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Sun Apr 28th, 2024
STS-39 LAUNCHED TODAY 33 YEARS AGO ON DOD MISSION, NOW DECLASSIFIED![]()
Orbiter Discovery, with the “tail number” of OV-103, blasted off April 28, 1991 (with five rookies among the seven astronauts) into a pre-dawn sky at Kennedy Launch Complex 39-A, the first "unclassified" Department of Defense (DOD) payloads--and a few classified ones. ![]()
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This 6:33 am EDT launch of STS-39, was the twelfth mission of the Space Shuttle Discovery and has the only triangular patch of the program. The primary purpose of the mission was to conduct a variety of payload experiments for the Department of Defense. ![]()
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The seven astronauts, including five rookies, were: ![]()
Commander Michael Coats (third and last flight); pilot Blaine Hammond Jr., (first of two); Greg Harbaugh (1st of 4 spaceflights); Don McMonagle (1st of 3); Guy Bluford Jr. (third of four); Charles Veach (1st of 2); and Richard Hieb (1st of 3).![]()
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Unclassified payload included Air Force Program-675 (AFP675); Infrared Background Signature Survey (IBSS) with Critical Ionization Velocity (CIV), Chemical Release Observation (CRO) and Shuttle Pallet Satellite-II (SPAS-II) experiments; and Space Test Payload-1 (STP-1). Classified payload consisted of Multi-Purpose Release Canister (MPEC). Also on board was Radiation Monitoring Equipment III (RME III) and Cloud Logic to Optimize Use of Defense Systems-1A (CLOUDS-1A).![]()
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STS-39 was the first unclassified Department of Defense (DoD)-dedicated Space Shuttle mission. There had previously been seven Shuttle missions dedicated to the DoD, but those were considered classified and information about the operation or success of the payloads or experiments was not released.![]()
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For STS-39, only the payload in the Multi-Purpose Experiment Canister (MPEC) was listed as classified. (Bluford reportedly launched the classified payload by himself while, according to another member of the crew, the others ignored the event).
Sun Apr 28th, 2024
FOUR SPACEMEN CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS TODAY APRIL 28th![]()
It is apparently good to be born April 28 if you want to be an astronaut–just ask these four Shuttle-era astronauts.![]()
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Born April 28th are Shuttle commander John Creighton, 81; Dr. Jay Apt, 75; “Paco” Lockhart, 68, and ESA’s Leo Eyharts, 67. ![]()
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Born under the astrological sign of Taurus, those people are thought to be dependable, sensible, and have a taste for the finer things in life. Like space travel!![]()
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John Oliver Creighton was born April 28, 1943, in Orange, Texas, but considers Seattle, Washington, to be his hometown. A Vietnam War Navy pilot with a taste for fast cars and ski boats, he was pilot of one (STS-51G, 1985)and commanded two Space Shuttle missions (STS-36, 1990; STS-48, 1991). ![]()
www.nasa.gov/.../atoms/files/creighton_john.pdf![]()
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Jerome "Jay" Apt III was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on April 28, 1949, but grew up in Pittsburgh, PA. Dr. Apt has four spaceflights, two spacewalks, and 35 days in space on STS-37 (1991), STS-47 (1992), STS-59 (1994), and STS-79 1996).![]()
www.nasa.gov/.../files/atoms/files/apt_jerome.pdf![]()
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Paul Lockhart was born April 28, 1956 and reared in Amarillo, Texas, graduating from Tascosa High School in 1974. Nicknamed “Paco,” he was a test pilot for the F-16 aircraft. Lockhart was selected as an astronaut candidate in 1996. Lockhart's two space missions as a pilot were STS-111 and STS-113, both in 2002, for 27 days visiting the Space Station. ![]()
www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/lockhart_paul_0.pdf![]()
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Léopold "Leo" Eyharts was born April 28, 1957, in Biarritz, Pyrenees-Atlantiques, and is a French Brigadier General in the French Air Force and an ESA astroanut, flying twice to space ![]()
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He flew to the Mir Space Station in February 1998 aboard Soyuz TM-27, and he launched on board Space Shuttle mission STS-122 to the International Space Station on February 7, 2008, where he joined Expedition 16. Eyharts has a total of 69 days in space. ![]()
www.esa.int/.../Human.../Astronauts/Leopold_Eyharts
Fri Apr 26th, 2024
Shuttles for the Universe, Brain, Body and Robots![]()
Host MarQ features four April Shuttles: for The Universe, the Body, the Brain and the Robot, all to bridge the space between us.
Shuttles for the Universe, Brain, Body and Robots
www.youtube.com
Host MarQ features four April Shuttles: for The Universe, the Body, the Brain and the Robot, all to bridge the space between us.Fri Apr 26th, 2024
"STAY CURIOUS" TODAY 4 PM EDT AS WE CELEBRATE FOUR UNIQUE SHUTTLES OF APRIL THAT FOCUSED ON: THE UNIVERSE, THE BODY, THE BRAIN AND THE ROBOT! Live or anytime on YourTube www.youtube.com/@AmericanSpaceMuseum/streams
Fri Apr 26th, 2024
STS-55 LAUNCHED IN 1993 WITH SECOND GERMAN SPACELAB Orbiter Columbia roared off Brevard County, Florida at 11:50 am April 26, 1993 with seven astronauts and the multinational Spacelab, D-2, in the payload bay. ![]()
(JSC Suit Tech Sharon Caples McDougle, left, supplied this photo)![]()
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The launch came after two scrubs, including a pad abort on March 22, 1993 at T-minus 3 seconds when an oxidizer purge valve jammed on a chunk of O-ring, causing the change-out of all three Space Shuttle Main Engines. Thirty-two days later a faulty inertial measurement unit was detected early, and Columbia was scrubbed on April 24th. ![]()
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Commander Steve Nagel and six others began an ambitious 10-day flight involving 88 experiments from 11 different nations--a precursor 28 years later and the important science being done on the International Space Station. ![]()
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It was the 55th overall flight of the Space Transportation System and the 14th flight of Columbia. The mission surpassed the 365th day in space for the Space Shuttle fleet and the 100th day of flight time in space for Columbia, the fleet's oldest Orbiter, on its fourteenth flight.![]()
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The other astronauts were pilot Terrance Henricks (2nd of four flights), Jerry Ross (4th of 7), Charles Precourt (1st of 4), and Bernard Harris, (1st of 2)--all Americans. The other members were Germany’s Ulrich Walter (his only spaceflight) and Hans Schlegel (1st of 2). ![]()
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www.nasa.gov/.../shuttlemiss.../archives/sts-55.html
Thu Apr 25th, 2024
ASM CHARITY AUCTION SATURDAY MAY 4TH NOON TO 5 PM spacewalkoffame.org/event/charity-memorabilia-auction-32![]()
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Immerse yourself in an online live auction starting at noon, where you can discover authentic space artifacts, rare memorabilia from historic missions, autographed items from renowned astronauts, stunning space-themed artwork, and much more!![]()
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Don't miss this opportunity to support a great cause, own a unique piece of space history, connect with fellow space enthusiasts, and experience the thrill of live online bidding.![]()
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Visit AmericanSpaceMuseum.org or BidAgainAuctions.com for more information. Join us in contributing to the American Space Museum, a non-profit charity located in the heart of the Space Coast.![]()
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Let's reach for the stars together!
Thu Apr 25th, 2024
CHINESE OUTNUMBER OTHER COUNTRIES IN SPACE TODAY, APRIL 25, 2024![]()
With the launch of Shenzhou 18, headed to the Chinese space station, Taingong, there are 13 humans orbiting Earth. The two "taikonaut" rookies brought the total of earthlings who have orbited the planet to 617, with 77 of them women.
Thu Apr 25th, 2024
Who is in Space? And from where? Stay Curious!![]()
MarQ recaps the earthlings orbiting our planet as Chinese "taikonauts" outnumber any country in space on this April 25th, 2024.
Who is in Space? And from where? Stay Curious!
www.youtube.com
MarQ recaps the earthlings orbiting our planet as Chinese "taikonauts" outnumber any country in space on this April 25th, 2024.Thu Apr 25th, 2024
WHO IS IN SPACE? HOW MANY? AND FROM WHAT COUNTRIES? "STAY CURIOUS" TODAY 4 PM EDT or anytime on YouTube www.youtube.com/@AmericanSpaceMuseum/streams
Thu Apr 25th, 2024
TRANSLUNAR SPACE WALK BY MATTINGLY IN 1972![]()
Heading back from the Moon on April 25, 1972, Apollo 16’s Ken Mattingly performed an 83-minute EVA to retrieve film cassettes from the service module's scientific instrument module (SIM) bay, with assistance from Duke who remained at the command module's hatch.![]()
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While Duke and commander John Young spent three days camping in the lunar highlands of Descartes, Mattingly orbited the Moon and took film photographs of the surface. ![]()
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At approximately 199,000 mi; (320,000 km) from Earth, it was the second "deep space" Extra Vehicular Activity in history, performed at great distance from any planetary body. As of 2020, it remains one of only three such EVAs, all performed during Apollo's J-missions under similar circumstances. Additionally, Mattingly set up a biological experiment, the Microbial Ecology Evaluation Device (MEED),] an experiment unique to Apollo 16.![]()
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Commander Young sat inside the Command Module “Casper” during the event. The crew return to Earth with a slashdown April 27th in the South Pacific with 211 pounds of lunar rocks and hundreds of photographs.