Category Archives: space exploration

Three Apollo astronauts die in fire during test 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 27 1967)


Video: 'Apollo 1 tragedy: From the Archives'

(Friday, January 27, 1967, 6:31:04.2 p.m. EST/23:31:04.2 GMT) — The three-man crew of astronauts for the Apollo 1 mission were killed tonight at Cape Kennedy, Florida, in a flash fire during a test aboard the huge spacecraft designed to take man to the moon. Continue reading Three Apollo astronauts die in fire during test 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 27 1967)

Mars Pathfinder speeds toward red planet 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 4 1996)


Video: 'USA: MARS PATHFINDER SPACECRAFT FINALLY LAUNCHED'

(Wednesday, December 4, 1996, 1:58:07 a.m. EST) — The unmanned American spacecraft Mars Pathfinder lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, this morning and began speeding toward the red planet on a seven-month, 310 million-mile odyssey to deliver the first remotely controlled roving vehicle designed to traverse the landscape of another planet. Continue reading Mars Pathfinder speeds toward red planet 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 4 1996)

Astronauts chase Agena on final Gemini flight 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 11 1966)


Video: 'Gemini XII Mission 1966 NASA (Gemini 12) Jim Lovell & Buzz Aldrin'

(Friday, November 11, 1966, at 20:46:33 UTC/3:46 p.m. EST; during Project Gemini)Gemini 12 blasted off today on a four-day mission with astronauts James A. Lovell and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. aboard, steering their spacecraft to a successful rendezvous and linkup with an Agena target vehicle. Continue reading Astronauts chase Agena on final Gemini flight 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 11 1966)

Viking 1 makes first successful landing on Mars 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (July 20 1976)


Video: 'Viking I Lands on Mars, ABC News, July 20, 1976'

(Tuesday, July 20, 1976, 11:53:06 UTC/7:53:06 a.m. EDT) — An explorer from Earth, the robot craft Viking 1, made the first successful landing on Mars today and transmitted spectacular photographs of a rocky, wind-scoured desert plain, the site for the first direct search for life on another world. Continue reading Viking 1 makes first successful landing on Mars 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (July 20 1976)

Surveyor 1 heads for soft moon landing 50 years ago this hour (May 30 1966)


Video: 'AC-10: Surveyor 1 launch (30.5.66)'

(Monday, May 30, 1966, 14:41:01 UTC/10:41:01 a.m. EDT)Surveyor 1, an unmanned spacecraft making the nation’s first attempt at a soft landing on the moon, streaked toward its target today with bullseye accuracy.

It carried a camera that will send thousands of pictures of the moon’s surface back to earth, if all does well.

Gemini 8 launches from Cape Kennedy 50 years ago this hour (Mar 16 1966)


Video: '1966: Gemini 8 (NASA)'

(Wednesday, March 16, 1966, 16:41:02 UTC)Gemini 8 was launched today from Cape Kennedy, Florida, with astronauts Neil Armstrong and David Scott on a mission to rendezvous and dock with Agena, a target vehicle in orbit.

Although the docking was successful, the joined vehicles began spinning, forcing Gemini to disconnect and abort the flight.

Soviets hit Venus, linking man to the planets 50 years ago this hour (Mar 1 1966)


Video: 'Venera 3'

(Tuesday, March 1, 1966, at 6:56 UTC/9:56 a.m. MSK) — The Soviet space probe Venera 3 crashed today on Venus, becoming the first spacecraft to land on another planet’s surface.

Although it was able to transmit to Earth, its data capture system had failed earlier in transit and was unable to record any data.

Russians launch space station Mir 30 years ago this hour (Feb 20 1986)


Video: 'Mir Space Station Launch 1986'

(Thursday, February 20, 1986, 12:28:23 a.m. MSK) — The Soviet Union today sent up the core module of space station Mir (Peace), which would serve as a permanently manned base for the next generation in space.

Mir stayed in orbit until 2001, when it was brought down in a controlled descent, breaking up in the atmosphere.