Day: March 13, 1953

Categories
Computers

IBM 3340: the Winchester hard drive

  • March 13, 1973

IBM Model 3340IBM introduces the Model 3340 hard disk drive system for its System/370 mainframe computers. Housed in a large casing similar to a combined washer and dryer, this is the birth of modern hard disk technology, with read and write heads integral to the drive itself rather than being mounted on an arm which reaches into the drive casing. The 3340’s removable modules, each containing drive platters and the read/write heads, can be swapped out with other modules containing other drives. IBM ships the 3340 with two maximum storage capacities: 35 megabytes or 70 megabytes; the unit is internally called a Winchester hard drive, a case of a code name that sticks well beyond development. The 3340 is available through 1984.

Categories
Crewed Spaceflight Mir Salyut Soyuz

Soyuz T-15 / Mir Expedition 1

  • March 13, 1986

MirThe Soviet Union launches Soyuz T-15 on an unprecedented mission into orbit. Cosmonauts Leonid Kizim and Vladimir Solovyov become the first occupants of the newly-launched Mir space station on March 15th, where they remain until early May, at which time they undock the Soyuz T-15 vehicle from Mir and visit the powered-down Salyut 7 space station, becoming its final occupants until they return to Mir in late June, bringing several pieces of equipment and experiments cannibalized from Salyut back with them. The crew spends a total of 125 days in space, at the end of which Kizim is the most-traveled man in space, having accumulated over a year of total space travel time. Soyut T-15 is the last second-generation Soyuz vehicle to fly, returning to Earth on July 16th.

Categories
Pioneer Uncrewed Spaceflight

Pioneer Venus eyes Comet Wilson

  • March 13, 1987

Comet WilsonA victory lap after its successful study of Halley’s Comet in 1985 and 1986, the Pioneer Venus Orbiter uses its unique position at the solar system’s second planet to observe another comet, the recently-discovered Comet Wilson. Spotted for the first time only the year before, little is known about Comet Wilson, a lack of data that Pioneer Venus helps to correct by imaging the comet in the ultraviolet portion of the spectrum. Pioneer Venus will also study two other comets later in 1987.

Categories
Crewed Spaceflight Discovery Space Shuttle

STS-29

  • March 13, 1989

DiscoverySpace Shuttle Discovery lifts off on a nearly-five-day mission to take NASA’s third TDRS (Tracking & Data Relay Satellite) into orbit, among other smaller experiment packages, including IMAX filming. Aboard Discovery for the first shuttle flight of 1989 are Commander Michael Coats, Pilot John Blaha, and mission specialists James Bagian, James Buchli, and Robert Springer.

Categories
Television

Quantum Leap: Future Boy

  • March 13, 1991

Quantum LeapNBC airs the 43rd episode of Donald Bellisario’s science fiction series Quantum Leap, starring Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell. Richard Herd (V) and Alan Fudge (Man From Atlantis) guest star.

This series is not yet fully chronicled in the LogBook. You could help change that.

Categories
Television

Love & Curses: Habeas Corpses

  • March 13, 1991

Love & Curses / She-Wolf Of LondonThe 16th episode of Love & Curses (formerly titled She-Wolf Of London) is broadcast in syndication in North America, starring Kate Hodge and Neil Dickson. Marta du Bois and Barry Van Dyke (Galactica: 1980) guest star.

This series is not yet chronicled in the LogBook. You could help change that.

Categories
Television

Nightmare Cafe: Fay & Ivy

  • March 13, 1992

Nightmare CafeNBC airs the third episode of Wes Craven’s slightly supernatural series Nightmare Cafe, starring Robert Englund (V, A Nightmare On Elm Street), Jack Coleman (Heroes), and Lindsay Frost (Mancuso, FBI).

This series is not yet chronicled in the LogBook. You could help change that.

Categories
Television

Young Indiana Jones And The Mystery Of The Blues

  • March 13, 1993

Young Indiana Jones ChroniclesThe 11th episode of George Lucas’ historical adventure series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles airs on ABC, starring Sean Patrick Flanery. Jeffrey Wright (Westworld) and Keith David (Gargoyles) guest star. This is the only episode of the television series in which Harrison Ford appears to reprise the role of Indiana Jones.

This series is not yet chronicled in the LogBook. You could help change that.