Video: 'American In Orbit - Stage III' (launch at 1:12:50)

(Wednesday, October 3, 1962, 8:15:12-5:28:22 p.m. EDT; during the crewed Mercury-Atlas 8 (MA-8) space mission, part of NASA’s Mercury program) — Astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr. was launched into space this morning from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and whizzed around the earth six times through space with robot precision in the Sigma 7 spacecraft before landing safely in the Pacific Ocean. Continue reading Wally Schirra launched into space from Cape Canaveral for longest U.S. manned orbital flight yet 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 3 1962) →

Video: 'MERCURY-ATLAS 7 - Liftoff to Orbit (1962/05/24) - Full Audio - Scott Carpenter, Aurora 7'

(Thursday, May 24, 1962, 12:45:16 UTC/8:45:16 a.m. EDT; during the Space Race) — Astronaut Scott Carpenter blasted off from Launch Complex 14 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Cape Canaveral, Florida, this morning aboard his Aurora 7 spacecraft, becoming the second American to orbit the Earth, the fourth American in space (following Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom, and John Glenn) and the sixth human to fly in space. Continue reading Astronaut Scott Carpenter becomes second American to orbit Earth 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 24 1962) →

Video: 'Apollo 16 Remastered (50th Anniversary) [4K]' (Apr. 22, 1972, at 1:40:56)

(Saturday, April 22, 1972, 11:33:35 a.m. EST; during the Apollo 16 mission to the Moon) — Apollo 16 explorers drove halfway up a Moon mountain today, dodging huge boulders, to reach the highest point on the Moon ever visited by man. They were pleased with the accomplishment but disappointed in not finding more crystalline rock. Continue reading Apollo 16 astronauts drive up mountain, collect rocks in six-mile trip on the Moon 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 22 1972) →

Video: 'Apollo 16 Remastered *Season 6 Premiere* [4K]' (Apr. 21, 1972, at 1:08:20)

(Friday, April 21, 1972, 11:47:28 a.m. EST; during the Apollo 16 mission to the Moon) — American astronauts John W. Young and Charles Duke became the ninth and tenth persons to walk on the Moon today after the lunar module Orion had landed as part of the Apollo 16 mission. Continue reading Apollo 16 astronauts begin seven-hour walk, drive on the Moon 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 21 1972) →

Video: 'APOLLO 16 NEWS REPORTS ( APRIL - MAY 1972)' (Apr. 20, 1972, at 25:14)

(Thursday, April 20, 1972, 9:23:35 p.m. EST; during the Apollo 16 mission to the Moon) — After hours of uncertainty and concern, the astronauts of Apollo 16 finally got the go-ahead and descended to a delayed but successful landing tonight in the mountains of the Moon.

Commander John Young and Lunar Module Pilot Charles Duke steered their landing craft, Orion, to a smooth touchdown on a rolling, boulder?strewn plateau surrounded by mountains, craters, and volcanic-like terrain.

Their landing, the nation’s fifth in three years, was delayed nearly six hours when the command ship, piloted by Command Module Pilot Ken Mattingly, developed slight oscillations in its rocket engine. These were caused by a malfunction of its secondary guidance system.

Video: 'Apollo 16 - Landing in the Descartes Highlands - April 20, 1972'

But, if anything, the delay sharpened the two astronauts’ excitement upon their arrival at the region known as Descartes, after a nearby crater. Their landing was just a few hundred feet off the exact target.

Duke looked out Orion‘s windows at sights only eight other men have ever seen and exclaimed, “Well, Orion is finally here, Houston. fantastic.”

Because of the delay — the landing was originally scheduled for 3:41 p.m. EST — the first extravehicular activity (EVA), or moonwalk, was delayed until Apr. 21, 1972, at 11:47 a.m. EST.

Video: 'NBC NEWS - APOLLO 16 LAUNCH (4-16-1972)' (launch is at 45:27 into video)

(Sunday, April 16, 1972, 12:54 p.m. EST) — Apollo 16, the tenth crewed mission in the United States Apollo space program, administered by NASA, and the fifth and next-to-last to land on the Moon, launched on the thrust of a 36-story Saturn V rocket this afternoon from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, crewed by Commander John Young, Lunar Module Pilot Charles Duke, and Command Module Pilot Ken Mattingly. Continue reading Apollo 16 launches toward the Moon from Kennedy Space Center 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 16 1972) →

Video: 'Friendship 7 (Full Mission 01)'

(Tuesday, February 20, 1962, 9:47:39 a.m.-2:43:02 p.m. EST) — The United States placed an astronaut into orbit for the first time today as John Glenn, 40, was sent aloft by an Atlas LV-3B launch vehicle lifting off from Launch Complex 14 at Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard the Mercury spacecraft Friendship 7. Continue reading ‘Godspeed, John Glenn’: Astronaut becomes first American to orbit Earth 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 20 1962) →

Video: 'Enos the Chimpanzee travels to space on NASA's Mercury Atlas 5 1960 video'

(Wednesday, November 29, 1961, 10:07 a.m. EST) — The U.S. successfully placed a chimpanzee, Enos, into orbit around the Earth today, clearing the way for the first American astronaut to break the pull of Earth’s gravity. Continue reading Enos the chimp orbits Earth, paves way for U.S. to send human aloft 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 29 1961) →

Video: 'What Did Voyager 2 See During its Journey Out Of The Solar System? 1977-2019 (4k UHD)' (Aug. 25, 1981, at 3:07)

(Tuesday, August 25, 1981, Voyager’s closest approach to Saturn came at 11:24:05 p.m. EDT) — Sweeping out of the interplanetary darkness and over the sparkling lights of Saturn’s rings, Voyager 2 kept its rendezvous tonight with the giant planet and its retinue of moons and sent back data and pictures of worlds as perplexing as they are dazzling. Continue reading U.S. spacecraft Voyager 2 comes within 63,000 miles of Saturn’s cloud cover 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 25 1981) →