Daily Extra :
Astronomy & Space Word of The Day
carbon: abundant element found in all known organic compounds (living things) and many inorganic compounds. Carbon is found in everything from graphite (pencil lead) to diamonds to gasoline.
Who Was Born Today?:
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1949 Jean-Jacques Favier, born in Kehl, Germany, astronaut, STS 78
Who Died Today?:
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1941 Annie Jump Cannon, U.S. astronomer (Henry Draper catalogues), dies at 77
Today in History:
837: Best view of Halley's Comet in 2000 years
1954: Robert Oppenheimer accused of being a communist
1959: USAF launches Discoverer II into polar orbit
1959: Vanguard SLV-5 launched for Earth orbit (failed)
1970: Apollo 13 - USA Lunar Flyby (April 11-17, 1970) Crew: James A. Lovell, Jr., Fred W. Haise, Jr., John L. Swigert, Jr. The Apollo 13 mission became one of survival for the astronauts on board. During the translunar coast an explosion destroyed both power and propulsion systems of the Command Service Module. The Lunar Module was used as a lifeboat for the astronauts.
1984: 11th Space Shuttle Mission (41C)-Challenger 5-returns to Earth
1985: Atlantis ferried to Kennedy Space Center via Ellington AFB, Texas