collectSPACE Space History News

First look at Amazon CEO's historic rocket engines being conserved in Kansas

Tue, 21 May 2013 03:00:57 -0500

Despite having stood up to the tremendous thrust needed to launch the mighty Saturn V rocket toward the moon, it turns out that the mammoth Apollo F-1 engines that powered the booster's first two-and-a-half minutes of flight were no match for the Atlantic Ocean.

NASA to lease historic launch pad for use by commercial rockets

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:22:18 -0500

NASA's historic launch pad from where men blasted off for the moon and space shuttles departed for Earth orbit is now in need of a new rocket to launch. The space agency is seeking proposals for the commercial use of Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A.

Mars rover Opportunity breaks US distance record set by Apollo 17 moon buggy

Sat, 18 May 2013 19:43:48 -0500

A robotic Mars rover rolled past a record set by the last men to drive on the moon more than 40 years ago. NASA's Opportunity six-wheeled Mars Exploration Rover drove past the 22.2 miles the Apollo 17 astronauts rode on their lunar roving vehicle (LRV) in 1972.

Neil Armstrong's heartbeat, Apollo joystick pulled from auction after NASA inquiry

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:55:20 -0500

The joystick controller used to fly the Apollo 11 spacecraft to the moon, the recording of Neil Armstrong's heartbeat when he took the first "small step" onto the lunar surface, and the complete tool kit carried on NASA's final manned moon mission will not be auctioned, despite headlines heralding their sale.

Did 'Star Trek' give rise to NASA's 'Space Shuttle'?

Thu, 16 May 2013 08:00:14 -0500

NASA's first space shuttle, the test orbiter Enterprise, was named after the starship on TV's "Star Trek" in response to fans staging a write-in campaign. But did the U.S. space agency's use of the term "space shuttle" for its orbiters also stem from the sci-fi series?

Public invited to see Amazon CEO's moon engines in Kansas

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:17:58 -0500

The moon rocket engines that Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos recovered from the sea floor are now undergoing conversation and the public is invited to see. The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center will open its SpaceWorks Observation Gallery for daily tours May 24.

Skylab, space station astronauts reflect on 40 years of life off Earth

Tue, 14 May 2013 00:27:13 -0500

Before the International Space Station (ISS) existed, before U.S. astronauts lived on the Russian station Mir, America's first home in Earth orbit was Skylab. The converted third stage of a massive Saturn V rocket, Skylab launched 40 years ago on May 14, 1973.

Soyuz TMA-07M lands safely with Russian, American and Canadian crewmates

Mon, 13 May 2013 23:29:33 -0500

The International Space Station's (ISS) first Canadian commander landed back on Earth, together with his two American and Russian crewmates. For five months, they lived and worked in orbit, conducting science, playing music and tweeting.