Historical Events tagged with "Apollo"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Space Exploration

Asteroid Toutatis Approaches Earth Closely

September 29th, 2004 20 years ago

On September 29, 2004, the asteroid 4179 Toutatis made a close approach to Earth, coming within four lunar distances from our planet. Discovered in 1989, Toutatis is an Apollo-type asteroid with an irregular shape measuring approximately 4.5 kilometers in length. This proximity allowed scientists to gather significant data on its size, shape, and orbit. The event marked an opportunity for researchers to study near-Earth objects more closely for both scientific interest and planetary defense strategies.

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Space Exploration

Apollo 17 Completes Final Moon Landing Mission

December 11th, 1972 52 years ago

Apollo 17 marked the final lunar landing mission of NASA's Apollo program, which explored the Moon's surface and returned valuable data. Launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the mission was crewed by astronauts Eugene Cernan, Harrison Schmitt, and Ronald Evans. Apollo 17 is particularly notable for being the only mission to include a scientist on board, with Schmitt being a qualified geologist. The mission lasted about 12 days, during which the lunar module landed in the Taurus-Littrow valley, allowing for extensive geological sampling and exploration. It concluded significant lunar research and achievements of the Apollo program.

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Space Exploration

Kennedy's Moon Speech at Rice University

September 12th, 1962 62 years ago

John F. Kennedy addressed a crowd at Rice University, urging the United States to commit to landing a man on the Moon before the end of the decade. He highlighted the nation's competitiveness in space and the importance of the space program to American pride and innovation. His speech emphasized that the challenges of space exploration would drive technological advancements and inspired a generation to dream of space travel and exploration.

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Space Exploration

Kennedy's Ambitious Moon Landing Goal

May 25th, 1961 63 years ago

In a landmark speech to Congress, U.S. President John F. Kennedy set an ambitious goal to land a man on the Moon before the end of the decade. This decisive moment aimed to bolster the United States' position during the Cold War and reflect technological superiority. By declaring the Moon landing a national priority, Kennedy galvanized public support and initiated a surge in investment and innovation in space exploration.

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