2009: Day 207
Today in Spaaaaace:
(1958) Explorer 4, a aatellite instrumented by Dr. James Van Allen designed to study the radiation belts surrounding the Earth (named for Van Allen), was launched. The specific intent of this mission was to study the effects of nuclear explosions on the upon the belts (presumably in conjunction with planned detonations), but that was planned to involve two such satellites, and only this one was launched.
(1963) Syncom 2 (1 was lost via an electronics failure and ended up in the wrong orbit), the first geosynchronus communication satellite, launched by NASA via a Delta B #20 launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral. Over all it was a successful test satellite, enabling President Kennedy to make the first-ever satellite-relayed telephone call between two heads of state (a Nigerian President) and test out the possibilities for live, satellite-relayed television broadcasts. Its successor, launched the following year, was used to relay the '64 Tokyo Olympics to the U.S.
(1971) Apollo 15 launches. This was the fourth manned mission to the Moon, the first to have an extended stay (3 days on the Moon with 18.5 hours of activity outside the spacecraft and the first equipped with a Lunar Rover -- a buggy allowing a much broader range of surface travel. Some scandals concerning unauthorized items became part of the mission, including a couple of watches, 398 First Day covers (collectible stamps) which the crew would sign, and a small aluminum sculpture called "Fallen Astronaut," which, along with a plaque bearing the names of 20 fallen astronauts and cosmonauts, was left behind. The "scandal" elements all involved various commercial angles.
(2005) STS-114, the launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery - the first shuttle mission following the Columbia disaster. It delivered supplies to the International Space Station, test out in-space repair procedures for the shuttle's thermal protection system, replace a failed gyroscope, help with additional upkeep of the ISS and boost it approximately 4000 ft in altitude, something that's necessary since the ISS loses approximately 100 feet of altitude each day.
Born Today:
(1856) Irish writer and playwright George Bernard Shaw.
(1875) Psychiatrist Carl Jung.
(1894) Author Aldous Huxley.
(1895) Jane Bunford, Britain's tallest-ever person, and actress & comedienne Gracie Allen.
(1897) Novelist, short story and sports writer Paul Gallico, generally remembered as the author of The Poseidon Adventure.
(1909) Actress, singer and "TV's most beloved second banana" Vivian Vance.
(1921) Raconteur, radio and tv personality and actor Jean Shepherd.
(1922) Academy Award-winning director, screenwriter and producer Blake Edwards and actor Jason Robards.
(1928) Academy Awards-winning director, writer producer and photographer Stanley Kubrick.
(1943) Screenwrite, director and cinematographer Peter Hyams, and the Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger.
(1944) Actor Kiel Martin.
(1949) English musician and vocalist, known mainly as a member of Queen, Roger Meddows-Taylor.
(1957) ST: Deep Space Nine fans may want to note that Nana Visitor turns 52 today.
(1959) Actor, director, screenwriter producer and crooner Kevin Spacey.
(1964) Actress Sandra Bullock.
(1968) Actress Olivia Williams.
(1973) Actress Kate Beckinsale.
Last Gasps:
(1952) Eva Perón. Cry all you wish, Argentina.
(1984) Murderer and grave robber Ed Gein (the loose basis for several fictional serial killers) and statistician/public poller George Gallup. What are the chances?
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