Glenn noun [U] /ɡlenn/ › Man. Legend. America’s first orbiting astronaut. You can read more about him in this piece about the Space Shuttle program, but today 15 years ago, John Glenn made history again by returning to space at the age of 77 which established his place in history not only as a pioneer … Read More “Today In History – October 29” »
As we are nearing the end of 2013, let’s have a look at some more people who will be able to call themselves astronauts soon… Actor/Director Tom Hanks – one of the most recognised actors of his generation all time, Hanks starred in block busters like Philadelphia, Saving Private Ryan, Forrest Gump, Toy Story and … Read More “Celebrities Becoming Astronauts – part 2” »
“I love to revel in philosophical matters—especially astronomy. I study astronomy more than any other foolishness there is. I am a perfect slave to it. I am at it all the time. I have got more smoked glass than clothes. I am as familiar with the stars as the comets are. I know all the … Read More “Quote by Mark Twain” »
Today to the date 24 years ago (in 1989), Space shuttle Atlantis launched Galileo, named after the astronomer Galileo Galilei. Its mission, to study Jupiter and its moons. It took the spacecraft a little over six years to reach Jupiter where it proved invaluable in understanding the largest planet in our solar system. Upon arrival, the … Read More “Today In History – October 18” »
Only earlier this month we wrote about Virgin Galactic teaming up with NBC for a new TV show with the top price being a space flight, when we noticed this competition published in a UK newspaper: In summary, the competition which closes at midnight this Sunday coming requires you to enter your details together with … Read More “UK Lottery Competition In Partnership With XCOR” »
“We have your satellite. If you want it back send 20 billion in Martian money. No funny business or you will never see it again.”
– A joke reportedly written on a wall in a hall at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, California, after losing contact with the Mars Polar Lander in December 1999.
At the end of the 20th century, the United States government was already set to developing a reusable space plane to replace the aging Space Shuttle program. The resulting launch vehicle would be able to launch satellites into orbit as 1/10th of the cost, while also having the ability to carry passengers up. Funded by … Read More “VentureStar, aka X-33 (Cancelled in 2001)” »
“It is conceivable that some great unexpected mass of matter should presently rush upon us out of space, whirl sun and planets aside like dead leaves before the breeze, and collide with and utterly destroy every spark of life upon this earth… It is conceivable, too, that some pestilence may presently appear, some new disease, … Read More “Quote by H. G. Wells” »
About a month ago, we covered Mars One, the organisation founded by Dutch entrepreneur Bas Lansdorp that is planning to have people settle on Mars. Interestingly, their main source of income for this enterprise will be a reality-TV program about those colonists… fast forward to this week, and here we have it: Virgin Galactic is … Read More “Virgin Galactic Teams Up With TV Show” »
The 4th of October saw two notable events happening in close succession. On that Friday in 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first Earth-orbiting artificial satellite, and by many considered to be the start of the space race between the two super powers at the time, the Soviet Union and the United States. … Read More “Today In History – October 4” »
