Tag: nasa

December 2, 1993: NASA Launches First Hubble Repair Mission

Today in 1993, NASA launched the Space Shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-61. The mission lasted just under 11 days and saw the installation of a new main camera, as well as various other repairs. The Hubble Space Telescope was originally launched on April 24, 1990. It remains in functioning order today and is one of the most recognizable symbols of NASA. It is estimated that it will continue to function for another 10-20 years.

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November 27, 2001: First Atmosphere Discovered on Extrasolar Planet

Today in 2001, NASA and the ESA's Hubble Space Telescope detected sodium in the atmosphere surrounding HD 209458 b, nicknamed Osiris. This marked the first time that an atmosphere had been detected on an exoplanet (a planet outside of our Sun's solar system). The find was predicted by award-winning exoplanet expert Sara Seager weeks before.

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November 15, 1966: Gemini 12 Safely Lands, Concluding Project Gemini

Today in 1966, the capsule containing astronauts James A. Lovell, Jr. and Buzz Aldrin splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean. This marked the end of the Gemini 12 mission and also the conclusion of Project Gemini as a whole. Project Gemini was a series of experiments performed in space in conjunction with the Apollo program, with the desired outcome being less experimentation during Apollo missions. This would allow the Apollo program to focus heavier on its goal of a manned mission to the moon.

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October 10, 1990: Space Shuttle Discovery Completes 11th Mission

Today in 1990, NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery completed its eleventh mission. While it was only a four day expedition, many different scientific experiments were conducted during its flight. Among them were the behavior of fire and plant cells in space, and the effects of microgravity on the heart and bones. Discovery was also equipped with multiple instruments for studying the sun.

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September 12, 1992: NASA’s Endeavor Embarks on Mission STS-47

Today in 1992, NASA launched the Space Shuttle Endeavor (its second trip). It was also the 50th mission of the Space Shuttle program. While the mission itself was mostly for experimentation, it is notable for three of its crew members: Mae Jemison, who became the first African-American woman in space (and the subject of a previous Today Years Ago), and Mark Lee and Jan Davis, the first married couple in space. As married couples were previously banned from being crew members of the same flight, Lee and Davis secretly married a few months before the launch. NASA didn't have enough time to cancel or alter…

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