Jeff Bezos’ space venture, Blue Origin, is facing turbulent times. The company aims to revolutionize space travel and compete with industry giants like SpaceX. But recent setbacks have cast doubt on their progress. Blue Origin’s flagship project is the New Glenn rocket. It’s a 321-foot behemoth designed for orbital launches. The rocket was supposed to … Read More “Blue Origin’s Blast-Off Blues: Bezos’ Space Dreams Hit Turbulence”” »
The Russian space station Mir, meaning “peace” or “world” in Russian, was a groundbreaking orbital complex that paved the way for long-duration space habitation and international cooperation in space. Launched on February 20, 1986, Mir was the first modular space station, assembled in orbit piece by piece. The initial core module was followed by additional … Read More “Russian space station Mir” »
Neil Armstrong, the first human to set foot on the Moon, was born on August 5, 1930, in Wapakoneta, Ohio. From an early age, Armstrong was fascinated by flight, earning his pilot’s license before he could legally drive a car. After studying aeronautical engineering at Purdue University on a Navy scholarship, Armstrong served as a … Read More “Neil Armstrong (1930 – 2012)” »
Sally Ride, a trailblazing astronaut and physicist, made history as the first American woman in space and became an inspiration for generations of scientists and explorers. Born on May 26, 1951, in Los Angeles, California, Ride showed early promise in both academics and athletics. She attended Stanford University, earning bachelor’s degrees in English and Physics, … Read More “Sally Ride (1951 – 2012)” »
Michael Collins, often dubbed “the forgotten astronaut,” played a crucial role in one of humanity’s greatest achievements: the first Moon landing. Born on October 31, 1930, in Rome, Italy, where his father was stationed as an Army officer, Collins developed a passion for aviation early in life. He graduated from the United States Military Academy … Read More “Michael Collins (1930 – 2021)” »
New players emerged during this period. Rocket Lab, founded in 2006, became a major player in small satellite launches with their Electron rocket. By 2024, they were working on a larger, partially reusable rocket called Neutron. Relativity Space garnered attention for their innovative 3D-printed rockets. They conducted their first orbital launch attempt in 2023 and … Read More “New companies that emerged in the last 10 years” »
John Glenn was a pioneering American astronaut, decorated military pilot, and long-serving U.S. Senator whose remarkable career spanned decades of public service. Born in Cambridge, Ohio, on July 18, 1921, Glenn developed a passion for flight early in life. He studied engineering at Muskingum College before enlisting in the Navy in 1942 following the attack … Read More “John Glenn (1921 – 2016)” »
There’s been some remarkable progress in the industry between 2014 and 2024. SpaceX dominated headlines with numerous achievements. They perfected their reusable rocket technology, dramatically reducing launch costs. The Falcon Heavy made its debut, and the Starship program progressed rapidly. By 2024, SpaceX had conducted multiple crewed missions to the International Space Station and was … Read More “Catching up with the companies from 10 years ago” »
