Artemis I is a Go -- November 16, 2022

nasa.gov/Bill Ingalls photo

NASA successfully launched the Artemis I project, an unmanned test of the Space Launch System (SLS), the most powerful rocket in the world, and the Orion spacecraft.

John Glenn 100 -- July 18, 2021

www.listal.com

Astronaut John Glenn was born 100 years ago today, on 18-July-1921. He served as a Marine fighter pilot in both World War II and the Korean War.  When NASA looked for the first group of astronauts for the Mercury program, he was almost too old and lacked the required degree in science, but made the cut.  On 20-January-1962, in Friendship 7, he became the first American to make an orbital space flight.

When I was growing up, we heard a lot more about John Glenn than Alan Shepard or Gus Grissom, who flew before him.  We had a Time Life book and record set about the space program and Glenn was heavily featured.

In 1974 he ran for the US Senate as a Democrat and won.  He ran for President in 1984, and got a boost from his portrayal in The Right Stuff.

I remember how excited he was to fly on the Space Shuttle in 1998,.

Michael Collins, RIP -- April 29, 2021

 

listal.com

Astronaut Michael Collins, who stayed aboard the Appolo 11 command module while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin visited the Moon on the LEM, has died. Several people have remarked that Collins had the perfect personality for taking care of business.

Cry Havoc -- June 2, 2020

www.kalw.org

May came to a wild climax.  We saw a video of a Minneapolis policeman kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, an African-American who was supposed to resemble the description of a man who passed a counterfeit twenty dollar bill.  Floyd died lying face-down in the street, after trying to tell the policeman that he couldn't breathe. Other people tried to get the policeman to lift his knee. Protests were peaceful, but after dark, anarchists, right-wing agents provocateur and thieves rioted and looted in several cities. San Francisco declared a curfew from 8pm to 5am. The policeman who knelt on Floyd's neck was arrested after a few days.  The three policemen who were with him have not yet been arrested.

New York Times, 24-May-2020

People continued to die in large numbers from the TrumpVirus.  The numbers were rising rapidly in states that opened up businesses too soon.

The Market Street Railway's San Francisco Railway Museum has been closed because of the TrumpVirus. Early on the morning of 31-May-2020, during the after-dark looting, people broke into Market Street Railway's San Francisco Railway Museum. They stole tee shirts but left historic items untouched.

SpaceX

In better news, on 30-May-2020, SpaceX made the first launch of  humans into space from the United States since the last Space Shuttle launch in 2011.  The first stage landed on the recovery vessel and the Crew Dragon docked with the  International Space Station on 31-May-2020.  The astronauts, Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, enjoyed the trip. I wish them a safe trip  home.

Appolo 11 50 Years -- July 20, 2019

50 years ago today, on 20-July-1969, Commander Neil Armstrong and Pilot Buzz Aldrin rode the lunar lander to the surface of the moon. Armstrong was the first person to step on the surface. Michael Collins manned the command module. We gathered at our house to watch and my mom made a cake that looked like the moon.

Apollo One 50 Years -- January 27, 2017

Fifty years ago today, on 27-January-1967, during a rehearsal, the cabin of the Apollo One capsule caught fire.  The crew, Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee, all died.  I don't think I remember the day, but I remember reading about the findings of the committee that investigated.  The atmosphere was pure oxygen.  The cabin contained flammable material.  The inner hatch couldn't be opened from the inside because the pressure was higher inside the cabin. 

This was NASA's only fatality in a spacecraft before Challenger in 1986. 

Orion Tested -- December 14, 2014

NASA's Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle made its first flight test on December 5. It made two orbits and landed successfully in the Pacific.  It was exciting to see NASA taking a step back towards manned flight.  There may be a manned flight in 2021.  NASA photograph. 

Joe Simon 100 -- October 11, 2013

Joe Simon, who created Captain America with Jack Kirby, was born on 11-October-1913.

Simon served in the Coast Guard during World War II.

The image of Captain America Number 1 comes from a wonderful blog, Hitler Getting Punched (http://hitlergettingpunched.blogspot.com/).

I was sad to learn that Commander Scott Carpenter, the second American in space, has died.  He trained to be a naval aviator during World War II, then served during the Korean War.  After he flew into space, he joined the Navy's Sealab project. John Glenn is the last surviving Mercury program astronaut. 

Pulp #35 -- September 26, 2012

I see that I have neglected to mention the current mission of the Mars rover Curiosity.  It pioneered a new method of landing.  It is sending back some very exciting images. I find them just as exciting as this cover of Fantastic Adventures. 

Neil Armstrong RIP -- August 25, 2012

I was sad to learn that Astronaut Neil Armstrong has died.  He was an Ohioan, a Naval aviator, a Korean War veteran, and the first man to walk on the Moon.  We gathered at our house to watch and my mom made a cake that looked like the Moon.


Today we went to a nice picnic at San Pedro Valley Park. 

Happy Presidents' Day #4 -- February 20, 2012

"For twelve years this nation was afflicted with hear-nothing, see-nothing, do-nothing government. The nation looked to government but the government looked away. Nine mocking years with the golden calf and three long years of the scourge! Nine crazy years at the ticker and three long years in the breadlines! Nine mad years of mirage and three long years of despair! Powerful influences strive today to restore that kind of government with its doctrine that that government is best which is most indifferent.

"For nearly four years you have had an administration which instead of twirling its thumbs has rolled up its sleeves. We will keep our sleeves rolled up.

"We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace: business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering.

"They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. We know now that government by organized money is just as dangerous as government by organized mob.

"Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me, and I welcome their hatred."


President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 31-October-1936.  

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Today is also the 50th anniversary of John Glenn's Earth orbit aboard Friendship 7.

STS-135 Launched -- July 8, 2011

Space shuttle Atlantis, mission STS-135, left on the last space shuttle journey this morning. I remember when the shuttles began flying in 1981. I remember people commenting that no one thought of it as the world's fastest, highest-flying airplane. I thought by now we would have a successor. NASA photo.

STS-134 Launched -- May 16, 2011

Space shuttle Endeavor, mission STS-134, left on its last journey into space this morning. I remember when the shuttles began flying in 1981. I remember people commenting that no one thought of it as the world's fastest, highest-flying airplane. I thought by now we would have a successor.

It rained today.

Moon Landing Anniversary -- July 20, 2009

40 years ago Commander Neil Armstrong and Pilot Buzz Aldrin rode the lunar lander to the surface of the moon. Armstrong was the first person to step on the surface. We gathered at our house to watch and my mom made a cake that looked like the moon.

I'm sorry Walter Cronkite didn't make it till the anniversary.