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A medium close-up photograph shows a man wearing a dark cap and a light-colored suit inside a dimly lit cabin. Bright light illuminates the right side of his smiling face, while the rest of the scene remains in deep shadow. In the background, a row of warm orange lights glows to his right, and a metallic interior surface with a small instruction panel is visible above him.

Human Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

Aug 5, 1930: The birth of Neil Armstrong

A black-and-white photograph shows three men in suits standing indoors and interacting in front of a white fireplace mantle. The man in the center holds two small, rolled documents while smiling toward the man on the left, who wears glasses and a lighter-colored suit, as the man on the right looks on with a smile. The indoor setting is brightly lit, with part of a flag visible on the far left and potted plants resting on the mantle in the background.

Human Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

July 29, 1958: NASA is founded

An overhead view shows a white and grey space shuttle floating horizontally in the center of the frame against a solid black background. Its large, open cargo bay doors reveal a textured, cylindrical white module inside, with a long, thin robotic arm extending over the bay. Bright, direct sunlight from the upper right casts deep shadows across the shuttle’s body, highlighting the details of its wings, cockpit windows, and rear engines.

Human Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

July 27, 2005: NASA grounds the space shuttles

A color photograph shows a man in a grey suit standing on the right, speaking into a microphone facing a large, shiny metallic container labeled "HORNET + 3." Inside the container, three smiling men in blue jumpsuits look out through a large rectangular glass window adorned with a circular presidential seal. The indoor scene is brightly lit, showcasing the gleam of the silver metal structure against a dark blue floor.

Human Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

July 24, 1969: Apollo 11 returns home

Human Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

July 21, 1998: Alan Shepard dies

Buzz Aldrin on the Moon

Tonight: See the Moon as it looked the day Apollo 11 landed

A black-and-white photograph shows a person in a gleaming, metallic space suit and helmet standing inside a large, circular opening of a technical structure. The individual stands centrally, holding a small rectangular case in one hand and a hose in the other, positioned on a metal grate floor. The scene is brightly lit with sharp contrast, highlighting the reflective surfaces of the suit against a complex background of machinery, frames, and deep shadows.

Human Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

July 18, 1915: The birth of John Glenn

Two people are shaking hands through a circular hatch that connects two dark, enclosed spaces. The person on the right wears a tan jacket, while the other is partially visible inside the opening. The scene features high contrast, with deep shadows surrounding the brightly lit hands and faces.

Human Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

July 17, 1975: The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project link-up

What's Launching This Week

Starship flies again as Skyroot chases India’s first private orbital launch

Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin Jr. poses for a photograph beside the American flag on the Moon. The footprints of the astronauts are visible in the soil of the Moon. Neil A. Armstrong took this picture with a 70mm Hasselblad lunar surface camera. Credit: NASA.

Human Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

July 13, 1969: Luna 15 launches

A black-and-white photograph shows a bride and groom standing together in the center of the frame, both holding large bouquets of flowers wrapped in clear cellophane. The bride wears a white gown with a full tulle skirt, a matching veil with a floral crown, and white gloves, while the groom wears a dark, tailored suit with a white shirt and tie. They stand arm-in-arm, looking off-camera to the right, under bright indoor lighting with several onlookers visible in the background.

Human Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

July 3, 2004: The death of Andriyan Nikolayev

A close-up color photograph captures two smiling men shaking hands inside a cramped, rounded hatchway. The man on the left leans forward in a bright blue jumpsuit, while the man on the right, sporting a mustache, is clad in a vibrant red long-sleeved shirt with white stripes on the shoulder. The entire scene is brightly lit, revealing textured, yellow insulated padding lining the circular tunnel around them.

Human Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

June 27, 1995: Space Shuttle Atlantis launches