STS-9

November 1983, STS-9, also known as STS-41A and Spacelab 2 launch as the sixth mission of the Columbia. STS-9 sent the first non-U.S. citizen into space on the Shuttle, Ulf Merbold, becoming the first ESA and first West German citizen to go into space

STS-8

I remember getting up in the middle of the night to watch the televised launch of Challenger. Once the shuttle cleared the tower shortly after 2am, I went outside and looked down the street to see the flame from the rockets light up the sky form 150 miles away.… Read the rest “STS-8”

STS-7

STS-7 was the second mission of Space Shuttle Challenger and Bob Crippen. It was also the long over due flight of the first American woman astronaut, Sally Ride. June 18, 1983. The mission featured the release of two satellites and the capture of one.… Read the rest “STS-7”

STS-6

Launch: 4 April 1983 18:30:00 UTC STS-6 was the sixth NASA Space Shuttle mission and the maiden flight of the Space Shuttle Challenger. Launched from Kennedy Space Center on 4 April 1983, the mission deployed the first Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, TDRS-1, into orbit, before landing at Edwards Air Force Base on 9 April.… Read the rest “STS-6”

STS-5

Launch: 11 November 1982, 12:19:00 UTC STS-5 was the first operational flight of the Space Shuttle Orbiter 102 Columbia. Commander Vance D. Brand, Pilot Robert F. Overmyer, Mission Specialist Joseph P. Allen, Mission Specialist William B. Lenoir. STS-5 was the first shuttle mission to deploy communications satellites into orbit.

STS-4

Launch: 27 June 1982, 15:00:00 STS-4 was the final test flight for the shuttle. Astronauts Thomas Ken Mattingly Ⅱ, and Henry W. Harsfield, Jr. orbited for a week in the summer 1982.

STS-3

Launch: 22 Mar 1982, 11:00:00 am STS-3 was the third test flght of the Space Shuttle Obiter Columbia. Astronauts were Jack R. Lousma, commander, and C. Gordon Fullerton, pilot.

STS-2

Launch: 12 Nov 1981, 10:09:59 am STS-2 was the United States’ second Space Shuttle orbital flight test mission. Crewmen were Astronauts Joe H. Engle, commander, and Richard H. Truly, pilot. Their spacecraft, Orbiter 102 Columbia, is depicted in the insignia along with the crew members’ surname, and the merged eagle and American flag.… Read the rest “STS-2”

STS-1

STS-1 was the first of four orbital flight tests to verify the design and performance capability of the Space Transportation System. Veteran Astronaut John Young was the commander of the mission. Rookie Astronaut Robert Crippen was the pilot. The mission was approximately fifty-four hours.… Read the rest “STS-1”

Somewhere Else Tomorrow

Rather nice documentary on Amazon Prime about (East) German Daniel Rintz and his motorcycle trip from Berlin to Australia. Like Motorcycle Diaries, Jupiter Travels, and Long Way Round, the story focuses on the interactions with the people along the journey and the hardships or travel.

Beforeigners

Beforeigners
HBO Europe has a new show from Norway that is a new take on the Alienation formula using time travel instead of space travel as the source of the refugees. It is an interesting look at 21st century Norway and how it relates to their Viking heritage.… Read the rest “Beforeigners”