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Space Mirror memorial: For the first time, a commercial spacecraft pilot has been added to the U.S. memorial for fallen astronauts. At a ceremony held Saturday (Jan. 25), Michael T. Alsbury's name was unveiled on the black granite face of the Space Mirror Memorial at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Alsbury died in 2014 in the crash of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo suborbital spaceplane.
S.S. Robert H. Lawrence: The next Cygnus spacecraft to launch to the space station has been named for the first African American to be chosen as an astronaut. The S.S. Robert H. Lawrence was christened for the Manned Orbiting Lab (MOL) aerospace research pilot who died in a jet crash in 1967. Northrop Grumman said that it was proud to honor Lawrence's prominent place in space history.
'Pin'-nacle achievement: NASA's first class of astronauts to graduate under the agency's Artemis program will be presented with lapel pins that link them to the original space men. The history behind the small silver (and gold) pins can be traced back almost 60 years, when the number of astronauts grew from just seven to 29 and Mercury was joined by the Gemini and Apollo programs.
Record-setting stay: On Saturday (Dec 28), Christina Koch will have spent more days on a space mission than any woman before her. Already a record holder as part of the first all woman EVA (spacewalk), Koch is exceeding the 289 days and 5 hours that her mentor, Peggy Whitson, logged between 2016 and 2017. By the time Koch lands on Earth, she will have spent a total of 328 days in space.
Coin completion: The United States Mint is concluding the year-long sale of its Apollo 11 50th Anniversary coins on Friday night (Dec. 27). Released in January in commemoration of the first moon landing, the gold, silver and clad coins were only the second curved issues by the Mint. The proceeds from the almost 600,000 coins sold benefit in part three organizations helping to preserve space history.
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Space-baked cookies: The first ever food to be baked in space — DoubleTree by Hilton's chocolate chip cookies — are back on Earth and one may be Smithsonian-bound. Baked using Zero G Kitchen's and Nanoracks' Zero G Oven, the cookies took longer and needed more heat but still produced a sweet smell on board the space station.
'Make space for women': Inspired by the all woman spacewalk, Olay is launching its own mission to #MakeSpaceForWomen. The skin care company is airing a star-studded Super Bowl ad featuring TV journalist Katie Couric, actress Taraji P Henson and former NASA astronaut Nicole Stott. The space-themed spot will promote engaging young women in science and technology through Girls Who Code.
Starliner's Snoopy: As seen in a new video released Wednesday (Jan. 15), Snoopy, the "world famous astronaut," returned to space in December, flying on board Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft. Serving as a zero-g indicator, Snoopy's flight extended his long association with U.S. spaceflight. Floating weightless during the orbital flight test, the Snoopy doll sported Boeing's mission patch.
Hubble coin in focus for 2020: The Hubble Space Telescope may be depicted on a U.S. coin 30 years after its launch. The American Innovation $1 Coin Program may include the observatory as Maryland's entry in the series in recognition of the state hosting the control centers for the telescope. Both the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee and Commission for Fine Arts chose a design featuring the Hubble in orbit with NASA's legacy logotype on display.
Capsule Calypso: Less than two hours after it returned from space on Sunday (Dec. 22), Boeing's first Starliner to orbit Earth became the company's first crew capsule to be given a name. NASA astronaut Suni Williams, who will command the first re-flight of the vehicle, christened the "Calypso" after ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau's ship.
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