Historical Events tagged with "european space agency"
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.
Philae Lander Touches Down on Comet 67P
The European Space Agency's Philae lander, launched from the Rosetta probe, successfully landed on the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. This historic event marked the first time a probe landed on a comet, enabling extensive research of its surface and composition. The landing occurred after a complex descent that took several hours, allowing scientists to gather vital data about the early solar system. Philae's unique instruments were designed to analyze the comet's surface, which could provide insights into the origins of water and organic molecules on Earth.
Continue ReadingFirst Launch of the European Vega Rocket
The European Space Agency successfully launched the Vega rocket from Kourou, French Guiana, marking a significant milestone in European access to space. The flight demonstrated Vega's capabilities to carry small payloads into low Earth orbit, thereby providing a new option for satellite launches. Designed primarily for small satellites, Vega has a payload capacity of up to 1,500 kg to a 700 km polar orbit. The launch was an essential step in enhancing Europe’s independent access to space and boosting its competitive edge in the global space market.
Continue ReadingAriane 5 Rocket Fails Shortly After Launch
The first flight of the Ariane 5 rocket, a European space launch vehicle manufactured by Arianespace, was conducted as part of a Cluster mission, which aimed to study the Earth's magnetosphere. Unfortunately, just 37 seconds post-launch, the rocket exploded in a catastrophic failure. This incident revealed critical software issues and led to significant changes in the European space program's approach to satellite launches and vehicle design.
Continue ReadingEndeavour launches to retrieve EURECA satellite
Space Shuttle Endeavour launched on STS-57 to retrieve the European Retrievable Carrier (EURECA) satellite. This mission marked the first time the Spacehab module was carried on a shuttle. The shuttle took off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, embarking on an important mission for international space collaboration. Astronauts conducted experiments in a variety of scientific fields during their time in orbit, showcasing the multifunctional capabilities of the shuttle.
Continue ReadingLaunch of Atlantis on STS-46 Mission
Space Shuttle Atlantis launched for STS-46 to deploy the European Retrievable Carrier (ERC) and the Tethered Satellite System (TSS) from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. This mission aimed to conduct tests in space technologies and explore the potential of tether systems in orbit. The mission uniquely featured a demonstration of a tethered satellite that was used to examine various Earth atmospheric phenomena and other scientific data.
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