On January 31, 1971, the Apollo 14 mission lifted off from the pad. This photo from Retro Space Images shows the crew a few days before launch.
And another NASA anniversary: Ham the Chimp launched into space on January 31, 1961, 51 years ago today.
(Source: lightthiscandle)
Many amazing space feats have occurred on January 31. On this day in 1958, the United States launched its first satellite, Explorer I, and officially entered the Space Race. In this press conference photo, Dr. William Pickering, Dr. James Van Allen, and Wernher von Braun happily hold a model of the Juno rocket, which carried Explorer I into space.
Ohio State's Monthlong Celebration of Friendship 7
They’re having dances, and NASA historians, and space trivia, and astronauts, and long talks about Project Mercury, and triathlons, and space food, and arts and crafts, and the Glenn Research Center, and rowing machines.
I want to go to all of this. All of it. Even the boot camp.
Deke Slayton watches a rocket launch. I think that this is the unmanipulated version of this photo.
Gus admires some “water colors” and “modern art” in Bermuda.
Alan Shepard doesn’t have to wear a suit and tie. Why? Because he’s Alan Shepard. (Retro Space Images)
Astronaut John Glenn poses with a model of the Mercury spacecraft that was presented to him during a visit to the McDonnell plant in St. Louis. Photo was taken on March 15, 1962.
Great picture!
