The Prime Crew for the NASA’s First Manned Skylab Mission Meet the Press in a Final Briefing Prior to Isolation for the Coming Launch of Skylab II, 05/01/1973 Skylab, the first American space station, was launched unmanned on May 14, 1973.  This photo is of the prime crew for the first manned Skylab mission at a final briefing prior to isolation for the coming launch, which occurred on May 24, 1973.  The astronauts are (L. to R.) Charles Conrad Jr., Commander, Paul J. Weitz, Pilot, and Dr. Joseph P. Kerwin, Science Pilot.
Pop-upView Separately

The Prime Crew for the NASA’s First Manned Skylab Mission Meet the Press in a Final Briefing Prior to Isolation for the Coming Launch of Skylab II, 05/01/1973

Skylab, the first American space station, was launched unmanned on May 14, 1973.  This photo is of the prime crew for the first manned Skylab mission at a final briefing prior to isolation for the coming launch, which occurred on May 24, 1973.  The astronauts are (L. to R.) Charles Conrad Jr., Commander, Paul J. Weitz, Pilot, and Dr. Joseph P. Kerwin, Science Pilot.

NASA announces the selection of the first astronauts, aka the “Mercury Seven,” on April 9, 1959 Position Description for Mercury Astronaut (More on Project Mercury)
Pop-upView Separately

NASA announces the selection of the first astronauts, aka the “Mercury Seven,” on April 9, 1959

Position Description for Mercury Astronaut

(More on Project Mercury)

The Space Shuttle Columbia and its seven member crew were lost 10 years ago, on February 1, 2003.

  1. The space shuttle orbiter Columbia is launched for the first space transportation system test mission, 04/12/1981
  2. Flowers and homemade signs are placed at the front gate of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center at Moffett Federal Airfield (MFA), Mountain View, California (CA) in a spontaneous memorial for the Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-107) astronauts. 
  3. The remains of an American Astronaut are carried by the Barksdale Air Force Base (AFB), Louisiana (LA) Honor Guard to a waiting C-141 Starlifter for transfer to Dover AFB, Delaware (DE).
0658 RECOVERED 2 HELOS. ASTRONAUTS, N.A. ARMSTRONG, LCOL M. COLLINS USAF, AND COL E.E. ALDRIN JR USAF Deck Log of the USS Hornet, 07/24/1969 Documenting in rather matter-of-fact terms both the arrival of the President of the United States and successful recovery of the Apollo 11 astronauts. via DocsTeach
Pop-upView Separately

0658 RECOVERED 2 HELOS. ASTRONAUTS, N.A. ARMSTRONG, LCOL M. COLLINS USAF, AND COL E.E. ALDRIN JR USAF

Deck Log of the USS Hornet, 07/24/1969

Documenting in rather matter-of-fact terms both the arrival of the President of the United States and successful recovery of the Apollo 11 astronauts.

via DocsTeach

Christmas Wishes from Space While orbiting the moon on Christmas Eve, 1968, the three-man crew aboard the Apollo 8 spacecraft—Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders—offered live holiday greetings from outer space. After describing the desolation and bleakness of the lunar landscape, the astronauts read from the first ten verses from the Book of Genesis. Commander Frank Borman concluded the historic interplanetary telecast—sent to an audience of half a billion people around the world—with the message: “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.”
Pop-upView Separately

Christmas Wishes from Space

While orbiting the moon on Christmas Eve, 1968, the three-man crew aboard the Apollo 8 spacecraft—Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders—offered live holiday greetings from outer space. After describing the desolation and bleakness of the lunar landscape, the astronauts read from the first ten verses from the Book of Genesis. Commander Frank Borman concluded the historic interplanetary telecast—sent to an audience of half a billion people around the world—with the message:

“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.”

“Recovery of Astronauts,” July 24, 1969; Records of the U.S. Information Agency Having spent 21 hours and 36 minutes on the moon, the Apollo 11 astronauts returned to Earth on July 24, 1969, and were recovered by the USS Hornet after splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.
Pop-upView Separately

“Recovery of Astronauts,” July 24, 1969; Records of the U.S. Information Agency

Having spent 21 hours and 36 minutes on the moon, the Apollo 11 astronauts returned to Earth on July 24, 1969, and were recovered by the USS Hornet after splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.

Apollo 11 Flight Plan; Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The flight plan for Apollo 11 was a minute-by-minute time line of activities for the mission crew—Neil Armstrong, Mike Collins, and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin—and Mission Control in Houston. The flight was launched July 16, 1969. Touchdown on the moon took place, as scheduled, on July 20, 102 hours, 47 minutes, and 11 seconds after launch from Cape Kennedy. The astronauts spent 21 hours and 36 minutes on the moon, and returned to Earth on July 24.
Pop-upView Separately

Apollo 11 Flight Plan; Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

The flight plan for Apollo 11 was a minute-by-minute time line of activities for the mission crew—Neil Armstrong, Mike Collins, and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin—and Mission Control in Houston. The flight was launched July 16, 1969. Touchdown on the moon took place, as scheduled, on July 20, 102 hours, 47 minutes, and 11 seconds after launch from Cape Kennedy. The astronauts spent 21 hours and 36 minutes on the moon, and returned to Earth on July 24.