NASA: 50 Years Of Space Travel…
“It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn’t feel like a giant. I felt very, very small.” Neil Armstrong
NASA: 50 Years Of Space Travel.. Launch of Friendship 7 with John Glenn aboard
NASA: 50 Years Of Space Travel... Light orbiting red dwarf star
Today is the 50th anniversary of America’s orbital space flight. On February 20, 1962, John Glenn was sent into orbit on an atlas rocket named Friendship 7. It was the start of the space program that would lead to Neil Armstrong’s historic walk on the moon in 1969, and many decades of the phenomenal programs and photos we have come to admire over the years. Kudos to NASA! It is also Presidents’ Day: Read my post Presidents’ Day: Facts. Fables. Nicknames & More so cheers all around. I will put together some of my favorite photos from NASA’s superb site.
“We’d never have got a chance to go outside and look at the earth if it hadn’t been for space exploration and NASA.” James Lovelock
NASA: 50 Years Of Space Travel.. Buzz Aldrin on the moon.
NASA: 50 Years Of Space Travel... Apollo 4 Saturn V - 1967
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human to step on the moon. He and Buzz Aldrin walked around for three hours, gathering samples and planting an American flag. The work they started continued with other missions and the development and growth of NASA‘s research and educational programs. NASA’s many programs/projects are divided among ten key areas; Station and Shuttle Missions, Solar System, Beyond Earth, Commercial Space, Universe, Earth, Aeronautics, Technology, NASA in Your Life, and NASA History & People. Having these delineated sections makes it easy for us to visit and learn as much as possible about Space travel, research and achievements. I’ve added a picture or two for the sections when possible.
NASA: 50 Years Of Space Travel.. Juno heading for giant planet Jupiter
Station and Shuttle Missions: The Juno spacecraft launched from earth in 2011 and will arrive at Jupiter, a giant planet, in 2016 to study it from an elliptical, polar orbit. (Artist rendering)
NASA: 50 Years Of Space Travel.. Mars exploration by Rover...
Solar System: NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity took these mosaic view images with its panoramic camera (Pancam) during two missions on Sept. 2 and Sept. 4, 2007
Beyond Earth: The goal of the Human Research Program is to discover best methods and technologies to support safe and productive human space travel.
“Beautiful, beautiful. Magnificent desolation.” Buzz Aldrin
NASA: 50 Years Of Space Travel.. Rocket launch (artist's rendition)
Commercial Space Transportation: Developing and operating safe, reliable and affordable commercial space transportation is vital to the future of human space exploration.
NASA: 50 Years Of Space Travel.. Globular Cluster of stars...
NASA: 50 Years Of Space Travel... Jupiter Montage
NASA: 50 Years Of Space Travel.. Oldest Supernova - RCW 86
Universe: This 10+ billion years old globular cluster is a deep sky object called NGC 6752 and is one of the most ancient collections of stars known. The supernova image is the oldest documented example of a supernova; created with data from four space telescopes to show a wavelength view of the remains of RCW 86. More below. 😉
“That’s one small step for (a) man; one giant leap for mankind.” Neil Armstrong
NASA: 50 Years Of Space Travel... Where on Earth Is this?
NASA: 50 Years Of Space Travel... Frozen propeller...
NASA: 50 Years Of Space Travel... SR 71
Earth: Where on Earth…? This image is of the Rum Desert /Wadi Rum part of the Arabian Desert. The body of water is the Dead Sea. The city is Zarqa in Jordan.
Aeronautics: NASA scientists have mounted a detailed research campaign to solve a modern-day aviation mystery; the atypical combination of fire and ice inside a running jet engine. According to information on NASA’s site, ” Polar opposites attract in the puzzling case of ice crystal engine icing, where the frozen crystals can be ingested into the core of a jet engine.”
- NASA: 50 Years Of Space Travel.. NASA Missions
Technology: The following three major missions, NASA’s Dawn, Mars Science Laboratory and MESSENGER missions, have earned recognition for their innovations in the aviation and space category.
NASA: 50 Years Of Space Travel... Astronaut John Glenn and Director Kennedy Space Center, Bob Cabana.
NASA: 50 Years Of Space Travel... Atlantis shuttle...
Discover Space Impact On Our Lives
NASA in Your Life & NASA History & People: Do you know how space exploration impacts your daily life? From household tools and electronics to breakthroughs in the scientific field, the work of NASA contributes to making our lives comfortable. Check out the link above and discover how space exploration impacts your daily life. ♥What are your thoughts? How do you view the space program? Do you remember your reaction to the man on the moon? What other discoveries fascinate you? Do share! ♥Happy ♥Presidents’ ♥Day ♥To ♥You! 🙂 Thank you. 😉
*Please bear with me as I continue to catch up on your blogs and commenting… I make no excuse for time. Thank you all for your patience! 🙂
Positive Motivation Tip: Space travel has become ubiquitous because, long ago, someone imagined the impossible and pursued it. Reach for the stars… You might find a supernova.
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos Friendship 7, MOON WALK Aldrin in 1969, Juno spacecraft, Rover Opportunity, Rocketlaunch, Atantis Shuttle, Jupiter Montage, Globular star cluster, Oldest Supernova, Frozen Propeller, Where On Earth?, NASA Missions,SR 70, via NASA, Apollo 4 launch, via Wikipedia Or via Flickr
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
I remember my shock when I learned we hadn’t been back to the moon since 1972! We should be out there, doing stuff.
Great article, Elizabeth. I DO remember exactly what I was doing when man first walked on the moon – I was having my stitches removed re my appendectomy! I remember because botht he nurse and I were listening to the broadcast over the radio and we kept getting distracted! It was probably the longest stitches removal in history! 😆
you are my supernova of blog writers 🙂
I’m in total agreement with Frizztext!
The sentiments are mutual… from one supernova to another… TY! 😉
Hehe . . . hope you’re ready to be TAGGED! http://wp.me/p1RzUf-Md
Couldn’t resist Eliz! Happy day to ya!
Nice try. Have a happy day too! 😉
Oops, I tripped and didn’t realize it! 🙂 Thanks for the catch!
Great post. There is a dream.
I actually went to Cape Canaveral last year and it was pretty amazing.
Enjoyed your post. The photos were stunning. Really make me realize how very small we are in the greater picture of life. And, that we’re all connected at some level. Thanks for your note on my blog.
Hooray for this celebration of man’s first manned space flight. I have had the pleasure of meeting both John Glenn and Neil Armstrong! Their joy in being “out there” with God is just so very contagious!
Great post! Space exploration has been such an amazing accomplishment. Neil Armstrong handed me my diploma when I got my graduate degree – the thrill of shaking his hand!!
Thanks for this wonderful post. I remember everyone in my elementary school being gathered together to watch some of these historical moments in space travel.
Good post! Hard to believe it’s been that long sometimes!
Gosh I remember watching the first moon landings when I was a little girl!
Wonderful. This subject always thrills and fascinates me. The background to my childhood. I want us to always reach for the stars.
Wow, you outdid yourself on this post. Very informative with dynamite photos. Kudos on a job well done. Can you believe our ‘original’ astronauts are still alive and kicking after all of these years? It is wonderful that they will be able to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their history making achievements.
Very interesting article, and beautiful photos Elizabeth!
“Reach for the stars… You might find a supernova.”- beautiful & so meaningful. Great post Elizabeth. Love everything about this post. The photographs, the information and the whole thought behind the post.. everything is really wonderful. This one is among one of the best articles I have ever read. 🙂
Reblogged this on FilipinoFestival.com.
This is very informative.
One day I might be a mom of an Astronaut 😀
hats off to NASA 🙂
Wow 50 years already! That’s awesome 🙂
When I taught 8th-grade, we used to discuss space travel pros and cons, and there was always a few smart “cookies” who knew all of the things that were invented because of the space program. I still have that 1969 newspaper with the article of Neil Armstrong.
that jupiter montage is incredible. i love looking at NASA pics, some are astonishing — such beauty out there. thanks for the post, fun to catch up on the space program and that unforgettable day on the moon.
My son went crazy when he saw me reading this post because of the photos!! We both are fascinated by the Universe and all its mystery. NASA has some amazing photos. One of our favorite shows is from the Discovery Channel’s “Ultimate Space” collection and is called 95 Worlds and Counting about life on the 95 moons within our own solar system. It is narrated by John Lithgow and has some beautiful animations of life on the moons. We are so close and yet so far, so isolated and yet so tied to every other thing… It is a subject I could go on and on about… as you can see. Loved this post!!
I was surprised when I heard about the anniversary on the news. I didn’t realize it was 50 years ago. I remember seeing one of the shuttles sometime ago and one of the older ones on the Intrepid. Those things are so tiny inside. Wish I could ride in one, just so I could see what the Earth looks like from space. Wouldn’t that be cool?
Space is something that always fascinated me. So big, different and amazing.Can you imagine that our planet is just part of a massive galaxy floating in en even massive void? And how do we know? and how long before we know more? xx corinne
Im a bit of an astronomy buff myself, but had no clue about so many things on the post here especially about the Mars science lab. Glad to know so much more about NASA!