On This Day In History
Birthdates which occurred on October 03:
1605 Li Tzu-ch'eng Chinese revolutionary, dethroned last Ming emperor
1728 Christian d'Oriola France, foils (Olympic-gold-1952, 56)
1800 George Bancroft historian (Hall of Fame)
1803 John Gorrie inventor (cold-air process of refrigeration)
1804 Townsend Harris 1st Western consul to reside in Japan
1844 Sir Patrick Manson "Father of tropical medicine"
1854 William Crawford Gorgas US, Surgeon-Gen, help cure yellow fever
1886 Henri Alain-Fournier French novelist (Le Grand Meaulnes)
1888 Carl von Ossietzky Germany, journalist, pacifist (Nobel 1935)
1899 Gertrude Berg Harlem NYC, actress (Molly Goldberg-The Goldbergs)
1900 Thomas Wolfe American novelist (Look Homeward Angel)
1904 Charles Pedersen UK, biochemist (Nobel 1987)
1911 Michael Hordern England, actor (Friar Domingo-Shogun)
1923 Stanislaw Skrowaczewski Lwow Poland, conductor (Die Zauberflte)
1925 Gore Vidal writer/playwright (Myra Breckinridge, Lincoln, Burr)
1928 Erik Bruhn Copenhagen Denmark, dancer (Natl Ballet of Canada)
1935 Abdon Pamich Italy, 50K walker (Olympic-gold-1964)
1935 Charles M Duke Jr Charlotte NC, Brig Gen USAF/astronaut (Apol 16)
1937 Eli Jacobs baseball owner (Baltimore Orioles)
1938 Eddie Cochran Okla City, rocker (C'Mon Everybody)
1939 James Darren Phila, actor/singer (Gidget, Diamond Head)
1940 Jean Ratelle NHL center (NY Rangers, Boston Bruins)
1941 Chubby Checker singer (The Twist)
1945 Viktor Saneyev USSR, triple jumper (Olympic-3 gold/1 silv-1968-80)
1947 Lindsey Buckingham rocker (Fleetwood Mac-Rumours, Tusk)
1950 Pamela Hensley Glendale Calif, actress (Buck Rogers in 25th Century)
1951 Dave Winfield baseball outfielder (NY Yankee)
1951 Kathryn D Sullivan Paterson NJ, PhD/astro (STS 41-G, 28, 31, 45)
1956 Hart Bochner actor (Supergirl, Die Hard)
1959 Jack Wagner rocker/actor (General Hospital, Santa Barbara)
1962 Tommy Lee Greece, rock drummer (Motley Cre), wed Heather Locklear
1963 Patrick Flatley Ontario, right winger (NY Islanders, Oly-4 gold-1988)
1969 Shane Butterworth actor (Timmy-Bad News Bears)
Grrrr.
Dang, gold medals at 200+ years!
National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas 77058 |
NAME: Charles Moss Duke, Jr. (Brigadier General, USAF, Ret.)
NASA Astronaut (former)
PERSONAL DATA: Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, on October 3, 1935. Married to the former Dorothy Meade Clairborne of Atlanta, Georgia. They have two grown sons. Recreational interests include hunting, fishing, reading, and playing golf.
EDUCATION: Attended Lancaster High School in Lancaster, South Carolina, and was graduated valedictorian from the Admiral Farragut Academy in St. Petersburg, Florida; received a bachelor of science degree in Naval Sciences from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1957 and a master of science degree in Aeronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1964; presented an honorary doctorate of philosophy from the University of South Carolina in 1973, and an honorary doctorate of Humanities from Francis Marion College in 1990.
ORGANIZATIONS: Member of the Air Force Association, the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, Reserve Officer Association, Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship, Christian Businessmen's Committee; National Space Society.
SPECIAL HONORS: Awarded the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the JSC Certificate of Commendation (1970), the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and AF Legion of Merit, and Air Force Command Pilot Astronaut Wings, the SETP Iven C. Kincheloe Award of 1972, the AAS Flight Achievement Award for 1972, the AIAA Haley Astronautics Award for 1973, and the Federation Aeronautique Internationale V.M. Komarov Diploma in 1973; named South Carolina Man of the Year in 1973 and inducted into the South Carolina Hall of Fame in 1973; and presented the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Eagle Scout Award in 1975.
EXPERIENCE: When notified of his selection as an astronaut, Duke was at the Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School as an instructor teaching control systems and flying in the F-101, F-104, and T-33 aircraft. He graduated from the Aerospace Research Pilot School in September 1965 and stayed on there as an instructor.
He is a retired Air Force Reserve Brigadier General and was commissioned in 1957 upon graduation from the Naval Academy. Upon entering the Air Force, he went to Spence Air Base, Georgia, for primary flight training and then to Webb Air Force Base, Texas, for basic flying training, where in 1958 he became a distinguished graduate. He was again a distinguished graduate at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, where he completed advanced training in F-86L aircraft. Upon completion of this training, he served three years as a fighter interceptor pilot with the 526th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germanypilot with the 526th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
He has logged 4,147 hours flying time, which includes 3,632 hours in jet aircraft.
Duke was one of the 19 astronauts selected by NASA in April 1966. He served as member of the astronaut support crew for the Apollo 10 flight. He was CAPCOM for Apollo 11, the first landing on the Moon and he served as backup lunar module pilot on Apollo 13.
Duke served as lunar module pilot of Apollo 16, April 16-27, 1972. He was accompanied on the fifth manned lunar landing mission by John W. Young (spacecraft commander) and Thomas K. Mattingly II (command module pilot). Apollo 16 was the first scientific expedition to inspect, survey, and sample materials and surface features in the Descartes region of the rugged lunar highlands. Duke and Young commenced their record setting lunar surface stay of 71 hours and 14 minutes by maneuvering the lunar module "Orion" to a landing on the rough Cayley Plains. In three subsequent excursions onto the lunar surface, they each logged 20 hours and 15 minutes in extravehicular activities involving the emplacement and activation of scientific equipment and experiments, the collection of nearly 213 pounds of rock and soil samples, and the evaluation and use of Rover-2 over the roughest and blockiest surface yet encountered on the moon.
Other Apollo 16 achievements included the largest payload placed in lunar orbit (76, 109 pounds); first cosmic ray detector deployed on lunar surface; first lunar observatory with the far UV camera; and longest in-flight EVA from a command module during transearth coast (1 hour and 13 minutes). The latter feat was accomplished by Mattingly when he ventured out to "Casper's" SIM-bay for the retrieval of vital film cassettes from the panoramic and mapping cameras. Apollo 16 concluded with a Pacific Ocean splashdown and subsequent recovery by the USS TICONDEROGA.
With the completion of his first space flight, Duke has logged 265 hours in space and over 21 hours of extra vehicular activity.
Duke also served as backup lunar module pilot for Apollo 17.
In December 1975, Duke retired from the Astronaut program to enter private business. He is owner of Duke Investments, and is President of Charlie Duke Enterprises. He is an active speaker and Christian lay witness and President of Duke Ministry For Christ.
DECEMBER 1994
This is the only version available from NASA. Updates must be sought direct from the above named individual.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas 77058 |
KATHRYN D. SULLIVAN (PH.D.)
NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER)
PERSONAL DATA: Born October 3, 1951, in Paterson, New Jersey, but considers Woodland Hills, California, to be her hometown. She enjoys flying, squash, bicycling, backpacking, and reading in her spare time. Her father, Donald P. Sullivan, resides in Cupertino, California; her mother, Barbara K. Sullivan, is deceased.
EDUCATION: Graduated from Taft High School, Woodland Hills, California, in 1969; received a bachelor of science degree in Earth sciences from the University of California, Santa Cruz, in 1973, and a doctorate in geology from Dalhousie University (Halifax, Nova Scotia) in 1978. Awarded honorary degrees by Kent State University (2002); Ohio Dominican University (1998); Stevens Institute of Technology (1992); State University of New York, Utica (1991); Dalhousie University (1985).
ORGANIZATIONS: Received a Presidential nomination to be appointed a member of the National Science Board in September 2004. Served on the Pew Oceans Commission, whose nationwide study and subsequent report, Americas Living Oceans: Charting a Course for Sea Change, calls for immediate reform of U.S. ocean laws and policies to avert the decline of ocean wildlife and collapse of ocean ecosystems (2000-2003). In 2003, appointed Chair of the Ohio Aerospace and Defense Advisory Council by Ohio Governor Robert Taft. Appointed to the Chief of Naval Operations Executive Panel in 1988. In March 1985, appointed by President Reagan to the National Commission on Space. The Commissions report, entitled "Pioneering the Space Frontier," laid out goals for U.S. civilian space activities over the next 25 years. Adjunct Professor of Geology at The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Fellow of the prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Institute of Astronautics and Aeronautics. Member of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the Explorers Club, the Society of Woman Geographers and Association of Space Explorers.
SPECIAL HONORS: Astronaut Hall of Fame (2004); Public Service Award, National Science Board, in recognition of lifelong commitment to science education (2003); Juliette Award for National Women of Distinction, Girl Scouts USA (2002); Ohio Womens Hall of Fame (2002); Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame (2001); Lone Sailor Award, U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation (1997); NASA Medal for Outstanding Leadership (1992); AIAA Haley Space Flight Award (1991); AAS Space Flight Achievement Award (1991); NASA Exceptional Service Medal (1988 & 1991); NASA Space Flight Medal (1984 & 1990); Ten Outstanding Young People of the World Award, Jaycees International (1987); Ten Outstanding Young Americans Award, U.S. Jaycees (1987); National Air and Space Museum Trophy, Smithsonian Institution (1985); Four Presidential nominations under four different administrations (1985, 1992, 2000, 2004).
EXPERIENCE: Most of Dr. Sullivans efforts prior to joining NASA were concentrated in academic study and research. She was an earth sciences major at the University of California, Santa Cruz and spent 1971-1972 as an exchange student at the University of Bergen, Norway. Her bachelors degree (with honors) was awarded in 1973.
Her doctoral studies at Dalhousie University included participation in a variety of oceanographic expeditions, under the auspices of the U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and the Bedford Institute. Her research included the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the Newfoundland Basin and fault zones off the Southern California Coast.
Dr. Sullivan is an oceanography officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve, holding the rank of Captain.
She is a private pilot, rated in powered and glider aircraft.
The first American woman to walk in space, Dr. Sullivan is a veteran of three shuttle missions and a 2004 inductee to the Astronaut Hall of Fame.
In 1993, Dr. Sullivan left NASA to accept a Presidential appointment to the post of Chief Scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Here she oversaw a wide array of research and technology programs ranging from climate and global change to satellites and marine biodiversity.
Dr. Sullivan currently serves as President and CEO of COSI (Center of Science & Industry) in Columbus, Ohio (www.cosi.org). She has a passion for igniting in others the wonder and importance of science, math and technology. Under her leadership, COSI has strengthened its impact on science teaching in the classroom and its national reputation as an innovator of hands-on, inquiry-based science learning resources.
NASA EXPERIENCE: Selected by NASA in January 1978, Dr. Sullivan became an astronaut in August 1979. Her Shuttle support assignments since then include: software development; launch and landing lead chase photographer; Orbiter and cargo test, checkout and launch support at Kennedy Space Center, Florida; extravehicular activity (EVA) and spacesuit support crew for several flights; and capsule communicator (CAPCOM) in Mission Control for numerous Shuttle missions. A veteran of three space flights, Dr. Sullivan was a mission specialist on STS-41G (October 5-13, 1984), STS-31 (April 24-29, 1990) and STS-45 (March 24-April 2, 1992).
Joining NASA, Dr. Sullivans research interests were focused on remote sensing. She qualified as a systems engineer operator in NASAs WB-57F high-altitude research aircraft in 1978 and participated in several remote sensing projects in Alaska. She was a co-investigator on the Shuttle Imaging Radar-B (SIR-B) experiment, which she flew on Mission STS-41G.
SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: STS-41G, launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on October 5, 1984, with a crew of seven. During their eight-day mission, the crew deployed the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite, conducted scientific observations of the Earth with the OSTA-3 pallet (including the SIR-B radar, FILE, and MAPS experiments) and large format camera (LFC), conducted a satellite refueling demonstration using hydrazine fuel with the Orbital Refueling System (ORS), and conducted numerous in-cabin experiments as well as activating eight "Getaway Special" canisters. Dr. Sullivan and Commander Leestma also successfully conducted a 3-1/2 hour Extravehicular Activity (EVA) to demonstrate the feasibility of actual satellite refueling, making her the first U.S. woman to perform an EVA. STS-41G completed 132 orbits of the Earth in 197.5 hours, before landing at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on October 13, 1984.
In April 1990, Dr. Sullivan served on the crew of STS-31, which launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on April 24, 1990. During this five-day mission, crew members aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery deployed the Hubble Space Telescope, and conducted a variety of middeck experiments involving the study of protein crystal growth, polymer membrane processing and the effects of weightlessness and magnetic fields on an ion arc. They also operated a variety of cameras, including both the IMAX in-cabin and cargo bay cameras, for Earth observations from their record setting altitude of 380 miles. Following 76 orbits of the Earth in 121 hours, STS-31 Discovery landed at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on April 29, 1990.
Dr. Sullivan served as Payload Commander on STS-45, the first Spacelab mission dedicated to NASAs Mission to Planet Earth. During this nine-day mission, the crew operated the twelve experiments that constituted the ATLAS-1 (Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science) cargo. ATLAS-1 obtained a vast array of detailed measurements of atmospheric chemical and physical properties, which will contribute significantly to improving our understanding of our climate and atmosphere. In addition, this was the first time an artificial beam of electrons was used to stimulate a man-made auroral discharge.
With the completion of her third mission, Dr. Sullivan logged over 532 hours in space.
NOVEMBER 2004
This is the only version available from NASA. Updates must be sought direct from the above named individual at www.cosi.org
As opposed to NERD, the radio station operated by CalTech engineering students.
Walter M. Schirra, Jr.
by Tara Gray
Walter Marty Schirra, Jr. (Captain, USN, Ret.), was born on March 12, 1923, in Hackensack, New Jersey, to parents Walter Marty Sr. and Florence Shillito (Leach) Schirra. His father, an engineering graduate of Columbia University with Royal Canadian Air Force Flight training, was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Army Signal Corps. He flew bombing and reconnaissance missions over Germany during World War I, and after the war he barnstormed at county fairs around New Jersey as a stunt flier with his wife, who sometimes stood on the wing of his biplane.1 Schirra is married to the former Josephine Cook "Jo" Fraser of Seattle, Washington, the step-daughter of Admiral James L. Holloway (USN, Ret.) who was Commander-in-Chief of the Northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean area.2
The first X-15 arrived at the NASA High-Speed Flight Station in the early months of 1959, and Scott Crossfield, who had helped with the design of the aircraft, soon began the contractor demonstration flights. During its research program, the aircraft set unofficial world speed and altitude records of 4,520 mph (Mach 6.7on Oct. 3, 1967, with Air Force pilot Pete Knight at the controls) and 354,200 feet (on Aug. 22, 1963, with NASA pilot Joseph Walker in the cockpit).
More important than records, however, were the X-15's probing of hypersonic aerodynamic performance and heating rates, research into structural behavior during high heating and high flight loads, study of hypersonic stability and control during exit from and reentry of the atmosphere, and examination of pilot performance and physiology.
Now I'm never gonna know what happened "On this Day in History" :-( Thanks for you're daily history run down and "commentary" buried in between the lines. It was always fun to try and find one item to "expand" on.
(I'm posting from the library where the computers have much more power than my home internet system, therefore I can respond to this thread. Usually my home system "freezes" due to the large bandwith of this thread.)