Columbia was NASA’s original space shuttle and served numerous microgravity experiments throughout its lifespan. Additionally, Columbia featured an external airlock/docking adaptor designed specifically to support Hubble Space Telescope servicing missions. Just 82 seconds after liftoff, foam from ET’s left bipod ramp collided with its left wing and caused a breach that allowed atmospheric gases into…
NASA’s Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft were first launched separately weeks apart in 1977, never imagined they would remain flying and continue collecting valuable data even with some instruments turned off to conserve power. Yet these “elder citizens” continue collecting invaluable information even today! They embarked on an epic tour of the outer planets, discovering…
Arctic waters and sea ice provide shelter to polar bears, known as Ursus maritimus. Here’s everything you need to know about these extraordinary animals – from their living environments to how quickly they swim! Their thick layers of fat and fur offer insulation from the cold, while their large paws enable them to walk on…
Mars, named for the Roman god of war, features an orange hue due to iron oxide content and has two small moons: Phobos and Deimos. Mars in astrology symbolizes our individual desire and what can be attained. Additionally, it affects how we relate to younger siblings and relatives. Astrological Signs Mars is an astrology planet…
China is one of the world’s most captivating and beguiling nations, from its ancient history and magnificent sites to its breathtaking culture – it offers so much for adventurers to discover in this incredible land. Here are 20 amazing facts about China that may surprise you! From being the world’s most populous nation to making…
The Colosseum is an iconic Roman landmark. Once used for gladiatori battles and animal hunts pitting humans against wild animals, as well as for public executions of criminals and prisoners of war, its grand structure once saw spectacle after spectacle unfold. This structure boasted 80 entrances/exits and could accommodate 50,000 spectators, providing all attendees with…
Fraser: The Planetary Society and JAXA recently collected names for their Hayabusa2 mission to asteroid Ryugu. These will be inscribed onto target markers dropped by the spacecraft, returning home when Hayabusa2 makes landfall. How and what do spacecraft names mean to us? Theme Names given to spacecraft typically reflect their creators’ culture, heroes and values;…
After the butterfly lays its eggs, they enter their larva stage – an astounding stage marked by voracious eating and rapid development. Caterpillars periodically shed their exoskeleton (old skin) as they increase in size. A caterpillar then creates a hard shell known as a chrysalis that hangs motionlessly from its body. From the outside, however,…
NFSA’s archive footage of the July 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing demonstrates humanity at its finest, from cars driving along highways to picnic rugs in Florida’s Merritt Island where sideburns and Instamatic cameras fill the screen in eagerness and expectation. But Miller appears to have hastened the editing of these tapes; his goal was likely…
