Day: February 14, 1963

Categories
Television

The Invaders: Vikor

  • February 14, 1967

The InvadersThe sixth episode of Larry Cohen’s science fiction series The Invaders, starring Roy Thinnes and produced by Quinn Martin’s QM Productions, premieres on ABC. Jack Lord (Hawaii Five-O) guest stars.

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Categories
Luna Uncrewed Spaceflight

Luna 20

  • February 14, 1972

Luna 20The Soviet Union launches unmanned space probe Luna 20 toward the moon, another robotic lunar lander with the capability of gathering a lunar soil sample and returning it to Earth. Over 50 grams of lunar material, including rocky material from the mountainous region near Luna 20’s landing site, are returned to Earth in a shielded re-entry capsule. The lander continues to operate for three days after the sample container is launched back to Earth.

Categories
Astronomy Science & Technology Uncrewed Spaceflight

Solar Maximum Mission

  • February 14, 1980

Solar MaxNASA launches the unmanned Solar Maximum Mission satellite atop a Delta 3910 rocket, to study cyclical solar flare activity from Earth orbit. Built by Fairchild and relying on a magnetic reaction wheel system to maintain precise aim at the sun, “Solar Max” suffers malfunctions in orbit, and will be able to carry out only limited observations by November 1980. In 1984, Solar Max will become the first satellite to be repaired in-orbit by a visiting space shuttle crew. After repairs, the satellite will be released, with its life span in orbit having effectively doubled. It will remain in orbit, and functional, through 1989.

Categories
Franchises Television Twilight Zone

Twilight Zone: Episode 18

  • February 14, 1986

The Twilight ZoneCBS airs the 18th episode of a revival of Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone. Martin Balsam and Larry Poindexter star in an episode comprised of three short stories, including a Harlan Ellison adaptation of an early Stephen King short story.

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Categories
Uncrewed Spaceflight Voyager

Voyager 1 looks homeward

  • February 14, 1990

Pale Blue DotAt the request of astronomer Carl Sagan, NASA and JPL reawaken Voyager 1‘s camera for a last look back at Earth and its solar system, from a mind-boggling distance of 4,000,000,000 miles. The “last look” is actually composed of 60 separate photos, capturing most of the planets (with the exception of Mars and Mercury), including Earth – which takes up less than a single pixel in the image. Sagan points to the image as evidence of the fragility and uniqueness of Earth, and names his next book after the photo, “Pale Blue Dot”, also centered on that theme.

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Categories
Television X-Files

The X-Files: One Son

  • February 14, 1999

The X-FilesThe 129th episode of Chris Carter’s modern-day science fiction series The X-Files airs on Fox, starring Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny. Veronica Cartwright (Alien) guest stars.

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Categories
NEAR-Shoemaker Uncrewed Spaceflight

NEARer to Eros

  • February 14, 2000

NEARAfter orbiting the sun behind asteroid 433 Eros for a year since a failed thruster burn almost ended its mission, unmanned space probe NEAR (Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous) fires its engines successfully, slowing itself to fall into orbit around Eros. During the weeks leading up to the orbital insertion maneuver, NEAR observed the space around Eros to ensure that no satellites existed with which it might collide. NEAR’s close study of Eros officially begins, and further maneuvers bring it into an ever-closer orbit around the asteroid.