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EARLY SPACE MISSIONS
In 1951, Yorick the monkey and 11 mice rode an Aerobee rocket to 236,000 feet; the flight showed animals could survive launch and landing, though Yorick died after touchdownIn 1951, a rhesus monkey named Yorick embarked on a groundbreaking mission aboard a rocket, soaring nearly forty-five miles above the New M...
In 1962, NASA packed 22,900 gallons of water into a Saturn I rocket and deliberately released it 65 miles above Earth to see how water behaved in the upper atmosphereNASA scientists have long explored recycling resources for extended space travel. Plants and microorganisms could help regenerate vital sup...
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope set to investigate the universe’s biggest mysteries - Check launch date, time, mission goals and what to expectNASA's Roman Space Telescope is set for a Sunday launch to explore cosmic mysteries. This powerful observatory will investigate dark energy...
In 1961, NASA sent Ham the chimpanzee 157 miles above Earth to test whether a primate could work in space; he completed a 16-minute flight and returned safelyChimpanzee Ham made history in 1961 when he soared into space aboard a Mercury-Redstone rocket. His mission aimed to assess the capabilitie...
On STS-51B, NASA flew 24 rats and 2 squirrel monkeys with Spacelab-3; one monkey showed space sickness while the rats returned with muscle lossIn 1985, Challenger carried rats and monkeys to study microgravity's effects. One monkey experienced space sickness, mirroring human astron...
In 1994, the space shuttle Discovery held a Wake Shield disk behind it while still attached to its robot arm; the facility produced 5 good semiconductor filmsIn 1994, the space shuttle Discovery transported the Wake Shield Facility, designed to establish an ultra-clean vacuum environment. This gr...
In 1989, the space shuttle Discovery carried 32 fertilized chicken eggs for 5 days; all 16 early embryos died, while 8 older embryos later hatched without anatomical malformationsIn 1989, the space shuttle Discovery transported thirty-two fertilized chicken eggs into microgravity. Although younger embryos did not end...
In 2021, a spacecraft was launched on a first-ever suicide mission to try to deflect an asteroid on impact in space in the revolutionary planetary defense experiment: How NASA’s DART mission changed an asteroid’s orbitIn 2021, a spacecraft was launched on a first-ever suicide mission to try to deflect an asteroid on impact in space in the revolutionary pl...
In 2003, NASA launched a 34-inch infrared telescope called Spitzer. For 17 years, it looked through cosmic dust and revealed a hidden universeNASA's Spitzer Space Telescope ended its mission in 2020 after sixteen years. Its infrared observations pierced cosmic dust, revealing hidd...
In 1992, Endeavour carried 4 female African clawed frogs into orbit; their eggs were fertilized in microgravity and developed into apparently normal tadpolesIn 1992, four frogs embarked on a journey aboard the space shuttle Endeavour as part of a groundbreaking reproductive experiment. Their egg...
In 1958, NASA launched a spacecraft Able 2 for the first time to the Moon but the mission failed after a small error and the probe reentered Earth's atmosphere about 43 hours after launchIn 1958, NASA launched Able 2, later known as Pioneer 1, on a mission to study the Moon. The spacecraft failed to reach lunar orbit after a...
In 1997, NASA launched Columbia to study undercooled molten metals in microgravity; the STS-83 mission also carried experiments on sintering and fire behaviorThe 1997 mission of space shuttle Columbia was cut short due to problems with fuel cells. However, the crew managed to perform crucial micr...
In 2023, NASA grew tomatoes for 100 days aboard the space station; ground plants produced more than 100, while the space crop yielded 12 and was not eatenNASA's tomato experiment on the International Space Station faced major hurdles in microgravity, where watering issues resulted in uneven m...
In 1958, US Air Force launched an Able 1 spacecraft to the Moon in humanity’s first attempt to send a spaceship anywhere beyond Earth orbit but the mission lasted only 73.6 secondsIn 1958, US Air Force launched an Able 1 spacecraft to the Moon in humanity’s first attempt to send a spaceship anywhere beyond Earth orbit...
In 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, headed to the Moon without a traditional life insuranceIn 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, headed to the Moon without traditional life insurance. NASA...
China delays Chang’e-7 launch: Why the Moon mission was halted just hours before liftoffChina's Chang'e-7 lunar mission launch was abruptly postponed just before liftoff. Officials cited prudence, reliability, and safety as rea...
SpaceX launch today: Record-breaking Falcon 9 mission set to kick off busy Space Coast scheduleFlorida's Space Coast is preparing for a busy launch schedule. SpaceX will launch Starlink satellites using a reusable Falcon 9 rocket. NAS...
In 1963, France sent a stray cat 154 km into space; Félicette survived the flight, was euthanized for research, and honoured with a bronze statueIn 1963, France sent stray cat Félicette 154 km into space, making her the first and only cat to travel beyond Earth. She survived the flig...
'India will establish its own space station by 2035': ISRO Chief V NarayananIndia plans to establish its own space station by the year 2035. The first module for the Bharatiya Antariksha Station has already received...
Rescue mission for aging NASA space telescope failsKatalyst's LINK craft was launched in early July to approach the observatory, also known as Swift, some 216 miles (347 km) in space, grap...