television signal today, using NASA’s Echo 1 balloon satellite to bounce a video image of the letters “M.I.T.” transmitted from Camp Parks, California, to Westford, Massachusetts.

Apollo 16 crew completes linkup; Moon explorers headed for home 40 years ago this hour (1972)


Video: Apollo 16 on Apr. 23, 1972 (at 19:31)

(Sunday, April 23, 1972, 10:35 p.m. EST)Apollo 16 explorers rocketed away from the Moon today at 8:26 p.m. EST and sped into Moon orbit with rocks geologists believe were formed by early lunar volcanoes, thus achieving their primary goal. The men then linked with the command ship at 10:35 p.m. EST and began preparing for the long trip home.

Earlier in the day, John W. Young and Charles M. Duke, Jr., conducted a third and final expedition on the lunar surface for 5 hours and 40 minutes, driving their Moon buggy at a speed of 11 miles per hour.