For all twick or tweeters, a photo of Nicole, who also tweets @Astro_Nicole. She will return from ISS on STS129 - (via @Astro_Bones http://twitpic.com/ns1bw )
1993: The space race officially comes to an end when the two old antagonists agree to set competition aside and cooperate in space. It has nothing to do with feeling warm and gooey inside: Both the U.S. and Russian space agencies are foundering and, as Bill Withers might say, need someone to lean on.
By the early ’90s, NASA was nearly moribund. Although largely recovered from the 1986 Challenger disaster, manned spaceflight activity was low owing to a lack of money and well-focused projects. As a result, NASA’s remaining shuttle fleet spent a lot of time idling on its collective wheels.
The Russians were in even worse shape. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 was a crushing blow for Russian space aspirations, which had been heavily subsidized by the Communist government. With state support mostly gone and the new Russian government facing more pressing issues on Earth, the Russian Federal Space Agency, which was less than two years old in September 1993, was left to shift for itself. In an effort to keep Roskosmos (as the agency was later known) afloat, the powerful design bureaus propping it up — companies like Energia and Lavochkin — turned to the launching of commercial satellites and space tourism to help feed the kitty.
If you missed the Space Shuttle (Endeavour sts-127) landing fear not since NASA has posted it to YouTube.
On 20 June 2009 Space Rules is the place to be on tumblr to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing. Follow Space Rules (if you haven’t already) so you don’t miss out.
Suggestions and links are more than welcome. Send them to lyallsf at gmail or use the new SUBMIT form.
I’ll give you credit for your space exploration or moon post just make sure you attribute the source & content creators.
Adjacent to the Kennedy Space Center thousands of spectators camped out on beaches and roads to watch the launch of Apollo 11, which launched at 9:32 a.m. Eastern on July 16, 1969. via www.nasa.gov
isay:
This stuff makes me all teary, guys, it really does.
Never bloody forget.
(image via Boston Globe, Remebering Apollo 11, thanks isay)
The ‘Earth Rising’ picture is apparently the most viewed image ever.
