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Astronomy Science & Technology Uncrewed Spaceflight

High Energy Astronomy Observatory 3

HEAO-3NASA launches the third and final High Energy Astronomy Observatory satellite into Earth orbit, where it begins studying gamma ray sources and the nature of cosmic rays. There is also an experiment package designed to detect heavy atomic nuclei. HEAO-3 will remain in service through May 1981, and it will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere in December of that year.

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Video Games

Star Castle

Star CastleCinematronics releases the cult classic arcade game Star Castle, a vector graphics game sending players on a mission to create a tiny vulnerability in a space station’s colorful rotating defense shields. Once its shields have been penetrated, a well timed shot can destroy the enemy fortress.

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Categories
Video Games

The Atari 5200

Atari 5200After a long development process (during which it was briefly known as “Atari Video System X”), Atari introduces its own next-generation video game console, Atari 5200. Dubbed “The Supersystem,” the new console, boasting far better graphics and sound capabilities than the VCS, is hampered by one of the worst controller concepts in video game history. Also not helping the 5200’s chances are the lack of an adapter allowing VCS owners to painlessly transition to the new system, a peripheral already available for the Colecovision. (In keeping with the new system’s name, the VCS is also now marketed as the Atari 2600.)

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Categories
Doctor Who Television

Doctor Who: The Trial Of A Time Lord, Pt. 3

Doctor WhoThe 644th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Lynda Bellingham (All Creatures Great & Small) guest stars as the Inquisitor, with Michael Jayston as the Valeyard and David Selby (Dark Shadows) as Sabalon Glitz. The first four parts of the 14-part story are the final complete storyline written by former script editor Robert Holmes, who dies during production.

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Categories
Computers Hubble Space Telescope Uncrewed Spaceflight

Hubble Space Telescope…for the Apple II

Hubble Space TelescopeNASA releases an interactive electronic educational guide to the upcoming Hubble Space Telescope for the Apple II computer. Featuring diagrams of the orbiting telescope’s construction, methods of communication with Earth, and how it gathers its images. The software is released ahead of HST’s launch aboard an upcoming shuttle flight.

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Categories
Television

The Flash

The FlashThe first episode of the superhero series The Flash, based on the DC Comics character, premieres on CBS, starring John Wesley Shipp (Dawson’s Creek) and Amanda Pays (Max Headroom). Tim Thomerson and Lycia Naff (Star Trek: The Next Generation) guest star.

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