June 14, 2024 Quick space linksCourtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.
- Chang’e-6’s orbit was raised to an altitude of 246km sometime between June 11th and 12th
It will likely send its sample return capsule back to Earth in about a week.
- China’s new Long March 10 rocket successfully completed a three-engine static fire test on June 14, 2024
The rocket is to be used for China’s planned manned lunar missions.
- On this day in 1967, Mariner 5 launched to do the second fly-by of Venus
NASA had built it as a backup for its Mariner 4 Mars fly-by mission, and repurposed it for Venus, adding a sunshield. It zipped past Venus on October 19, 1967, one day after the Soviet Venera lander made the first attempt to soft land there. Both confirmed that Venus was a hot hellhole with an atmospheric temperature of 800 degrees Fahrenheit.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.
- Chang’e-6’s orbit was raised to an altitude of 246km sometime between June 11th and 12th
It will likely send its sample return capsule back to Earth in about a week.
- China’s new Long March 10 rocket successfully completed a three-engine static fire test on June 14, 2024
The rocket is to be used for China’s planned manned lunar missions.
- On this day in 1967, Mariner 5 launched to do the second fly-by of Venus
NASA had built it as a backup for its Mariner 4 Mars fly-by mission, and repurposed it for Venus, adding a sunshield. It zipped past Venus on October 19, 1967, one day after the Soviet Venera lander made the first attempt to soft land there. Both confirmed that Venus was a hot hellhole with an atmospheric temperature of 800 degrees Fahrenheit.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Mr. Zimmerman, please correct the title, because: The first fly-by of Venus was performed by NASA’s Mariner 2 spacecraft. This historic event took place on December 14, 1962. Mariner 2 was launched on August 27, 1962, and became the first successful mission to another planet. The spacecraft passed within about 34,773 kilometers (21,607 miles) of Venus. During its fly-by, Mariner 2 collected valuable data on the planet’s atmosphere, temperature, and surface characteristics, significantly enhancing our understanding of Venus and marking a major milestone in space exploration.
Questioner: You are correct. I was using my own Chronological Encyclopedia as reference, but didn’t look carefully enough. Now fixed.
Tom MacDonald
“Me vs. You” (June 14, 2024)
https://youtu.be/najeyO0CuXw
3:45