This Day in History: Neil Armstrong steps onto the moon
On this day in 1969, Neil Armstrong becomes the first man to walk on the moon. Americans had won a “space race” to get there. We’d...
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- May 25
- 3 min
This Day in History: Apollo 10's near disaster
On this day in 1969, Apollo 10 travels back to Earth. Did you know that its mission nearly ended in tragedy? A lunar module carrying two...
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- Apr 11
- 3 min
This Day in History: Apollo 13, the “Successful Failure”
On this day in 1970, Apollo 13 is launched. Just two days later, the mission would unfortunately be struck by catastrophe. An oxygen tank...
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- Mar 3
- 2 min
This Day in History: Apollo 9, lost in Apollo 11’s shadow
On this day in 1969, Apollo 9 launches into space. It has been called one of the “lost and forgotten missions” in the Apollo program....
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- Feb 9
- 3 min
This Day in History: Apollo 14 returns from the moon
On this day in 1971, the crew of Apollo 14 splashes down in the Pacific Ocean. The astronauts had just become the third NASA crew to walk...
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- Jan 27
- 3 min
This Day in History: Apollo 1 ends in tragedy
On this day in 1967, the first manned Apollo mission ends in heartbreak. Apollo 1’s crew had been at Kennedy Space Center, preparing for...
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- Dec 27, 2020
- 2 min
This Day in History: Apollo 8's Christmas at the moon
On this day in 1968, Apollo 8 splashes down in the ocean. The crew had spent Christmas Eve orbiting the moon! The three men famously saw...
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- Aug 12, 2020
- 3 min
This Day in History: The Space Shuttle Enterprise
On this day in 1977, the Space Shuttle Enterprise makes its first free flight. Did you know that NASA built an orbiter than never went...
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- May 25, 2020
- 3 min
This Day in History: JFK’s “Moon Shot” Speech
On this day in 1961, John F. Kennedy shakes the country into action with a memorable address. “I believe that this nation,” he told...
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- Apr 9, 2020
- 3 min
This Day in History: Mercury Seven, the first astronauts
On this day in 1959, NASA announces the names of its first astronauts. The “Mercury Seven” were an elite group, selected only after an...
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- Feb 8, 2020
- 3 min
This Day in History: NASA and the first untethered spacewalk
On this day in 1984, a NASA astronaut makes the first untethered spacewalk. No one had ever done such a thing before. Usually, a long...
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- Feb 1, 2020
- 3 min
This Day in History: The Space Shuttle Columbia explodes
On this day in 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia explodes above the skies of Texas. Columbia had once been the first space shuttle to...
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- Oct 11, 2019
- 3 min
This Day in History: Apollo 7, the first manned Apollo mission
On this day in 1968, Apollo 7 is launched. You are used to hearing about Apollo 11, which famously carried Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin...
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- Jul 31, 2019
- 3 min
This Day in History: Apollo 15 & the Moon Buggy
On this day in 1971, Apollo 15 astronauts become the first to ride in a so-called moon buggy. Did you know that Apollo 15 carried the...
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- Feb 28, 2019
- 3 min
This Day in History: The 1966 NASA T-38 crash
On this day in 1966, two astronauts are tragically killed as they travel from Houston to St. Louis. Elliot See and Charles Bassett were...
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- Oct 5, 2018
- 3 min
This Day in History: The nearly forgotten story of Apollo 12
On this day in 1929, a future astronaut is born. Richard “Dick” Gordon, Jr. was aboard Apollo 12 when that spacecraft was struck by...
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- Aug 13, 2018
- 3 min
This Day in History: Apollo 11’s crew, released from quarantine
On this day in 1969, multiple parades are held in honor of the Apollo 11 astronauts. They’d just been released from quarantine. Many...