USS Benjamin Franklin limps into Brooklyn Navy Yard after suffering heavy damage in March of 1945. “Big Ben” lost 800 crew in the attack, making it the most damaged American carrier to survive WW2.
October 22, 2025 at 12:17 AM
USS Benjamin Franklin limps into Brooklyn Navy Yard after suffering heavy damage in March of 1945. “Big Ben” lost 800 crew in the attack, making it the most damaged American carrier to survive WW2.
Close call: On February 28th, 2024, the TIMED satellite passed within 30 feet of the defunct Kosmos 2221 satellite.
October 15, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Close call: On February 28th, 2024, the TIMED satellite passed within 30 feet of the defunct Kosmos 2221 satellite.
Astronaut James A. Lovell Jr wore the larger helmeted Gemini G5C Spacesuit for Gemini 7. On the second day of the mission, Lovell became the first astronaut to remove their suit during space flight…an act undertaken in an area little larger than the driver’s seat of a car.
October 13, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Astronaut James A. Lovell Jr wore the larger helmeted Gemini G5C Spacesuit for Gemini 7. On the second day of the mission, Lovell became the first astronaut to remove their suit during space flight…an act undertaken in an area little larger than the driver’s seat of a car.
Saturn's shepherd moon Prometheus creating streamer channels in the planet's "F" ring.
October 7, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Saturn's shepherd moon Prometheus creating streamer channels in the planet's "F" ring.
Before transatlantic flight became practical, engineers dreamt up artificial island airports called "seadromes" where planes could land, refuel, and pick up passengers ferried by ship.
October 6, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Before transatlantic flight became practical, engineers dreamt up artificial island airports called "seadromes" where planes could land, refuel, and pick up passengers ferried by ship.
The map generated by this event via UC Berkeley showed a large island surrounded by a lake of relatively young lava.
September 30, 2025 at 2:52 PM
The map generated by this event via UC Berkeley showed a large island surrounded by a lake of relatively young lava.
Jupiter's moon Europa passing in front of its highly volcanic moon Io. The yellow dots are lakes of lava. This occultation on March 8th, 2015 helped researchers make a map of Loki Patera, the largest lava lake on Io.
September 30, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Jupiter's moon Europa passing in front of its highly volcanic moon Io. The yellow dots are lakes of lava. This occultation on March 8th, 2015 helped researchers make a map of Loki Patera, the largest lava lake on Io.
The Vickers Type 161 is a classic “1/1” aircraft…a pusher biplane with a cannon that fired upwards. An ambitious approach of the type only interwar designers could dream.
September 29, 2025 at 5:01 PM
The Vickers Type 161 is a classic “1/1” aircraft…a pusher biplane with a cannon that fired upwards. An ambitious approach of the type only interwar designers could dream.
The F-104 Starfighter’s wings were a mere 22 feet across and only 2” thick at their tips.
September 28, 2025 at 4:59 PM
The F-104 Starfighter’s wings were a mere 22 feet across and only 2” thick at their tips.
During the interwar period, Italian aviation took chances on designs that looked unlike anything else of the time. The Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero was no exception, with its large dorsal hump sporting 2x Breda-SAFAT machine guns.
September 26, 2025 at 2:10 AM
During the interwar period, Italian aviation took chances on designs that looked unlike anything else of the time. The Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero was no exception, with its large dorsal hump sporting 2x Breda-SAFAT machine guns.
Russia seems to have scored a hit on a Patriot radar unit over the past day, according to Reddit.
September 25, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Russia seems to have scored a hit on a Patriot radar unit over the past day, according to Reddit.
Orbital Science/Northrop Grumman’s air-launched rocket system components were named Stargazer (mothership) and Pegasus (rocket) after the ships that Picard and Riker served on prior to the Enterprise (respectively).
September 24, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Orbital Science/Northrop Grumman’s air-launched rocket system components were named Stargazer (mothership) and Pegasus (rocket) after the ships that Picard and Riker served on prior to the Enterprise (respectively).
In January 1945, the V-2 rocket spinoff known as “A-4b” became the first winged guided missile to break the sound barrier. The design was gradually reworked by “rehabilitated” Nazi scientists into the US’ SM-64 Navaho supersonic cruise missile.
September 24, 2025 at 1:56 AM
In January 1945, the V-2 rocket spinoff known as “A-4b” became the first winged guided missile to break the sound barrier. The design was gradually reworked by “rehabilitated” Nazi scientists into the US’ SM-64 Navaho supersonic cruise missile.
The interior of Apollo 15’s Lunar Module, Falcon.
September 23, 2025 at 2:33 PM
The interior of Apollo 15’s Lunar Module, Falcon.
To date, Astronaut High School (est. 1972) in Titusville, FL has graduated only one single astronaut: Anil Menon. He is currently scheduled to fly his first mission aboard Soyuz MS-29 in June 2026.
September 3, 2025 at 7:24 PM
To date, Astronaut High School (est. 1972) in Titusville, FL has graduated only one single astronaut: Anil Menon. He is currently scheduled to fly his first mission aboard Soyuz MS-29 in June 2026.
The MGM-18 Lacrosse was a short-ranged "tactical" nuclear missile sporting an uncomfortably short 12 mile range and a yield up to 10.5kt. The firing unit required 3 trucks, a jeep, a radar, 4 guidance systems, and a 45kw generator.
September 2, 2025 at 11:23 PM
The MGM-18 Lacrosse was a short-ranged "tactical" nuclear missile sporting an uncomfortably short 12 mile range and a yield up to 10.5kt. The firing unit required 3 trucks, a jeep, a radar, 4 guidance systems, and a 45kw generator.
A fireball from the first impact of comet Shoemaker–Levy 9 comes into focus above Jupiter in 1994. Galileo’s instruments measured this fireball reaching a temperature of 42,700°F.
August 28, 2025 at 2:35 AM
A fireball from the first impact of comet Shoemaker–Levy 9 comes into focus above Jupiter in 1994. Galileo’s instruments measured this fireball reaching a temperature of 42,700°F.
Martin’s M-130 China Clipper, one of PanAm’s three clippers (alongside Philippine, Hawaii clippers). This painting depicts three forms of “China Clipper,” culminating in the flying boat.
All three “Clipper” flying boats would eventually crash.
All three “Clipper” flying boats would eventually crash.
August 10, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Martin’s M-130 China Clipper, one of PanAm’s three clippers (alongside Philippine, Hawaii clippers). This painting depicts three forms of “China Clipper,” culminating in the flying boat.
All three “Clipper” flying boats would eventually crash.
All three “Clipper” flying boats would eventually crash.
The AN/APQ-13 ground scanning radar was designed to be installed in a belly radome on B-29s. It operated at a frequency of 9375 ± 45 megahertz and aided in targeting. The unit was later repurposed as a civilian weather warning system which remained in use until 1977.
August 8, 2025 at 3:37 PM
The AN/APQ-13 ground scanning radar was designed to be installed in a belly radome on B-29s. It operated at a frequency of 9375 ± 45 megahertz and aided in targeting. The unit was later repurposed as a civilian weather warning system which remained in use until 1977.
Back when planes had engineers on the flight deck, the 727 was a case study in the rule of 3s:
Three engines.
Three crew on the flight deck.
Three times as loud as any other jet.
Three engines.
Three crew on the flight deck.
Three times as loud as any other jet.
August 7, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Back when planes had engineers on the flight deck, the 727 was a case study in the rule of 3s:
Three engines.
Three crew on the flight deck.
Three times as loud as any other jet.
Three engines.
Three crew on the flight deck.
Three times as loud as any other jet.
Wanna feel old as dirt? This was NASA’s APOD on this day, 30 years ago:
“The prominent dark streaks in this image [of Titan by Voyager 2] seem to come from small volcanoes and may consist of nitrogen frost mixed with organic compounds ejected during geyser-like eruptions.”
“The prominent dark streaks in this image [of Titan by Voyager 2] seem to come from small volcanoes and may consist of nitrogen frost mixed with organic compounds ejected during geyser-like eruptions.”
August 6, 2025 at 3:07 AM
Wanna feel old as dirt? This was NASA’s APOD on this day, 30 years ago:
“The prominent dark streaks in this image [of Titan by Voyager 2] seem to come from small volcanoes and may consist of nitrogen frost mixed with organic compounds ejected during geyser-like eruptions.”
“The prominent dark streaks in this image [of Titan by Voyager 2] seem to come from small volcanoes and may consist of nitrogen frost mixed with organic compounds ejected during geyser-like eruptions.”
“The Smoking Lounge on The Hindenburg” sounds like a cruel joke but there was an exquisitely outfitted place for passengers to puff (somewhat) safely beneath the enormous hydrogen gas bags. One electric lighter provided the heat while the room was kept at higher pressure behind sealed double doors.
August 5, 2025 at 1:29 AM
“The Smoking Lounge on The Hindenburg” sounds like a cruel joke but there was an exquisitely outfitted place for passengers to puff (somewhat) safely beneath the enormous hydrogen gas bags. One electric lighter provided the heat while the room was kept at higher pressure behind sealed double doors.
Amelia Earhart standing in front of her highly customized Lockheed Electra 10-E. The E model was powered by 2x beastly Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp engines producing 600hp, each.
August 4, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Amelia Earhart standing in front of her highly customized Lockheed Electra 10-E. The E model was powered by 2x beastly Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp engines producing 600hp, each.