Jan. 28, 1986: Space Shuttle Challenger Breaks Apart After Launch On this day in 1986, Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds after launch. Seven crew members were lost, including Teacher-in-Space payload specialist Sharon Christa McAuliffe. After the Challenger explosion, President Ronald Reagan spoke to the public, especially to young children who had been watching the liftoff on television: “…I want to say something to the schoolchildren of America who were watching the live coverage of the shuttle’s takeoff. I know it is hard to understand, but sometimes painful things like this happen. It’s all part of the process of exploration and discovery. It’s all part of taking a chance and expanding man’s horizons. The future doesn’t belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave. The Challenger crew was pulling us into the future, and we’ll continue to follow them…” Read President Reagan’s full speech here. Photo Credit:  Photo from Jan. 9, 1986 - the Challenger crew takes a break during countdown training at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (NASA)
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Jan. 28, 1986: Space Shuttle Challenger Breaks Apart After Launch

On this day in 1986, Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds after launch. Seven crew members were lost, including Teacher-in-Space payload specialist Sharon Christa McAuliffe.

After the Challenger explosion, President Ronald Reagan spoke to the public, especially to young children who had been watching the liftoff on television:

“…I want to say something to the schoolchildren of America who were watching the live coverage of the shuttle’s takeoff. I know it is hard to understand, but sometimes painful things like this happen. It’s all part of the process of exploration and discovery. It’s all part of taking a chance and expanding man’s horizons. The future doesn’t belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave. The Challenger crew was pulling us into the future, and we’ll continue to follow them…”

Read President Reagan’s full speech here.

Photo Credit:  Photo from Jan. 9, 1986 - the Challenger crew takes a break during countdown training at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (NASA)

October 4, 1957: Sputnik Launches Into Space On this day in 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite. This launch marked the beginning of the Space Age, during which the United States and Soviet Union competed to rapidly develop new space technology. As these two superpowers battled to control space, the competition between the United States and Soviet Union became known as the Space Race.  Check out this NOVA article to learn more about Sputnik’s impact on America. Also explore this NOVA interactive timeline to discover turning points throughout the Space Race. Photo: NASA
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October 4, 1957: Sputnik Launches Into Space

On this day in 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite. This launch marked the beginning of the Space Age, during which the United States and Soviet Union competed to rapidly develop new space technology. As these two superpowers battled to control space, the competition between the United States and Soviet Union became known as the Space Race. 

Check out this NOVA article to learn more about Sputnik’s impact on America. Also explore this NOVA interactive timeline to discover turning points throughout the Space Race.

Photo: NASA

Source: to.pbs.org

Space Shuttle Discovery Lands, Completing First MissionOn this day in 1984, Space Shuttle Discovery landed at Edwards Air Force Base, completing its maiden mission, STS-41-D. Its cargo during the mission included three commercial satellites and a solar array.On the occasion of the last space shuttle launch, the PBS NewsHour looked back at some notable NewsHour coverage of the shuttle program over the years. Photo: NASA
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Space Shuttle Discovery Lands, Completing First Mission

On this day in 1984, Space Shuttle Discovery landed at Edwards Air Force Base, completing its maiden mission, STS-41-D. Its cargo during the mission included three commercial satellites and a solar array.

On the occasion of the last space shuttle launch, the PBS NewsHour looked back at some notable NewsHour coverage of the shuttle program over the years.


Photo: NASA

Source: to.pbs.org

August 30, 1983: Guion S. Bluford Becomes the First African American in Space On this day in 1983, Dr. Guion “Guy” S. Bluford, Jr. became the first African American in space on board the Challenger flight STS-8. According to NASA, Bluford logged over 688 hours in space during four Shuttle missions. In 2008, before the NASA space shuttle program ended, NOVA scienceNOW explored the challenges astronauts facewhile training to work in space. Watch spacewalker Mike Massimino discuss his intensive training for the Hubble repair mission in the Neutral Buoyancy Lab, the NASA simulation pool. Photo: NASA
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August 30, 1983:

Guion S. Bluford Becomes the First African American in Space
 
On this day in 1983, Dr. Guion “Guy” S. Bluford, Jr. became the first African American in space on board the Challenger flight STS-8. According to NASA, Bluford logged over 688 hours in space during four Shuttle missions.
 
In 2008, before the NASA space shuttle program ended, NOVA scienceNOW explored the challenges astronauts facewhile training to work in space.
 
Watch spacewalker Mike Massimino discuss his intensive training for the Hubble repair mission in the Neutral Buoyancy Lab, the NASA simulation pool.

Photo: NASA

Source: to.pbs.org

August 24, 2006:  Pluto Loses Planet Status Papier-mâché solar systems dangling from strings in science classrooms made before this day in 2006 were deemed irrelevant as the International Astronomical Union declared that Pluto was no longer a planet.  Since its discovery in 1930, icy Pluto (now considered a “dwarf planet) had been classified as the 9th planet from the sun. Join Neil deGrasse Tyson in NOVA’s “The Pluto Files” to find out what it is about Pluto that captured so many hearts and caused an uproar upon its demotion.  Photo: Lunar and Planetary Institute
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August 24, 2006:  Pluto Loses Planet Status

Papier-mâché solar systems dangling from strings in science classrooms made before this day in 2006 were deemed irrelevant as the International Astronomical Union declared that Pluto was no longer a planet.  Since its discovery in 1930, icy Pluto (now considered a “dwarf planet) had been classified as the 9th planet from the sun.

Join Neil deGrasse Tyson in NOVA’s “The Pluto Files” to find out what it is about Pluto that captured so many hearts and caused an uproar upon its demotion. 

Photo: Lunar and Planetary Institute

Source: to.pbs.org

August 5:  Happy Birthday Neil Armstrong! Space hero and American icon Neil Armstrong turns 82 today.  Armstrong, along with Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, was part of the 1969 Apollo 11 space mission.  As the first man on the moon, Armstrong has received many honors and awards, including last year’s Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Watch highlights of the 2011 ceremony here, courtesy of PBS NewsHour. Photo:  NASA.
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August 5:  Happy Birthday Neil Armstrong!

Space hero and American icon Neil Armstrong turns 82 today.  Armstrong, along with Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, was part of the 1969 Apollo 11 space mission. 

As the first man on the moon, Armstrong has received many honors and awards, including last year’s Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

Watch highlights of the 2011 ceremony here, courtesy of PBS NewsHour.


Photo:  NASA.

Source: to.pbs.org

July 20, 1969: First Man Walks on the Moon On this day in 1969, the spaceflight Apollo 11 landed the first humans, Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, on the moon.  People watched worldwide as Armstrong took that momentous first step onto the moon, declaring, “This is one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” One does not simply land on the moon wearing a t-shirt and jeans.  See how these Historic Space Suits evolved to allow a successful landing on the moon! Photo:  NASA
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July 20, 1969: First Man Walks on the Moon

On this day in 1969, the spaceflight Apollo 11 landed the first humans, Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, on the moon.  People watched worldwide as Armstrong took that momentous first step onto the moon, declaring, “This is one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”

One does not simply land on the moon wearing a t-shirt and jeans.  See how these Historic Space Suits evolved to allow a successful landing on the moon!


Photo:  NASA

Source: to.pbs.org

July 14, 1965:  American Space Probe Captures Pictures of Mars On this day in 1965, the Mariner 4 flyby of Mars took the first close-up photos of another planet.  These ground-breaking photos were the first of many attempts to study the planet, raising the question, “Is there life on Mars?”. Watch as NOVA goes behind the scenes of the latest NASA missions to the Red Planet to see if there really can be life on Mars.
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July 14, 1965:  American Space Probe Captures Pictures of Mars

On this day in 1965, the Mariner 4 flyby of Mars took the first close-up photos of another planet.  These ground-breaking photos were the first of many attempts to study the planet, raising the question, “Is there life on Mars?”.

Watch as NOVA goes behind the scenes of the latest NASA missions to the Red Planet to see if there really can be life on Mars.

Source: to.pbs.org

APRIL 25, 1990: Hubble Telescope Launched into SpaceTwenty-two years ago, the space shuttle Discovery placed the Hubble Telescope into a low orbit around Earth. In 2009, the Hubble telescope was in need of repairs; ones never intended to be performed in orbit. That year, NOVA presented “Hubble’s Amazing Rescue,” the unlikely story about how the world’s most beloved telescope was saved. Many people have gazed in awe at the Hubble Space Telescope’s photographs. But few laypeople realize just how much effort goes into preparing such images. To see how much effort goes into preparing such images, head on over to PBS.org for a NOVA scienceNow interactive feature, “How Hubble Sees.” Image:  NASA and STScI
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APRIL 25, 1990: Hubble Telescope Launched into Space

Twenty-two years ago, the space shuttle Discovery placed the Hubble Telescope into a low orbit around Earth.

In 2009, the Hubble telescope was in need of repairs; ones never intended to be performed in orbit. That year, NOVA presented “Hubble’s Amazing Rescue,” the unlikely story about how the world’s most beloved telescope was saved.



Many people have gazed in awe at the Hubble Space Telescope’s photographs. But few laypeople realize just how much effort goes into preparing such images. To see how much effort goes into preparing such images, head on over to PBS.org for a NOVA scienceNow interactive feature, “How Hubble Sees.”

Image:  NASA and STScI

Source: to.pbs.org

DECEMBER 19: APOLLO 17 MISSION COMES TO AN END (1972) On this day in 1972, the Apollo 17 space mission came to an end after 12 days. It remains the most recent manned visit to the Moon.                                The longest of all, it featured the only night launch of the program, the first professional scientist to walk on the moon (geologist Harrison “Jack” Schmitt, seen here collecting soil samples on the North Massif), the most samples yet gathered on the moon (243 pounds), and the lengthiest moonwalks.  NOVA’s archival site, “To the Moon” showcases 360-degree panorama photos, one each from the six successful Apollo moon landings. 
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DECEMBER 19: APOLLO 17 MISSION COMES TO AN END (1972)

On this day in 1972, the Apollo 17 space mission came to an end after 12 days. It remains the most recent manned visit to the Moon.

                              Apollo 17 rover

The longest of all, it featured the only night launch of the program, the first professional scientist to walk on the moon (geologist Harrison “Jack” Schmitt, seen here collecting soil samples on the North Massif), the most samples yet gathered on the moon (243 pounds), and the lengthiest moonwalks. 

NOVA’s archival site, “To the Moon” showcases 360-degree panorama photos, one each from the six successful Apollo moon landings. 

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