Guy Bluford was the first African American in space, flying on STS-8 in 1983. Before joining NASA, he flew F-4C fighters for the Air Force in Vietnam and completed 144 combat missions. Learn more about Bluford: https://t.co/A8qhtWr6uh#BlackHistoryMonth
50 years ago today, the Soviet Union's giant N-1 rocket was launched on its first test flight. The test failed, as did the three that followed. A model of the N-1 rocket is on display next to a model of the Saturn V rocket in our Space Race gallery. #Apollo50
Pluto was named for the Roman god of the underworld, and its moons are very on-brand: • Styx (river that leads to the underworld) • Charon (River Styx ferryman) • Nix (Charon's mother) • Hydra and Kerberos (underworld guards)
Thankfully, New Horizons blessed us with even clearer photos as it passed through the Pluto system. This composite photo highlights the striking differences between Pluto and Charon. (Relative sizes approx correct, but true separation is not to scale.)
College students: join us for a summer of exciting projects and professional development. And space puns, of course. 'Cause interning at Air and Space is out of this world. 🚀 Apply by February 27: https://t.co/NddArVfrAF
On this day in 1961, Mercury-Atlas 2 (MA-2) launched with an uncrewed Mercury capsule to test spacecraft performance. The capsule flew a suborbital mission that lasted 17 minutes and 56 seconds. More on MA-2: https://t.co/2L275P6Drg
After splashing down back on Earth, Friendship 7 went on a world tour. A "Fourth Orbit," if you will. Over the three month tour, it visited nearly 30 cities and was seen by four million people. More on the tour: https://t.co/N26Lvt5kqP
#Apollo 8 is known for the iconic Earthrise photo. But did you know that that image wasn't the first? Just minutes before taking the color photo we know today, Anders took this with a black and white camera. #Apollo88#Apollo50 50
Remembering the crew of Apollo 1. On January 27, 1967, astronauts Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, Edward H. White II, and Roger B. Chaffee perished in a fire during a pre-launch test for what was to be the first crewed Apollo mission.
We mourn the passing of aviator, astronaut, and first artist on another world, Alan Bean. His paintings brought the desolate beauty of the Ocean of Storms back to Earth, to inspire new explorers and visionaries for generations to come.
Remembering the crew of Challenger STS 51-L. Today in 1986: the launch of STS-51-L ended in tragedy when Challenger and crew were lost 73 seconds after liftoff. Crew of STS-51-L: Ellison Onizuka, Mike Smith, Christa McAuliffe, Dick Scobee, Greg Jarvis, Ron McNair & Judith Resnik.
