Historical Events tagged with "scientific mission"

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

Voyager 1 Captures Iconic Pale Blue Dot Image

February 14th, 1990 35 years ago

The Voyager 1 spacecraft captured a distant photograph of Earth, famously known as the 'Pale Blue Dot.' Taken from approximately 3.7 billion miles away, this image was part of a wider series of portraits of the solar system as it turned to leave. The photo showcased Earth as a tiny speck in the vastness of space, serving as a poignant reminder of our planet’s fragility. The decision to take this photograph was made by astronomer Carl Sagan, who influenced the mission team to turn Voyager's camera back towards Earth.

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Space Exploration

NASA launches Mariner 10 toward Mercury

November 3rd, 1973 51 years ago

NASA launched Mariner 10, a space probe, designed to study Mercury, Venus, and the solar environment. After successfully navigating its trajectory, it became the first spacecraft to reach Mercury, arriving on March 29, 1974. The mission aimed to gather detailed information about Mercury's surface and atmosphere, providing insights into the innermost planet's characteristics and its relationship with the sun.

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