KSC: This Week in Space (June 1-15)

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex just shared with us the latest edition of their regular feature known as "This Week in Space." Let's take a look back:

• June 1, 1951: The Delta wing configuration is confirmed, marking a breakthrough for future spaceflight. This was the wing pattern implemented in the design of America’s space shuttle.

• June 2, 2003: Europe successfully launched its first probe to Mars, called Mars Express. Its mission was to gather information about Mars’ mineral makeup.
• June 3, 1965: Astronaut Ed White made the first American spacewalk during the Gemini 4 mission. White used an oxygen-jet gun to propel himself out of the spacecraft, but the fuel ran out in three minutes. After that, White had to twist his body and use the tether to maneuver.
• June 4, 1974: Construction began on Space Shuttle Enterprise. Enterprise was only a test model for landing, and did not fly to space.
• June 5, 1961: The Saturn 1 Launch Complex was completed. The rocket holding gantry remains the largest movable land structure in North America.
• June 7, 1992: Explorer 67, the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE), launched. This was NASA’s first major mission focused on extreme ultraviolet astronomy. Explorer 67 delivered the first all sky survey in the extreme ultraviolet band and still provides data today.
• June 8, 1625: Italian astronomer Giovanni Cassini was born. Cassini discovered four of Saturn’s moons.
• June 9, 1812: German astronomer, Johann Gottfried Galle, was born. Galle was the first to discover the planet Neptune and has a Neptune ring in his name.
• June 10, 2003: The Spirit rover lifted off for an expected 90-day mission on Mars. Spirit stayed active for more than 6 years, performing research of the Red Planet’s surface.
• June 11, 1928: A rocket-boosted glider piloted by German Friedrich Stamer became the first ever manned rocket-powered aircraft to take flight. The glider flew for a total of 70 seconds followed by a successful landing. 
• June 12, 1924: Former President George H.W. Bush was born. A proponent of the space program, President Bush said, “Why the moon?  Why Mars?  Because it is humanity’s destiny to strive, to seek, to find…history proves that we have never lost by pressing the limits of our frontiers."
• June 13, 1983: After 30 years of flight, the Pioneer 10 spacecraft left our solar system and began its journey into interstellar space. Subsequently completing its Jupiter missions, the craft now glides silently through the galaxy as a ghost ship.
• June 14, 1985: After a successful landing on Venus, Russian spacecraft Vega 2 launched its payload: a balloon filled with the special equipment to gather information on the makeup of Venus’ atmosphere.
• June 15, 2014: Today is Father’s Day. It’s a day to remember all of the brave fathers who dedicate their time and risk their lives for the advancement of space exploration.

For more information, visit www.KennedySpaceCenter.com.