Astronaut Ed White Walks In Space, June 3, 1965.

“Seven men emerged from this competitive purgatory as the as the Project Mercury astronauts… This is the beginning for each of them.”

MERCURY SEVEN: The Story of NASA’s Astronauts

Since I was out of town and couldn’t make a post on the 2nd, here’s a happy belated birthday to Charles “Pete” Conrad, Jr. (June 2, 1930 – July 8, 1999), one of my absolute favorite people in the entire world. Pete was a brilliant engineer, a naval aviator, test pilot, part of the second group of NASA astronauts, and the third human to walk on the moon.

He worked harder than most people can imagine to overcome the obstacles that stood in the way of his dreams, though you’d hardly notice because he did it all with a gap-toothed smile. I’ll never forget the sound of him laughing all the way into orbit during Apollo 12. I still miss him like hell and I wish I had had the chance to tell him in person that he’s my hero, but I take comfort in the fact that Petey had more fun in his short 69 years than most people could have in 100.

Happy birthday, Tweety. Love ya more than you know.

The Apollo 1 prime and backup crew at a press conference in Houston a few days before Christmas, 1966. With them is chief astronaut Deke Slayton.

Happy Birthday to Neil Armstrong on what would have been his 90th birthday.

“All his life, in whatever he did, Neil personified the essential qualities and core values of a superlative human being: commitment, dedication, dependability, a thirst for knowledge, self-confidence, toughness, decisiveness, honesty, innovation, loyalty, positive attitude, self-respect, respect for others, integrity, self-reliance, prudence, judiciousness, and much more. No member of the human race stepping out onto another heavenly body could possibly have represented the best of humanity more than Neil Armstrong did.” - James Hansen in First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong

It is cold outside. If you’re in the United States. you’re likely experiencing near record-low temperatures and wind chills right now. Since you’ll likely be stuck inside for a few days, we have provided a handy guide of fun activities to do indoors:

1) Make pancakes

2) Create an elaborate exercise routine with a towel

3) Make newspaper hats, for yourself and for your pets

4) Play an Extreme round of Jenga

5) Finally teach yourself the chords to “Pour Some Sugar On Me”

6) And, of course, hang out with your puppy and cat.

Happy late bday @gusgrissom!! Here’s, well, Gus Grissom!

you had me at the first line

Commander John Young after STS-1, the first orbital flight of NASA’s Space Shuttle program aboard the shuttle Columbia, April 1981

You guys, I love the “Gemini 4 crew gets their honorary doctorates from Michigan” photos so very much.

Astronaut Neil Armstrong floats in his space suit in a pool of water in 1967.Photograph by NASA