Daily Extra :
valles or vallis: Sinuous valley.
Who Was Born Today?:
1932: Alfred M Worden, Jackson Michigan, Colonel USAF/astronaut, Apollo 15
1963: Heidemarie M Stefanyshyn-Piper, St. Paul, Minnesota, Lt Cmdr USN/astronaut
Who Died Today?:
Today in History:
1994: Clementine - USA Lunar Orbiter - (launched January 25, 1994) spent 70 days (between February 6 and May 5, 1994) in lunar orbit. The official name for Clementine is Deep Space Probe Science Experiment (DSPSE). It was a Department of Defense program used to test new space technology. Clementine was a new design using lightweight structure and propellant systems. Its four cameras mapped the surface of the Moon at 125-250 meters/pixel resolution. Clementine also used a laser to gather altimeter data which will make it possible to generate the first lunar topographic map.
1999: Stardust - USA Comet Sample Return launched. Stardust rendezvoused with comet P/Wild 2 in January 2004, studied the object, and collected material for analysis on Earth. The return capsule arrived back on Earth on January 15, 2006.
