Category Archives: International Space Station

Chronology of Key Space Anniversaries for 2017

Posted on January 9, 2017 by launiusr

1942—75 Years Ago 3 October—Germany launched its V-2 rocket and is the first spacecraft to cross the Kármán line (100 km). 1947—70 Years Ago 20 February—The United States sent fruit flies into space. 1952—65 Years Ago 1 April—The U.S. Army … Continue reading →

Posted in Apollo, Applications Satellites, Cold War Competition, Earth Science, History, International Space Station, Lunar Exploration, Science, Space, Space Shuttle | Tagged 1960s, American exceptionalism, cold war, Department of Defense, Earth science, History, International Space Station, JFK, Moon, Moon race, NASA, public policy, Ronald Reagan, science, Soviet Union, space science, space shuttle, U.S. Civil Space, Wernher von Braun | 4 Comments

Pretty Blue Planet

Posted on September 4, 2015 by launiusr

This is a stunning collection of images from space: PrettyBluePlanet. Enjoy.

Posted in Earth Science, International Space Station, Personal, Space | Tagged aesthetics, environmental movement | 1 Comment

What Might a Global History of Space Exploration Look Like?

Posted on August 24, 2015 by launiusr

I would like to know the answer to this question. I would also very much like to hear what others think about the answers to this question. I have been contemplating this issue. Here are my thoughts thus far. By its … Continue reading →

Posted in Cold War Competition, International Space Station, Space | Tagged global history, historiography, space exploration, space race | 7 Comments

The International Space Station and the Clash of Civilizations

Posted on February 9, 2015 by launiusr

As the operations on the International Space Station now move toward a score of years, it may be that this cooperative venture provides one of the clearest opportunities present for tying nation-states together. One is reminded of the quote from … Continue reading →

Posted in International Space Station, Space | Tagged clash of civilizations, cold war, History, international relations, ISS, NASA, public perceptions, Samuel P. Huntington, space science, space shuttle, U.S. Civil Space | 1 Comment

Live HD view of Earth from the International Space Station

Posted on May 9, 2014 by launiusr

There is a very Cool High Definition Earth Viewing (HDEV) camera on the International Space Station, located here. The HDEV research investigation places four commercially available high definition cameras on the exterior of the space station for use in streaming live video … Continue reading →

Posted in International Space Station, Space | Tagged (HDEV), Cool High Definition Earth Viewing, International Space Station, NASA, public perceptions, U.S. Civil Space | 2 Comments

Dennis Tito and the Quest for Orbital Space Tourism

Posted on February 3, 2014 by launiusr

I recently wrote a blog post on the “The Long Path to Space Tourism” about pre-twenty-first century efforts to make possible ordinary people traveling into space. In addition that story, I also want to discuss a major breakthrough in space tourism … Continue reading →

Posted in International Space Station, Politics, Space | Tagged Albert A. Harrison, Dennis Tito, Dwayne A. Day, Energiya, History, international relations, International Space Station, Mark Shuttleworth, Mir, Mircorp, NASA, Orphans of Apollo, politics, public perceptions, Soviet Union, Soyuz, space shuttle, space tourism, SPACE.com, U.S. Civil Space | 2 Comments

Announcing the Space Station Freedom Program, January 25, 1984

Posted on January 24, 2014 by launiusr

We are coming up on the the thirtieth anniversary of the public announcement by President Ronald Reagan in his January 25, 1984, State of the Union Address about building a space station. At that time he said: “America has always been greatest … Continue reading →

Posted in History, International Space Station, Politics, Space | Tagged American exceptionalism, cold war, History, international relations, International Space Station, politics, public policy, Ronald Reagan, Soviet Union, U.S. Civil Space | Leave a comment

Wednesday’s Book Review: “The New Space Race: China vs. the U.S.”

Posted on November 27, 2013 by launiusr

The New Space Race: China vs. the U.S. By Erik Seedhouse. Chichester, UK: Springer-Praxis, 2010. Acknowledgments, figures, tables, abbreviations, illustrations, appendices, index. 256 Pages. ISBN: 13-978-1441908797. Paperback, $34.95 USD. Springer-Praxis has been churning out these books on spaceflight for some … Continue reading →

Posted in International Space Station, Politics, Space | Tagged China, Department of Defense, Erik Seedhouse, international relations, public perceptions, public policy, space race, Springer Praxis, The New Space Race: China vs. the U.S., U.S. Civil Space | 6 Comments

Redirect: Lessons from Terrestrial Exploration for Earth Orbit

Posted on October 28, 2013 by launiusr

Last week I published an op-ed in Space News entitled “Lessons from Terrestrial Exploration for Earth Orbit.” It focused on the history of European expansion beginning in the fifteenth century and the outcomes of that effort. In the process, Western … Continue reading →

Posted in History, International Space Station, Personal, Politics, Space | Tagged Christopher Columbus, European expansion, Henry Hudson, Lewis and Clark, op-ed, Space News | 6 Comments

Was NASA Serious about Trying to Rescue Skylab?

Posted on August 30, 2013 by launiusr

On the May 19, 1979, episode of Saturday Night Live, the path-breaking comedy program that everyone who was anyone watched, John Belushi played a science commentator for “Weekend Update,” its faux news segment. Belushi began with a staid report on … Continue reading →

Posted in History, International Space Station, Politics, Science, Space, Space Shuttle | Tagged History, International Space Station, John Belushi, NASA, public policy, Saturday Night Live, Skylab, space science, space shuttle, U.S. Civil Space | 15 Comments