Historical Events tagged with "low earth orbit"
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.
First All-Female Spacewalk by NASA Astronauts
NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Christina Koch participated in the first all-female spacewalk, where they ventured outside the International Space Station to replace a faulty power controller. This historic milestone marked a significant achievement in NASA's commitment to gender equality in space exploration. The astronauts worked together in the vacuum of space, showcasing their skills and training while accomplishing an important technical task that contributes to the station's functionality.
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 ReadingIridium 33 and Kosmos 2251 Satellite Collision
Iridium 33, a commercial communications satellite, and Kosmos 2251, a defunct Russian satellite, collided in low Earth orbit. This catastrophic event occurred approximately 790 kilometers above Siberia. The impact was a significant occurrence in space, as both satellites were destroyed upon collision. The event raised awareness regarding the increasing issue of space debris and the potential risks it poses to operational satellites and the International Space Station.
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