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SPACE HISTORY
In 1968, two Russian steppe tortoises travelled around the Moon before humans did. They survived a punishing 20G force while returning to Earth- 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 launch
- In 1965, an astronaut secretly smuggled corned-beef sandwich into space, creating a '$30 million' problem for NASA
- NASA sent 3 aluminum LEGO figures on a 1.7 billion mile journey; by 2016, the figurines of 2 Roman gods and 1 famous scientist had become the fastest and farthest-traveling toys in history. Still orbiting Jupiter, they now face a fiery fateNASA's ambitious Juno mission made history by sending three aluminum LEGO figures to Jupiter, marking them as the fastest LEGO items ever c...26 Aug, 2026, 11.40 AM IST
- Anthropic expected to tell investors it sees over $30 trillion in potential revenue, WSJ reportsAnthropic plans to pitch investors on a colossal total addressable market (TAM) exceeding $30 trillion for its upcoming IPO, surpassing Spa...25 Aug, 2026, 10.34 PM IST
- In 1997, NASA sent a lightning sensor into orbit aboard TRMM to study storms. 29 years later, the mission’s data still helps scientists understand lightning, rainfall and climateNASA's Lightning Imaging Sensor aboard TRMM studied lightning's role in weather. Earlier missions observed lightning from space, revealing ...25 Aug, 2026, 06.50 PM IST
- In 1996, NASA sank a 132-foot shuttle booster training device off Port Canaveral to become an artificial reef; marine life was expected to establish itself there within four monthsA retired NASA training device became an artificial reef in the Atlantic Ocean. This structure provided a new underwater habitat for marine...25 Aug, 2026, 01.10 PM IST
- In 1986, Challenger broke apart 73 seconds after liftoff; 36 years later, a TV dive team found a shuttle artifact with 8-inch tiles off FloridaDivers found a large, tiled object while filming a documentary series. This unexpected discovery was later identified as space shuttle Chal...25 Aug, 2026, 01.00 PM IST
- In 2011, a 320-gram Martian meteorite discovered in Sahara Desert reveals red planet Mars once had waterIn 2011, a 320-gram Martian meteorite discovered in Sahara Desert revealed evidence that Mars once had water. Known as Black Beauty or Nort...25 Aug, 2026, 01.03 AM IST
- In 1973, NASA sent about two spiders into space to test web-building without gravity; within days, they adapted and spun complete webs in orbitTwo spiders, Arabella and Anita, flew on Skylab 3 to test web-building in space. Initially disoriented, the spiders eventually adapted to t...24 Aug, 2026, 11.01 PM IST
- In 1968, Apollo 8 photographed the famous Earthrise during its fourth lunar orbit; decades later, NASA used time-lapse images and LRO maps to reconstruct when and where it happenedThe forgotten camera aboard Apollo 8 inadvertently captured the Earthrise photo, highlighting an extraordinary moment for humanity. Utilizi...24 Aug, 2026, 06.50 PM IST
- 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...24 Aug, 2026, 05.42 PM IST
- In 1969, she helped Apollo 11 carrying Neil Armstrong land on the moon. Indiana woman wrote the code that made it happen. She was MIT's first female programmerMargaret Hamilton, a computer scientist from Indiana, played a crucial role in NASA’s Apollo programme by leading the team that developed t...24 Aug, 2026, 02.32 PM IST
- In 1968, two Afghan tortoises who beat humans to the Moon lost 10% of their weight - They flew around the moon on Soviet Zond 5 and returned alive 3 months before Apollo 8In September 1968, two tortoises made history as the first animals to orbit the Moon and safely return to Earth aboard the Soviet Zond 5 sp...24 Aug, 2026, 01.36 PM IST
- In 1975, Soviet Union sent a cannon to space and tested it from Salyut 3 station, just six months before US and Soviet astronauts met in orbit for the Apollo-Soyuz mission during the Cold WarIn January 1975, the Soviet Union fired a 23mm cannon from its Salyut 3 military space station as a test of its orbital defence system. The...24 Aug, 2026, 12.07 PM IST
- Modi government strangulating, emasculating ISRO, says Congress General Secretary Jairam RameshThe Congress party criticises the Modi government's aggressive privatisation agenda for India's space program. They question the rationale ...24 Aug, 2026, 12.06 PM IST
- In 1926, Robert Goddard launched the first liquid-fuel rocket from a snowy Massachusetts field; 35 years later, NASA formally dedicated Goddard Space Flight CenterOn March 16, 1926, Robert Goddard made history by launching the first liquid-propellant rocket from a serene farm in Worcester, Massachuset...23 Aug, 2026, 02.30 PM IST
- In 1985, NASA astronauts built two giant “flyswatters” aboard Space Shuttle Discovery; they used them in an attempt to activate a stranded satelliteIn the remarkable year of 1985, astronauts faced a daunting challenge when they crafted makeshift tools from spare materials aboard their s...23 Aug, 2026, 02.20 PM IST
- Quote of the Day by American art historian George Kubler: ‘Actuality is when the lighthouse is dark between flashes, it is the instant between the ticks of the watch…’ - why the moments when nothing is happening may matter mostQuote of the Day: George Kubler draws attention to the quiet essence of times when it seems like nothing is unfolding. In our rapid-paced s...23 Aug, 2026, 10.26 AM IST
- In 1973, Skylab lost its heat shield and reached 130°F; NASA cooled the station with a parasol built from fishing rods and foil-like fabricIn 1973, Skylab, the United States' first space station, suffered from overheating just after its launch. Ingenious engineers quickly came ...22 Aug, 2026, 06.30 PM IST
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