The events on this day in history for our heritage companies are noted below.
The earliest event was in 1961, the latest event was in 2021
One milestone event (5 to 65+ years ago)
Human Spaceflight:
1962 – NASA announces Project Fire, using GD Atlas D vehicles to test high-speed re-entry
1971 – MM X-24A flight 23, Dryden Lake – Pilot John Manke
1977 – ALT-4, Captive Inert Flight Test #1, Enterprise Shuttle/Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, Dryden Research Center, Edwards AFB – Altitude 16,000 feet – Approach and Landing Test Program
Military and Classified Programs:
1961 – LAUNCH: Lockheed Discoverer 21, Thor/Lockheed Agena A, SLC1W, VAFB
Exploration and Interplanetary Programs:
2002 – LM Mars Odyssey science mapping begins
2021 – LANDING: Perseverance rover lands on Mars (LM Aeroshell, ULA launch)
Earth-Monitoring and Civil Weather Satellite programs:
NONE
Commercial Programs:
1998 – LAUNCH (5): LM (Motorola) Iridium spacecraft, Delta 7920-10C, SLC2W, VAFB
2020 – LAUNCH: LM JCSAT-17, Ariane 5ECA, ELA2, Kourou, French Guiana – MILESTONE: 5 years ago
Test, ICBM, FBM programs:
NONE
Other:
NONE
The images today are from two missions. First there is a photo of the LM Aeroshell that protected the Perseverance rover during MARS entry/descent/landing in 2021. Here is the photo caption from the NASA webpage for the aeroshell:
The heat shield (left) and back shell (right) that comprise the aeroshell for NASA’s Mars 2020 mission are depicted in this image. Both components are nearly 15 feet (4.5 meters) in diameter. The aeroshell will encapsulate and protect the Mars 2020 rover and its descent stage both during their deep space cruise to Mars and during descent through the Martian atmosphere, which generates intense heat. The image was taken at Lockheed Martin Space in Denver, Colorado, which manufactured the aeroshell. JPL is building and will manage operations of the Mars 2020 rover for the NASA Science Mission Directorate at the agency’s headquarters in Washington. Photo Credits: LM/NASA.
Second, there is a drawing of the Odyssey spacecraft mission that was created prior to the launch in 2001. Drawing credit: NASA/JPL. Odyssey is still operational at least through 2025.
