Category Archives: space exploration

Soviet probe achieves first soft landing on moon 50 years ago this hour (Feb 3 1966)


Video: 'The Luna 9 Story - Space Vehicle Lands On The Moon (1966)'

(Thursday, February 3, 1966, 9:45 p.m. MSK/1:45 p.m. EST) — The Soviet probe Luna 9 today became the first man-made object to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, or any planetary body other than Earth, and to transmit photographic data to Earth from the surface of another planetary body.

Reagan postpones State of the Union Message to address Challenger disaster 30 years ago this hour (Jan 28 1986)


Video: 'Challenger: President Reagan's Challenger Disaster Speech - 1/28/86'

(Tuesday, January 28, 1986, 5:00 p.m. EST) — U.S. President Ronald Reagan, saying “today is a day for mourning and remembering,” postponed the State of the Union speech he had planned for tonight because of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. Continue reading Reagan postpones State of the Union Message to address Challenger disaster 30 years ago this hour (Jan 28 1986)

Space Shuttle Challenger explodes after liftoff, killing all seven astronauts on board 30 years ago this hour (Jan 28 1986)


Video: 'Space Shuttle Challenger Explosion LIVE TV'

(Tuesday, January 28, 1986, 11:39:13 a.m. EST/16:39:13 UTC) — Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated 73 seconds after launch today, killing the crew of seven astronauts, including schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe. Continue reading Space Shuttle Challenger explodes after liftoff, killing all seven astronauts on board 30 years ago this hour (Jan 28 1986)

First man-made contact with the moon made 70 years ago this hour (Jan 10 1946)


Video: 'Radar Makes Round Trip To Moon 1946-01-31 Universal Newsreel Project Diana Earth-Moon-Earth'

(Thursday, January 10, 1946, 11:58 a.m. EST) — The first man-made contact with the moon was made today as radar signals transmitted by the U.S. Army Signal Corps from a laboratory in Belmar, New Jersey, as part of Project Diana were bounced off the lunar surface, measuring its exact distance from the Earth (a mean of 238,857 miles or 384,403 kilometers), and proving that communication is possible between Earth and outer space.

Gemini 7 team is orbited for a flight of 2 weeks and rendezvous in space 50 years ago this hour (Dec 4 1965)


Video: 'Gemini 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 Launches: Cape Kennedy 1965 US Air Force Eastern Test Range; Titan IIIC...' (Dec. 4, 1965, at 24:43)

(Saturday, December 4, 1965, 19:30:03 UTC) — The United States today launched Gemini 7 with Air Force Lt. Col. Frank Borman and Navy Cmdr. James A. Lovell aboard on a two-week mission.

While Gemini 7 was in orbit, its sister ship, Gemini 6A, was launched on Dec. 15, 1965, on a one-day mission; the two spacecraft were able to rendezvous within a foot of each other.

Gemini 5 blasts off for eight-day stay in space 50 years ago this hour (Aug 21 1965)


Video: 'Another Step Towards Moon (1965)'

(Saturday, August 21, 1965, 13:59:59 UTC)Gemini 5, carrying astronauts Gordon Cooper and Charles “Pete” Conrad, blasted off today from Cape Canaveral, Florida, for a record eight-day trip in space, overcoming a few seconds of pogo (axial oscillation of the rocket) during first stage flight.

Challenger limps into a low orbit as an engine fails 30 years ago this hour (July 29 1985)


Video: 'STS-51F launch, abort & landing (7-29-85)'

(Monday, July 29, 1985, 21:00:00 UTC) — The space shuttle Challenger began an 8-day mission today that got off to a shaky start: the spacecraft achieved a safe orbit even though one of its main engines shut down prematurely after lift-off.

It was the first major malfunction during ascent in the 19 flights of the shuttle program.