Tag: space

Michelle Williams To Play Astronaut Christa McAuliffe In Challenger Movie
Entertainment

Michelle Williams To Play Astronaut Christa McAuliffe In Challenger Movie

“We are more than humbled and extremely grateful for the opportunity to help tell the story of Christa McAuliffe and the Challenger mission.” On Jan. 28, 1986, the U.S. space shuttle Challenger exploded just 73 seconds after lift-off from Cape Canaveral, Florida. All seven crew on board were killed. Among the dead were Christa McAuliffe, a high school teacher who was the first-ever American civilian selected to go into space as part of the Teacher in Space Project. She beat out more than 11,000 applicants for the opportunity and gained national recognition leading up to the launch. She had planned to teach lessons to her students from space and underwent extensive training to be a part of the mission. At the time of her death, millions of people in America were watching the shuttle l...
Neil deGrasse Tyson wishes NASA a happy birthday in emotional reading
News

Neil deGrasse Tyson wishes NASA a happy birthday in emotional reading

As far as the internet is concerned, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has been having a weird time lately, getting ragged on here and there for some of his not-so-cosmic brain thoughts. But Tyson may be turning some folks back to his side after an emotional reading he did at New York Comic Con. At a NYCC panel, Tyson read a birthday letter he wrote to NASA, which just celebrated its 60th anniversary on Oct. 4. Tyson’s own birthday is Oct. 5th, close enough for the scientist to consider himself and the organization birthday buddies. Tyson recounted his youth watching astronauts like Buzz Aldrin land on the moon, but he also talked about how he felt conflicted watching NASA recruit military pilots at a time when war was becoming less and less popular. Tyson then turned to how racia...
Best 20 Little-known Details About Astronauts’ Jobs That Prove Space Is Even Weirder Than We Think
Life

Best 20 Little-known Details About Astronauts’ Jobs That Prove Space Is Even Weirder Than We Think

Many children dream of becoming astronauts when they grow up. The thought of blasting off into space, exploring the stars, and experiencing zero gravity is nothing short of exhilarating. Space, truly, is the final frontier. For those who do actually pursue their space dream and make it through NASA’s grueling selection process, they’re privy to a whole bunch of stuff us grounded folks aren’t. You might think you know what it’s like in outer space, but the truth of what it takes to get there has always been the secret of a privileged few, until now! 1. Training to be an astronaut is brutal, and very few people are able to make it all the way to the end. For example, in one training exercise, trainees were dropped off in the frigid tundra of a Moscow forest with limited supplies and fo...
Not even Sean Penn can get ‘The First’ off the ground
Entertainment, Movies, News

Not even Sean Penn can get ‘The First’ off the ground

If you start watching The First, Hulu’s latest prestige drama starring Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn in a rare TV role, expecting it to be “Sean Penn in space,” you’ll surely be left disappointed. The first season mostly stays earthbound as it focuses on the political, personal, and scientific stakes of sending the first human crew to Mars, but by the time the rocket takes off we’re left with a slow burn that doesn’t fully pay off—or adds much to the genre—and predictable turns interspersed with some decent character moments and gorgeous visuals. With a focus on the crew and the people striving to make it happen, The First doesn’t shy away from the personal ramifications of signing up for a space mission of this nature. It disrupts their lives for several years, affects their family and...
Weird Satellite-Like Mass Orbiting Earth Has Scientist Perplexed About Its Real Origins
Viral

Weird Satellite-Like Mass Orbiting Earth Has Scientist Perplexed About Its Real Origins

Whenever a situation is shrouded in mystery, it’s only a matter of time before people begin spewing conspiracy theories. The terrorist attacks on September 11, the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and even NASA’s moon landing are all ripe with conspiracies. While the events mentioned above are well known, there are plenty of strange theories and creepy facts surrounding a mysterious object many people have never heard of. It’s an oddly shaped “satellite” orbiting our planet, and no one has any idea how it got there… Conspiracy theorists see connections everywhere. One of the most common factors in conspiracy theories is just how often they seem to be connected to the perfidious doings of the government.   Google any major event in American history and you’re sure to find a conspi...