TRUFFULAUT #18

http://home.earthlink.net/~truffulaut/id29.html

19 July 2004 -- MOON DAY**

For over 30 years, I have celebrated the second Monday after Independence Day as Moon Day to commemorate that glorious day in world history when a man first stepped on the Moon -- July 20, 1969. Independence Day is hot, crowded, and tiring; the world needs a quiet reflective holiday two weeks later to celebrate a modern miracle that reminds us of our common humanity, shared history, and inextricably linked future together on this beautiful planet.

SPOTLIGHT ON NASA

http://www.earth.nasa.gov/flash_top.html

ADDRESS AT RICE UNIVERSITY ON THE NATIONS SPACE EFFORT

PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1962

We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won, and they must be won and used for the progress of all people. For space science, like nuclear science and all technology, has no conscience of its own. Whether it will become a force for good or ill depends on man, and only if the United States occupies a position of pre-eminence can we help decide whether this new ocean will be a sea of peace or a new terrifying theater of war. I do not say that we should or will go unprotected against the hostile misuse of space any more than we go unprotected against the hostile use of land or sea, but I do say that space can be explored and mastered without feeding the fires of war, without repeating the mistakes that man has made in extending his writ around this globe of ours.

http://www.jfklibrary.org/j091262.htm

APOLLO

Begun in 1961, the Apollo program became the backbone of the American space program. Two significant highlights during the Apollo program were the first humans to leave Earth orbit and the first human landing on the Moon.

http://www.spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov/NASA.Projects/Human.Exploration.and.Development.of.Space/Human.Space.Flight/Apollo.Missions/.index.html

LUNAR ORBIT

December 21-27, 1968

Apollo 8 was the second human flight in the program and the first human lunar orbit mission.

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/history/apollo/apollo8/index.html

**LUNAR LANDING -- July 20, 1969

The purpose of the Apollo 11 mission was to land men on the lunar surface and to return them safely to Earth. The crew was Neil A. Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, Command Module pilot; and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr, Lunar Module pilot. With the success of Apollo 11, the national objective to land men on the Moon and return them safely to Earth had been accomplished.

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/history/apollo/apollo11/index.html

ROBERT GODDARD

On March 16, 1926, Goddard successfully tested the first liquid fuel rocket, at Auburn, Massachusetts.

http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blgoddard.htm

WERNER VON BRAUN

The brainchild of von Braun's rocket team operating at a secret laboratory at Peenemünde on the Baltic coast, the V2 rocket was the immediate antecedent of those used in space exploration programs in the United States and the Soviet Union [He was the first] director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and the chief architect of the Saturn V launch vehicle, the superbooster that would propel Americans to the Moon.

http://history.msfc.nasa.gov/vonbraun/bio.html

SPACE CENTER HOUSTON

Space Center Houston is the Official Visitor's Center of NASA's Johnson Space Center, which is the home of astronaut training and Mission Control.

http://www.spacecenter.org/

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER

The Mission of the Johnson Space Center is the expansion of a human presence in space through exploration and utilization for the benefit of all.

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/info/index.html

JET PROPULSION LABORATORY (JPL)

JPL is a federally funded research and development facility managed by the California Institute of Technology for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. JPL's history dates to the 1930s... Their first rocket firing took place there on October 31, 1936. The American space age began January 31, 1958, with the launch of the first U.S. satellite, Explorer 1, built and controlled by JPL.

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/

ASTRONOMY PICTURE OF THE DAY

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

OCTOBER 4, 1957 SPUTNIK

The [Soviet Union] launched the first artificial satellite from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. They equipped the Sputnik with transmitters to broadcast on frequencies at 20 and 40 MHz so everyone will know it's up there.

http://www.batnet.com/mfwright/sputnik.html

http://www.kbtm.ru/english/complexes/baikonur.htm

RUSSIAN AVIATION AND SPACE AGENCY

Space exploration stimulates creative ideas at the edge of possible and predetermines Earth civilization progress heights forming national technological and engineering-industrial elite. Cosmonautics creates natural sphere of dual-use technologies application, provides solution for global telecommunication and education systems problems, facilitates environmentally safe use of natural resources, and is capable to warn about natural and technogenic disasters. I am sure that the cradle of austronautics, Russia, will take a respectful place in the information community. Best wishes, dear friends!

Yu. Koptev - Director General Russian Aviation and Space Agency

http://www.rosaviakosmos.ru/english/eindex.htm

CHINA NATIONAL SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Space programs is a common program for humanity. Opening of space frontier and exploring our universe are dreams of human kinds and our eternal pursuit. It is also the locomotive of our social development. China National Space Administration will strengthen international exchange and cooperation under the principle of equality and common progress. Together with people from all nations, we shall actively make our due contribution to the peaceful use of outer space resource, exploring the unknown and promoting social progress and common development.

http://www.cnsa.gov.cn/main_e.asp

CHINA'S FIRST MANNED SPACE FLIGHT

October 15, 2003: Shenzhou-5 blasts off into space from Jiuquan launch center, and China sends its first astronaut into orbit.

http://www.china.org.cn/english/msf/75333.htm

http://www.china.org.cn/english/SPORT-c/77178.htm

CHINA'S UNMANNED MOON MISSION

The Chinese government listed outer space exploration as one job in first years of the 21st century. A space white paper outlined moon mission as one vital preliminary research for outer space exploration.

http://en.ce.cn/National/Science/t20040607_1016085.shtml

EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY (ESA)

Europe needs an extended space policy, driven by demand, able to exploit the special benefits space technologies can deliver in support of the Union's policies and objectives: faster economic growth, job creation & industrial competitiveness, enlargement & cohesion, sustainable development, and security & defence.

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/index.html

JAPANESE AEROSPACE EXPLORATION AGENCY (JAXA)

In the 21st century, space development is no longer a dream but a very important mission for the benefit of our economic growth, our quality of life, our security, and the continuous progress of humankind. We now know that the study and exploration of space has a direct impact on our lives. As a leading industrial nation, Japan is responsible for taking the initiative in the creation of scientific knowledge. JAXA endeavors to add a new page to the history of aerospace development, putting Japan on the same footing as other space-technology advanced nations.

http://www.jaxa.jp/index_e.html

http://www.jaxa.jp/about/vision_missions/index_e.html

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
And God saw the light, that it was good -- Genesis 1:3-4a (KJV)

http://www.nasm.si.edu/galleries/attm/atmimages/AS08-14-2383.f.jpg

PAX

TRUFFULAUT