FIRST AMERICAN WOMAN FLEW IN SPACE 31 YEARS AGO TODAY
Cape Canaveral, Florida (JFK+50) Mission Specialist Dr. Sally Ride* became the first American woman to fly in space 31 years ago today, June 18, 1983.
Dr. Ride's accomplishment came 22 years after cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova's record setting space flight for the Soviet Union.
Sally Ride and her fellow astronauts lifted off from here at Cape Canaveral aboard the space shuttle Challenger on a six day mission.
Ride became the third woman to fly in space following Tereshkova (1961) and another Soviet cosmonaut, Svetima Savitskaya (1982).
Dr. Ride flew on the Challenger again in 1984 and logged a total of 14 days, 7 hours and 46 minutes in space.
*Sally Kristen Ride (1951-2012) was born in Los Angeles, CA. She earned her BS, MS and PhD. in physics at Stanford University. She joined NASA in 1978.
SKR died on July 23, 2012 at the age of 61.
SALT II TREATY SIGNED IN VIENNA 35 YEARS AGO
Vienna, Austria (JFK+50) President Jimmy Carter and Soviet General Secretary Leonoid Brezhnev signed the Strategic Arms Limitations Talks II agreement 35 years ago today, June 18, 1979, here in Vienna.
The treaty set up guidelines and restrictions on nuclear weapons.
SALT II was not ratified by Congress because of the Soviet attack on Afghanistan. The treaty met with much criticism in the US as it was seen as a sell-out to the Soviets.
Cape Canaveral, Florida (JFK+50) Mission Specialist Dr. Sally Ride* became the first American woman to fly in space 31 years ago today, June 18, 1983.
Dr. Ride's accomplishment came 22 years after cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova's record setting space flight for the Soviet Union.
Sally Ride and her fellow astronauts lifted off from here at Cape Canaveral aboard the space shuttle Challenger on a six day mission.
Ride became the third woman to fly in space following Tereshkova (1961) and another Soviet cosmonaut, Svetima Savitskaya (1982).
Dr. Ride flew on the Challenger again in 1984 and logged a total of 14 days, 7 hours and 46 minutes in space.
*Sally Kristen Ride (1951-2012) was born in Los Angeles, CA. She earned her BS, MS and PhD. in physics at Stanford University. She joined NASA in 1978.
SKR died on July 23, 2012 at the age of 61.
Dr. Sally Ride
Aboard Challenger
June 24, 1983
NASA Photo
SECOND WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE BEGAN 202 YEARS AGO TODAY
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The United States went to war with Great Britain 202 years ago today, June 18, 1812.
Sometimes referred to as the Second War for Independence, it is historically known as the War of 1812.
The war between the two nations, located on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean, began after a declaration of war was passed by the Congress and signed by President James Madison.
President Madison's war message stated the United States was going to war with Britain in response to a British blockade, impressment of American sailors into the British navy and incitement of Native-Americans on the frontier.*
*The War of 1812 lasted until early 1815 although a peace treaty was signed in December 1814.
The war ended with a "status quo antebellum" meaning nothing basically changed from the beginning to the ending of the war.
Sculpture Monument to the War of 1812
by Douglas Coupland (sculptor)
Toronto, Canada (2008)
SALT II TREATY SIGNED IN VIENNA 35 YEARS AGO
Vienna, Austria (JFK+50) President Jimmy Carter and Soviet General Secretary Leonoid Brezhnev signed the Strategic Arms Limitations Talks II agreement 35 years ago today, June 18, 1979, here in Vienna.
The treaty set up guidelines and restrictions on nuclear weapons.
SALT II was not ratified by Congress because of the Soviet attack on Afghanistan. The treaty met with much criticism in the US as it was seen as a sell-out to the Soviets.
Carter and Brezhnev Sign SALT II
