Surprising Science — August 29, 2014

30 Years Ago Today: Discovery’s Maiden Voyage

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

August 30, 1984: the Space Shuttle Discovery launches from Kennedy Space Center on its maiden voyage. STS-41-D was NASA’s 12th Space Shuttle mission. One mission’s crew members was Judith Resnik, who became the second American woman in space. Tragically, Resnik was killed two years later in the Challenger disaster.

Photo credits: NASA

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Hard Science

T-Minus: Stranded space drugs, a new moon lander, and more

Freethink’s weekly countdown of the biggest space news, featuring a stranded space factory, Jeff Bezos’ new moon lander, and more.

Photo of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion

Starts With A Bang

Remembering the fallen heroes of spaceflight

Memorial day is a time to remember veterans killed in the line of service. These spaceflight heroes deserve to be remembered, too.

Hard Science

The 12 most exciting space missions of 2023

2023 will see the launch of new rockets, the return of OSIRIS-REx, and a mission to Jupiter that could help us find extraterrestrial life.

The Present

The top 10 science stories of 2022

2022 was another busy year in the realm of science, with groundbreaking stories spanning space, materials, medicine, and technology.

A 3D illustration of a typhoon as seen from orbit.

The Learning Curve

We need an “orbital perspective” to solve Earth’s problems

Retired astronaut Ron Garan believes that before we can begin solving our problems, we must understand our interrelatedness through the “orbital perspective.”

Up Next

“Pardon The Appearance of Our Lawns”: California’s Massive Drought

It’s not looking good in the Golden State right now: According to the U.S. Drought Monitor (shown below), the entire state is currently experiencing at least “moderate drought,” with 95% […]