Categories
Luna Uncrewed Spaceflight

Luna 1

Luna 1With the international race for space technology supremacy heats up, the Soviet Union scores a first: the unmanned Luna 1 is the first human-made object to completely escape Earth’s gravity. Luna 1 is meant to impact the mon, but the nearly-800-pound space probe barely comes within 4,000 miles of the lunar surface. Luna 1 later becomes the first artificial object to orbit the sun, after running out of power at a point in deep space between the orbits of Earth and Mars. The state-run Soviet press agency gives Luna 1 a new name, Mechta, and tries to declare the wayward moonship a “new planet.”

Categories
Pioneer Uncrewed Spaceflight

Pioneer 4

Pioneer 4NASA’s Pioneer 4 space probe is launched toward the moon atop a Juno II booster. For the first time in the Pioneer program, the target is reached, with Pioneer 4 passing the moon at a distance of 37,000 miles. The television camera designed to activate just in time to catch the first glimpse of the lunar far side fails to deploy, thanks to a light sensor that isn’t tripped by the light reflected from the moon. Measurements of radiation near the moon are taken and transmitted back to Earth before Pioneer 4 slides into an orbit around the sun.

Categories
Television

H.G. Wells’ The Invisible Man: Point Of Destruction

H.G. Wells' The Invisible ManThe 14th episode of H.G. Wells’ The Invisible Man, based on Wells’ story, airs on ITV; this episode will air in September 1959 in the U.S. on CBS. Lisa Daniely and Deborah Watling (Doctor Who) star. Future Doctor Who producer Barry Letts, an actor at this point in his career, has a small role in the second season premiere.

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