Important Day in Space History

Benji · Post by **Benji** » Wed Jun 18, 2003 10:10 am

Today in history, lots of small but important things occured that allowed us to acheive our goals and got us to where we are today. According to astronautix.com, in 1952, the blunt reentry vehicle concept was advocated by H. Julian Allen of NACA Ames Laboratory. This concept was used when designing the Mercury spacecraft to withstand reentry forces. In 1959 The Soviets tried to launch a lunar probe, but range saftey destroyed the vehicle 153 seconds after launch. NASA authorized $150,000 for Army Ordnance Missile Command studies of a lunar exploration program based on Saturn-boosted systems. Also in 1959, NASA started a Centrifuge program to investigate the role of a pilot in the launch of a multi-stage vehicle. I wonder if they understood the gravity of the situation (

). In 1977, Fullerton and Haise flew Enterprise (OV-101) for almost 56 minutes, landing at Edwards.

Well, that's the important stuff. There were other things (STS-7, for example), but you can check out the complete list for yourself if you want to. http://astronautix.com/thisday/june18.htm

monkeynautt · Post by **monkeynautt** » Wed Jun 18, 2003 12:30 pm

CNN is dumb. They said STS-7 was in 1984 and that it is the 20 year anniversary. They need people who can count.

spacecampaddict28 · Post by **spacecampaddict28** » Wed Jun 18, 2003 12:59 pm

Well I think on June 16th or something that was the anniversary of the first woman in space. I can't spell her name though. I am so bad at Russian names.

stargazer0105 · Post by **stargazer0105** » Wed Jun 18, 2003 2:27 pm

Think team names here Sara. You do too know it.

Post by **Vincent** » Wed Jun 18, 2003 2:44 pm

Yes, that is pretty shameful!

stargazer0105 · Post by **stargazer0105** » Wed Jun 18, 2003 3:27 pm

Ok, now it's my turn to feel dumb. Who is John Young?

Benji · Post by **Benji** » Wed Jun 18, 2003 3:27 pm

I'm bad with names period. There are times when when I forget John Young. At least hers is foreign.

Benji · Post by **Benji** » Wed Jun 18, 2003 3:30 pm

He flew, among many other missions, STS-1.

stargazer0105 · Post by **stargazer0105** » Wed Jun 18, 2003 3:39 pm

Oops! I guess I did know that considering I just looked at that patch today.

monkeynautt · Post by **monkeynautt** » Wed Jun 18, 2003 3:39 pm

I think he was also on Apollo 16.

Benji · Post by **Benji** » Wed Jun 18, 2003 3:42 pm

Sometimes it takes me a minute to remember some names, like Gene Cernan or Gene Kranz. Sometimes I confuse Ed White and Ed Hall. I'm terrible.

monkeynautt · Post by **monkeynautt** » Wed Jun 18, 2003 3:45 pm

There are so many names to remember. It's impossible to know all of the shuttle missions. I know a good amount from Apollo days though.

Boomerang · Post by **Boomerang** » Wed Jun 18, 2003 6:03 pm

Actually Youn flew 6 times Gemini 3 and Gemini 10, Apollo 10 and 16, STS-1 and 9 he was also back up pilot on Gemini 6, was on proposed backup crew for Apollo 207 prior to fire in Apollo 204, back up crew of Apollo 7, backup crew apollo 13, back up crew apollo 17, Also scheduled to fly STS-61J to deploy hubble space telescope in 1986 canceled after Challenger. Young is still an active astronaut and remains eligible to command future shuttle missions.

monkeynautt · Post by **monkeynautt** » Wed Jun 18, 2003 6:23 pm

I thought he was on 10 as well but I wasn't sure.

Boomerang · Post by **Boomerang** » Wed Jun 18, 2003 6:30 pm

Yep he was. The man has had quite a career in the space program. But I seriously doubt he will ever fly again i just dont think he'll ever retire.

spacecampaddict28 · Post by **spacecampaddict28** » Wed Jun 18, 2003 9:03 pm

Who was the Mercury or Gemini (I get the two mixed up) astronaut that was "fired"?

monkeynautt · Post by **monkeynautt** » Wed Jun 18, 2003 9:09 pm

Carpenter? It was on Mercury but I'm not exactly sure.

stargazer0105 · Post by **stargazer0105** » Wed Jun 18, 2003 9:24 pm

I think that's right.

spacecampaddict28 · Post by **spacecampaddict28** » Thu Jun 19, 2003 12:26 am

Carpenter. Yes, that is definately who I am thinking of, but now I can't remember why he got fired. Well....why he left...

Benji · Post by **Benji** » Thu Jun 19, 2003 9:57 am

Carpenter used up a lot of his fuel because he didn't want to come down and he didn't listen to orders. I don't think he was directly fired from this, but he didn't fly again.