SpaceX Delivers Supplies to the ISS

In 2010 SpaceX became the first private company to return a spacecraft safely to Earth from low-Earth orbit. In May 2012 its Dragon spacecraft began to periodically deliver supplies to the International Space Station.

Sources: Dragon

Wikipedia: SpaceX_Dragon

Just recently, we all watched in awe–Elon Musk included–as SpaceX launches the Falcon Heavy and then landed two of its boosters side by side, simultaneously. It was an event that blew the collective minds of all in attendance and people all around the world.

However, this would not have been possible without the many successes and failures of SpaceX since its creation. SpaceX has has boldly gone where no private space enterprise has gone before.

In 2010, SpaceX made history by beginning its path in reusability by successfully returning a Dragon capsule to Earth after it had launched. A feet never before accomplished by a private space entity. Then, in May 2012, SpaceX started making direct deliveries to the International Space Station.

These historic moments changed the future of spaceflight forever. The belief in Elon and SpaceX grew exponentially overnight. Now, with over a dozen successful launches and landings with their rockets, the sky isn’t the limit, but simply the froth on the waves of the cosmic ocean SpaceX is destined to sail.

Occupy Mars, indeed.

Ron Sparkman

What memories do you have of these events? How did the people in your life react to them?



Skylab, America’s First Space Station

In 1973 Skylab became the United States’ first space station. It continued in operation until 1979.

Sources: Skylab: America’s First Space Station. The Day Skylab Crashed to Earth

I was born in early 1978, so I don’t have too many “non-fuzzy” memories of Skylab while it was still orbiting the Earth. I vaguely remember (very vaguely) when there was some media hoopla that it would come down over populated areas in mid-1979. A certain contingent of people really believed it would impact land, even though most of the Earth consists of water. Some enterprising entrepreneurs were actually selling “Skylab reentry hats” as a novelty item. At the time, there was also a very funny Saturday Night Live sketch starring the late actor/comedian John Belushi, where he supposes the space station will land on his apartment. But Skylab landed mostly over the Indian Ocean, with some pieces coming down over Western Australia – the space station was too “strong” to come down completely over the water.

My next Skylab-related recollection came around 1983, when I was a space-obsessed Kindergartner. I remember reading a kids’ space book, and seeing a picture of Skylab – even though it had launched 10 years previously, it still had a retro-futuristic appeal with its windmill-like solar panels. I remember having a picture of it on my wall as a kid, and many copies of the October 1974 National Geographic magazine, which had a great Skylab retrospective, including a panoramic photo of all three crews. I just thought this was the coolest thing!

 So from then on, I was a bit of a Skylab obsessive, and I loved reading about America’s first space station. While I didn’t experience much of it while it was still “flying,” I do have warm memories of reading about it and gazing at pictures of it as a young child. I still have a copy of the National Geographic, and it is now autographed by two Skylab astronauts: Dr. Joseph Kerwin, and the late Capt. Paul Weitz, USN (both Skylab 2).

Emily Carney 

What memories do you have of Skylab? How did you and the people in your life react to it?

Space Shuttle Columbia



NASA History. Columbia Introduction Columbia Disaster




Ad astra per aspera.



Apollo 11



NASA. Apollo 11 Mission Overview

Wikipedia. Apollo 11




Space Shuttle Challenger


Sources: Challenger

Wikipedia. Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster





Thirty-two years ago today. Ad astra per aspera.



The End of the Apollo Missions


Sources: SP-4223 




Apollo One


Sources: Mission Pages. Apollo 1

Wikipedia. Apollo 1



Ad astra per aspera.


