R.I.P Neil Armstrong

The world mourns the loss of a historic figure. Neil Armstrong, born in 1930, passed away on August 25th, 2012 due to "complications from cardiovascular procedures" according to his family's statement. Armstrong made history when he became the first man to step foot on the moon. His line "that's one small step for man,  one giant leap for mankind." will forever be remembered. 

Nasa administrator Charles Bolden released an official statement saying:

"On behalf of the entire NASA family, I would like to express my deepest condolences to Carol and the rest of the Armstrong family on the passing of Neil Armstrong. As long as there are history books, Neil Armstrong will be included in them, remembered for taking humankind's first small step on a world beyond our own.

"Besides being one of America's greatest explorers, Neil carried himself with a grace and humility that was an example to us all. When President Kennedy challenged the nation to send a human to the moon, Neil Armstrong accepted without reservation.

"As we enter this next era of space exploration, we do so standing on the shoulders of Neil Armstrong. We mourn the passing of a friend, fellow astronaut and true American hero."

Our condolences go out to the Armstrong family. 

Neil A. Armstrong

1930-2012

Source

Mars Spacecraft Celebrates 5th Year in Orbit

NASA celebrates MRO's (Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter) 5th year anniversary as the spacecraft orbits the red planet. MRO was launched in August 12, 2005 and attained its orbit on the red planet on March 10, 2006. The multi-purpose spacecraft took its very first high resolution image of Mars on September 29, 2006.

Ran by two solar panels, MRO is equipped with three cameras, two spectrometers and a radar and is expected to obtain 5,000 images per year. Project manager for the MRO (NASA), Phil Varghese had stated that "the spacecraft is still in excellent health." And after 5 years of orbiting Mars, "it continues with dual capabilities for conducting science observations, monitoring the Mars environment and serving as a relay."



SOURCES: UPI.com; Image