Science

Astronaut Frank Borman, Commander Of The First Apollo Mission To The Moon, Has Died At Age 95

Published

1 year ago

2023-11-10

BILLINGS, Mont. — Frank Borman, the commanding officer of Apollo 8’s momentous Christmas 1968 journey that circled the moon ten times and cleared the stage for the lunar landing the following year, has died. He was 95.

According to NASA, Borman died on Tuesday in Billings, Montana.

Frank also commanded problematic Eastern Airlines after leaving the astronaut corps in the 1970s and early 1980s.

However, he was most known for his NASA responsibilities. He and his crewmates, James Lovell and William Anders, were the first to travel to the moon and glimpse Earth as a faraway sphere in space.

“Today, we honor one of NASA’s finest. In a statement Thursday, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson stated, “Astronaut Frank Borman was a true American hero.” “His lifelong love for aviation and exploration was only surpassed by his love for his wife, Susan.”

The Apollo 8 trio launched from Florida’s Cape Canaveral on December 21, 1968, and spent three days traveling to the moon before entering lunar orbit on Christmas Eve. They returned home on December 27 after circling 10 times on December 24-25.

Astronaut Frank Borman, Commander Of The First Apollo Mission To The Moon, Has Died At Age 95

In a live telecast from the orbiter on Christmas Eve, the astronauts read from the Book of Genesis: “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” And the ground was formless and empty, and darkness covered the face of the deep.”

Frank closed the show by saying, “And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and God bless all of you — all of you on the good Earth.”

Lovell and Borman had previously flown together during the two-week Gemini 7 mission, which launched on December 4, 1965, and achieved the first space orbital rendezvous with Gemini 6 at only 120 feet apart.

“Gemini was a tough go,” Borman admitted to The Associated Press in 1998. “It was no bigger than a Volkswagen bug’s front seat.” It gave Apollo the appearance of a super-duper, luxury touring bus.”

Astronaut Frank Borman, Commander Of The First Apollo Mission To The Moon, Has Died At Age 95

In his book, “Countdown: An Autobiography,” Frank stated that Apollo 8 was initially intended to orbit Earth. The success of Apollo 7’s mission in October 1968 to demonstrate system reliability on long-duration flights convinced NASA that it was time to try flying to the moon.

But, according to Frank, NASA modified its plans to beat the Russians. Borman stated that he believed one orbit would be sufficient.

“My main concern throughout the flight was getting there ahead of the Russians and getting home.” In my opinion, that was a big accomplishment,” Borman said during a 2017 appearance in Chicago.

Anders captured the iconic “Earthrise” photo of a blue and white Earth rising over the grey lunar terrain during the crew’s fourth orbit.

“We were the first humans to see the world in its majestic totality, an intensely emotional experience for each of us,” Borman wrote about how the Earth seemed from afar. We didn’t say anything to each other, but I was certain our thoughts were the same – of our family on that spinning globe. And perhaps we discussed another concept I had, “This has to be what God sees.”

Astronaut Frank Borman, Commander Of The First Apollo Mission To The Moon, Has Died At Age 95

Borman’s aviation career continued after NASA when he joined Eastern Airlines, the nation’s fourth-largest airline. He eventually became Eastern’s president and CEO, as well as its board chairman, in 1976.

During Borman’s tenure at Eastern, fuel prices skyrocketed, and the government deregulated the airline business. The airline became more unprofitable, in debt, and riven by labor strife. In 1986, he resigned and relocated to Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Borman claimed in his memoirs that his interest in flying began in his teens when he and his father would build model airplanes. Borman began flying lessons at 15, using money he had saved from working as a bag boy and pumping petrol after school. After eight hours of dual instruction, he took his first solo flight. He kept flying until his 90s.

Borman grew up in Tucson, Arizona, after being born in Gary, Indiana. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1950 with a bachelor of science degree. Borman married his high school girlfriend, Susan Bugbee, the same year. She passed away in 2021.

After graduating, Borman worked as a fighter pilot, operational pilot, and teacher at West Point. Borman and his family relocated to Pasadena, California, in 1956, where he earned a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering from the California Institute of Technology. He was one of nine test pilots chosen by NASA for the astronaut program in 1962.

President Jimmy Carter awarded him the Congressional Space Medal of Honour.

Borman and his son, Fred, established a cattle ranch in Bighorn, Montana 1998. He was survived by another son, Edwin, and their families, in addition to Fred.

SOURCE – (AP)

Science

Australia Asks Residents to Catch Deadly Funnel Web Spider

Published

5 days ago

2024-11-20

Geoff Brown

As summer approaches in Australia, residents are warned to look out for the funnel web spider, one of the country’s deadliest species.

In addition to advising the public to avoid funnel-web spiders during mating season, the Australian Reptile Park in New South Wales has even asked people to capture live funnel-web spiders so they can “milk” their venom.

Native to eastern Australia, the funnel web spider can kill humans in as little as fifteen minutes if they do not receive medical treatment for its poisonous bite.

There have been thirteen fatalities attributable to this species, but none since the development of antivenom in 1981. The Australian Reptile Park is appealing to the public for assistance capturing and donating spiders, as the serum relies on milking live spiders.

Hunting for the funnel net spider in residential areas is common practice after a particularly wet and warm season. Look for spiders in cool, dark places like pools, garden residue, heaps of dirty clothing, and outside shoes.

Australian Reptile Park spider keeper Emma Teni recently blogged about how they rely on spider donations more than ever, especially now that breeding season has arrived and the temperature is perfect.

“Male funnel-web spiders have short lifespans, and with approximately 150 spiders required to make just one vial of antivenom, we need the public’s help to ensure we have enough venom to meet demand.”

“If you spot an egg sac while collecting a spider, it’s important to safely collect that as well,” said Teni. “It can provide a robust supply of healthy young spiders to aid in our antivenom production.”

The spiders won’t be able to climb plastic or glass, but Teni suggests capturing funnel webs in a wide-mouthed jar with a cover. Then, you can lead the spiders into the container using a long spoon or something similar.

After that, fill the jar with moist soil, screw on the top, and bring it to the designated drop-off spot.

“We depend on the public for spider donations, and we want to make sure everyone stays safe during the collection process, especially with conditions being so favourable this year,” said Teni.

Trudeau Orders Facebook to Block Presser Video from Australia

Trudeau Orders Facebook to Block Australian Presser Video

Science

A Spacecraft Is On Its Way To A Harmless Asteroid Slammed By NASA In A Previous Save-The-Earth Test

Published

2 months ago

2024-10-10

Kiara Grace

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida – A spacecraft launched Monday to probe the site of a cosmic accident.

The European Space Agency’s Hera spacecraft launched on a two-year trip to the little, harmless asteroid slammed by NASA two years ago as a practice run for the day when a murderous space rock threatens Earth. It’s the second phase of a planetary defense experiment that could one day save the globe.

SpaceX’s Falcon rocket vanished with Hera into the late morning clouds. An hour later, cheering erupted in the control center in Germany as the spacecraft split from the rocket’s upper stage and returned home. “It’s an amazing day,” the space agency’s director general, Josef Aschbacher, said later.

The 2022 crash of NASA’s Dart spacecraft reduced Dimorphos’ orbit around its larger companion, indicating that if a harmful rock was heading our way, it might be pushed off course with adequate warning.

nasa

A Spacecraft Is On Its Way To A Harmless Asteroid Slammed By NASA In A Previous Save-The-Earth Test

Scientists are eager to analyze the aftermath of the impact up close to determine how effective Dart was and what improvements may be required to protect Earth in the future.

“The more detail we can glean the better as it may be important for planning a future deflection mission should one be needed,” University of Maryland astronomer Derek Richardson stated before launch.

Researchers want to know if Dart (short for Double Asteroid Redirection Test) created a crater or changed the 500-foot (150-meter) asteroid more dramatically. It seemed to be a flying saucer before Dart’s blow and may now resemble a kidney bean, according to Richardson, who participated in the Dart mission and is assisting Hera.

Dart’s wallop sent rubble and boulders hurtling off Dimorphos, adding to the impact’s momentum. For months, the debris track extended thousands of miles (almost 10,000 kilometers) into space.

According to flight director Ignacio Tanco, some rocks and debris may still be hovering about the asteroid, posing a threat to Hera.

A Spacecraft Is On Its Way To A Harmless Asteroid Slammed By NASA In A Previous Save-The-Earth Test

“We don’t really know very well the environment in which we are going to operate,” Tanco informed me. “But that’s the whole point of the mission is to go there and find out.”

European authorities refer to the $400 million (363 million euros) effort as a “crash scene investigation.”

“Hera is going back to the crime scene and getting all the scientific and technical information,” said project manager Ian Carnelli.

Carrying a dozen science instruments, the compact car-sized Hera must swing past Mars in 2025 for a gravitational boost before landing at Dimorphos by the end of 2026. It’s a moonlet of Didymos, the Greek word for twin, a five-times larger asteroid that spins quickly. At that point, the asteroids will be 120 million miles (195 million kilometers) from Earth.

Hera will attempt to enter orbit around the rocky duo, progressively reducing flyby distances from 18 miles (30 kilometers) to a half-mile (1 kilometer). The spacecraft will examine the moonlet for at least six months to determine its mass, shape, composition, and orbit around Didymos.

Before the crash, Dimorphos circled its larger partner from three-quarters of a mile (1,189 meters) away. Scientists believe the orbit has become tighter and more oval-shaped, and that the moonlet may be tumbling.

Two shoebox-sized Cubesats will launch from Hera for even closer drone-like examinations, with one employing radar to peek beneath the moonlet’s boulder-strewn surface. Scientists believe Dimorphos was produced from particles shed by Didymos. The radar measurements should assist in determining whether Didymos is the small moon’s parent.

A Spacecraft Is On Its Way To A Harmless Asteroid Slammed By NASA In A Previous Save-The-Earth Test

After their survey, the CubeSats will attempt to land on the moonlet. If the moonlet tumbles, the situation will become more complicated. Hera may potentially conclude its mission with a perilous touchdown but on the bigger Didymos.

Neither asteroid poses a threat to Earth, before or after Dart appeared. That is why NASA chose the pair for humanity’s first asteroid-deflecting demonstration.

Asteroids, which are remnants of the solar system’s origin 4.6 billion years ago, circle the sun principally between Mars and Jupiter in what is known as the main asteroid belt, where millions of them live. When they fall from the belt and land in our area, they become near-Earth objects.

NASA now has around 36,000 near-Earth objects, the majority of which are asteroids, although there are also some comets. More than 2,400 of them are deemed potentially dangerous to the Earth.

SOURCE | AP

Science

A Rare Comet Brightens The Night Skies In October

Published

2 months ago

2024-10-09

Kiara Grace

NEW YORK — Prepare to spot a rare and dazzling comet.

The space rock is hurling toward Earth from the far reaches of the solar system and will make its closest approach on Saturday. It should be visible through the end of October, assuming clear skies.

A Rare Comet Brightens The Night Skies In October

Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas should be visible to the naked eye, but binoculars and telescopes will provide a clearer view.

“It’ll be this fuzzy circle with a long tail stretching away from it,” explained Sally Brummel, planetarium manager at the Bell Museum in Minnesota.

What is a comet?
They are frozen remains from billions of years ago when the solar system was formed. They heat up as they swing toward the sun, revealing their distinctive streaming tails.

In 2023, a green one that had last visited Earth 50,000 years ago flew past again. Other significant flybys were Neowise in 2020 and Hale-Bopp and Hyakutake in the mid to late 1990s.

Where did Tsuchinshan-Atlas come from?
Also known as C/2023 A3, was found last year and named after the observatories in China and South Africa that spotted it.

It originated in the Oort Cloud, which extends far beyond Pluto. After making its closest approach to Earth at 44 million miles (71 million kilometers), it will not return for another 80,000 years, provided it survives the journey.

A Rare Comet Brightens The Night Skies In October

Every year, several comets are detected, but many of them burn up near the sun or are too far away to be observed without special equipment, according to Larry Denneau, a key researcher with the Atlas telescope that helped discover it.

How to View

Those seeking to see Tsuchinshan-Atlas should go outside about an hour after sunset on a clear night and look to the west.

The comet should be visible from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

SOURCE | AP