National Air and Space Museum@airandspace·#OTD in 1985, Space Shuttle Discovery launched on STS-51C. The mission was Discovery's third spaceflight and the first shuttle mission dedicated to the Department of Defense, as reflected in the mission patch.
National Air and Space Museum@airandspace·40 years ago today, Voyager 2 captured images of Titania, the largest satellite of the planet Uranus. This is a composite of two images and was the highest-resolution picture of Titania returned by Voyager 2.
James W. Draper@James_W_Draper·65 years ago today (25 Jan 1961), the U.S. Air Force selected the Titan II booster for the X-20 Dyna-Soar spaceplane. The reusable glider concept never flew, but its ideas shaped lifting bodies, reentry, and future winged spacecraft.
National Air and Space Museum@airandspace·On #TDIH in 1994, Clementine launched to map the Moon. Clementine went from the drawing board and into space in less than two years for under 100 million dollars, introducing the era of "faster, better, cheaper" spacecraft. More: https://s.si.edu/4jY8g13
National Air and Space Museum@airandspace·The Apollo 1 fire had a profound impact on the space community, especially staff and contractors that were at Pad 34 #OTD in 1967. Matthew Beddingfield shares his grandfather James D. Gleaves's harrowing recollections from that day: https://s.si.edu/3M6Qxbg
NASA's Johnson Space Center@NASA_JohnsonGus Grissom. Ed White. Roger Chaffee. Today we honor the Apollo 1 crew, three pioneers whose courage reshaped human spaceflight. Their loss on Jan. 27, 1967, led to safety improvements that strengthened every mission that followed. Their legacy lives on as we push farther toward the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
NASA History Office@NASAhistory·On Jan 27, 1967, during a preflight test, fire erupted in the Apollo command module, killing Apollo 1 astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee.We honor these brave spaceflight pioneers, and vow to never forget their sacrifice. #NASARemembers
National Air and Space Museum@airandspace·In remembrance of the Apollo 1 crew.Today in history in 1967, astronauts Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, Edward H. White II, and Roger B. Chaffee perished in a fire during a pre-launch test for what was to be the first crewed Apollo mission.
ＣＯＮＴＡＣＴ ＬＩＧＨＴ 。 ◯ *・@contactlight69·59 Years Ago: #Apollo1 #AS204The crew of #Apollo1 crossing the access arm to the CM-012 on the day of the fire, January 27, 1967. This is the last photo taken of them.(Photo signed by Walt Cunningham, Apollo 1 Backup Pilot)
Mike Constantine@MoonpansRemembering the Apollo 1 Astronauts, Roger Chaffee, Ed White and Gus Grissom who tragically died on this day in 1967 when a fire broke out in their command module cockpit during a launch rehersal
Brooke Edwards@brookeofstars59 years ago today, NASA saw the Apollo 1 tragedy.Every year a memorial at Launch Complex 34 is held in their honor.
“We will never forget them… as they… 'slipped the surly bonds of earth' to 'touch the face of God'"Today in 1986, Space Shuttle Challenger exploded at 11:39 am just 73 sec after launch, killing the STS-51L crew. We honor their memory.
National Air and Space Museum@airandspace·40 years ago today, we lost the crew of STS-51L. In many ways, they represented a cross-section of the American population, with each crew member hailing from diverse walks of life. We reflect on their stories in "Remembering the Challenger Seven": https://s.si.edu/4jP63Vt
NASA History Office@NASAhistory·A success that "inspired an entire generation of young men and women in the United States to higher achievement."68 years ago on Jan 31, 1958, the United States launched its first satellite, Explorer I. A new era of exploration had dawned in America.
National Air and Space Museum@airandspace·38m#OTD in 1964, Ranger 6 launched on a mission to capture TV images of the Moon before crashing into its surface. Impact it did, but the cameras failed.6 months later, Ranger 7 launched and sent back over 4,000 images of the lunar surface. #AirSpacePhoto
National Air and Space Museum@airandspace·On this day in 1961, a chimpanzee named Ham became the first chimp in space, launched aboard Mercury-Redstone 2 for a 17-minute suborbital flight. Learn more on the blog: https://s.si.edu/40Veyqf
James W. Draper@James_W_Draper·Sixty-five years ago today, Ham the Astrochimp flew from Cape Canaveral, proving a living being could survive launch, weightlessness, and recovery. His 16-minute flight cleared the path to human spaceflight and steadied a nation entering the Space Age. 🚀🐒@ccspacemuseum
National Air and Space Museum@airandspace·On this day in 1958, America's first successful satellite, Explorer 1, was launched and placed into Earth orbit. Pictured here is an Explorer 1 backup in our collection.
National Air and Space Museum@airandspace·On this day in 1971, Apollo 14 launched on the third successful crewed lunar landing mission. The mission took flight with commander Alan Shepard, command module pilot Stuart Roosa, and lunar module pilot Edgar Mitchell on board. More on the mission: https://s.si.edu/4qTJn9A
National Air and Space Museum@airandspace·On this day in 1977, Space Shuttle Enterprise traveled 35 miles from Rockwell International plant to Edwards Air Force Base on a 90-wheel trailer. It moved at approximately 3 miles per hour.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman@NASAAdmin·On Feb. 1, 2003, Space Shuttle Columbia and its seven crew members were lost during re-entry. Their work spanned multiple disciplines, from physics to biology, advancing knowledge in ways that continue to resonate today.Columbia’s story still shapes human spaceflight, guiding how teams prepare, collaborate, and carry out missions. It serves as a reminder that vigilance is essential, and no mission is complete until every crew member returns home safely.Forever remembered: Rick D. HusbandWilliam C. McCoolMichael P. AndersonIlan RamonKalpana ChawlaDavid M. BrownLaurel B. Clark
National Air and Space Museum@airandspace·Remembering the crew of STS-107: David Brown, Rick Husband, Laurel Clark, Kalpana Chawla, Michael Anderson, William McCool, and Ilan RamonOn February 1, 2003, the seven-astronaut crew was lost when Space Shuttle Columbia broke apart during re-entry.
NASA History Office@NASAhistory·We look back with sadness on this photo of the crew of STS-107. #OTD in 2003 these seven astronauts tragically lost their lives as Columbia broke apart minutes before it was to land. We pledge to keep their memory alive. #NASARemembers
National Air and Space Museum@airandspace·3hOn #TDIH in 1995, Eileen Collins became the first woman to pilot the space shuttle, piloting Discovery on the STS-63 mission. She later also became the first woman to command the space shuttle. Collins reflects on her career in this #ASQ article: https://s.si.edu/3SJEOQq
NASA History Office@NASAhistory·3h60 years ago today, the world saw the first photos taken from the surface of the Moon!Nine images from Luna 9—the first spacecraft to survive a lunar landing—were received in Moscow Feb 4–5, 1966, but also intercepted and released by the Jodrell Bank Observatory in England.
National Air and Space Museum@airandspace·6mAstronomer Clyde Tombaugh was born on this day in 1906. Tombaugh is most well known for discovering Pluto in 1930 (when he was just 24 years old).
Mike Constantine@Moonpans·7hOn this day 1971 - Apollo 14 LM Inspection After undocking from the Command Module, a visual inspection of the Apollo 14 Lunar Module, Antares, is carried out by Stu Roosa prior to descent to the Lunar Surface
NASA History Office@NASAhistory·2h“Not bad for an old man!”Capcom Bruce McCandless ribbed Alan Shepard, one of America's first 7 astronauts, moments after he became the fifth—and oldest—person to walk on the lunar surface.The Apollo 14 lunar module (Antares) touched down 55 years ago today, successfully landing astronauts on the Moon for the third time. In this photo taken through the window of Antares by Edwin Mitchell we see Shepard as he has moved around to the north side of the spacecraft to get a view of Cone Ridge. They would make the arduous climb up to the ridge with their three-wheeled cart the following day.
National Air and Space Museum@airandspace·1hOn this day in 1971, the Apollo 14 lunar module “Antares” landed on the Moon. It landed in the Fra Mauro Highlands—the intended landing site of Apollo 13.Learn more about the mission: https://s.si.edu/4qTJn9A
Mike Constantine@Moonpans·4hOn this day 1971 - Apollo 14 Lunar Landing Footage - Upscaled with Mission AudioThis 16mm film footage was captured during the Apollo 14 lunar landing on Feb 5 1971. The camera was positioned looking out of Lunar Module Pilot, Edgar Mitchell's LM window.Upscaled with Synchronised mission audio by @MoonpansSource File Video: NASA - Apollo Flight Journal
