Design Graphics Geya Shvecova (Jump Into The Void) Archive_020920

The sun sets on Mars, April 15, 2015, observed by the Mars Curiosity Rover stationed at Gale Crater. (NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory)

A selection orbs of the Solar System: Mercury, Venus, Earth (and Moon), Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. The spacecraft responsible for these images are as follows:

Mercury was photographed by Mariner 10.

Venus was imaged by the Magellan spacecraft’s radar.

Earth and its Moon were photographed by Galileo.

Mars Global Surveyor took the image of Mars.

Jupiter was photographed by Cassini as it traveled to Saturn.

Saturn, Uranus and Neptune images were taken by the twin Voyager spacecraft.

(NASA)

Virgin Galactic completes first powered flight of VSS Unity (April 5, 2018.) Two and a half years after a fatal accident temporarily halted flight activities, Virgin Galactic completed its first powered flight test of the VSS Unity Thursday, April 5. The company’s last powered flight experienced an anomaly during the beginning of its descent phase, resulting in the disintegration of the vehicle midair and the death of one pilot. Shortly after 9am MDT, The Unity, attached to the VSS Eve carrier mothership, took off from Spaceport America in the Mojave Desert. The two vehicles climbed to 14,200 meters where the Unity was released. The Unity’s powered ascent lasted for 30 seconds, 40 seconds shorter than a nominal flight profile, and achieved a speed of Mach 1.87 or 2,309 kilometers per hour. Unity reached a peak altitude of 25,686 meters, or 25.6 kilometers.  By comparison, the Unity’s sister craft, the VSS Enterprise, reached a top speed of Mach 1.4 and a maximum altitude of 21,000 meters during its third powered flight in January 2014. The spacecraft’s descent through the atmosphere and feathering of its wings was performed flawlessly, succeeding where the final, fatal flight of the VSS Enterprise did not in 2014. Unity successfully landed back at Spaceport America’s runway one hour and twelve minutes after takeoff and eleven minutes after separation from Eve.

The Unity coming to a landing at Spaceport America’s runway after its first powered flight test, April 5, 2018. P/c: Virgin Galactic

The company’s last powered flight with the VSS Enterprise experienced an anomaly during the beginning of its descent phase, resulting in the disintegration of the vehicle midair and the death of one pilot.

Almost nearly completed at the time of the incident, the VSS Unity was unveiled to the public in February of 2016. It subsequently underwent a system of ground checks and eleven unpowered flights to validate the modifications made after the 2014 incident. Following Thursday’s flight, Virgin Galactic did not state how long the powered flight test program would last before operational flights with paying customers would begin. CEO Richard Branson tweeted shortly after Unity landed that the company is back on track following the 2014 incident.

P/c: Virgin Galactic.

‘distant.03′

Robert McCall

Higher - Daniel Solovev

Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin on the surface of the Moon, photographed by Neil Armstrong, July 1969. (LIFE)

Mustang B51 Warbird

© Scott Slocum

U.S. Navy Douglas A-1 Skyraider by Luccio Perinotto.

Jon Lomberg