on this day in space

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Artist's rendering of the "Ferrari of space," the European Space Agency's Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE).
On this day in space! Nov. 10, 2013: Europe's GOCE satellite, the 'Ferrari of space,' fell out of orbit after mapping Earth's gravity field

By Hanneke Weitering, Elizabeth Howell Published

On Nov. 10, 2013, Europe's GOCE satellite fell to Earth after four years in orbit mapping the planet's gravitational field. Here's why it mattered.

Space Exploration
NASA's first-ever Saturn V rocket launches on its maiden flight from Cape Canaveral, Florida on the uncrewed Apollo 4 test flight on Nov. 9, 1967.
On this day in space! Nov. 9, 1967: NASA launches the Saturn V moon rocket for the first time on Apollo 4, but no astronauts were aboard

By Hanneke Weitering, Elizabeth Howell Published

Space Exploration
an illustration of a robotic space probe with two solar panel-lined "wings" orbits over a planet
On this day in space! Nov. 8, 2005: Europe launches Venus Express, its first mission to Venus

By Hanneke Weitering, Elizabeth Howell Published

On Nov. 8, 2005, Europe launched its first mission to Venus. Here's why Venus Express mattered.

Space Exploration
a rocket blasts off
On this day in space! Nov. 7, 1992: NASA launches Mars Global Surveyor, its 1st Mars mission in 20 years at the time, to map the Red Planet like never before

By Hanneke Weitering, Elizabeth Howell Published

On Nov. 7, 1996, NASA launched its Mars Global Surveyor mission, the first Mars mission in 20 years. Here's why it mattered.

Space Exploration
The Tycho supernova remnant as seen by the Chandra X-ray space telescope.
On this day in space! Nov. 6, 1572: A German astronomer discovers the Tycho supernova with the naked eye, but everyone thought the cosmic explosion was a 'new star'

By Hanneke Weitering, Elizabeth Howell Published

On Nov. 6, 1572, the German astronomer Wolfgang Schulër observed a supernova later caleld the Tycho supernova with his bare eyes. Here's why it mattered.

Space Exploration
Two views of the Jupiter moon Amalthea as seen by NASA's Galileo spacecraft.
On this day in space! Nov. 5, 2002: NASA's Galileo spacecraft flies by Jupiter moon Amalthea only to find it's a 'pile of icy rubble less dense than water'

By Hanneke Weitering, Elizabeth Howell Published

On Nov. 5, 2002, NASA's old Galileo spacecraft flew by a small moon called Amalthea and made a surprising find. Here's why it mattered.

Space Exploration
The U.S. Air Force’s rail-launched Super Strypi rocket lifted off from Hawaii about 9:45 p.m. local time on Nov. 3, 2015,, roared toward the sky and failed less than a minute into the long-awaited flight.
On this day in space! Nov. 4, 2015: A rail-launched Super Strypi rocket carrying 13 baby satellites failed during its debut launch for the US Air Force

By Hanneke Weitering, Elizabeth Howell Published

On Nov. 4, 2015, the United States Air Force launched an experimental Super Strypi rail-launched rocket carrying 13 tiny satellites, but it failed just after liftoff from Hawaii.

Space Exploration
Laika, the first Soviet space dog to enter Earth orbit, is seen in a training capsule prior to her launch.
On this day in space! Nov. 3, 1957: Laika the dog launches with Sputnik 2

By Hanneke Weitering Published

On Nov. 3, 1957, a Soviet space dog named Laika became the first animal to orbit Earth.

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Space Exploration
Expedition 1 crewmates Bill Shepherd, Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev pose with a model of the space station as it appeared in 2000.
On this day in space! Nov. 2, 2000: Expedition 1 Arrives at the International Space Station

By Hanneke Weitering Published

Expedition 1 crewmates Bill Shepherd, Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev pose with a model of the space station as it appeared in 2000.

Space Exploration
a black and white photo of a white spacecraft with a large radio dish on one side
On this day in space! Nov. 1, 1962: The Soviet Union Launches Mars 1 spacecraft to Red Planet during the Space Race

By Hanneke Weitering Published

On Nov. 1, 1962, the Soviet Union launched the Mars 1 spacecraft on a mission to fly by the Red Planet. Here's why it mattered.

Space Exploration
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