http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWXHWu-tjv0

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) was designed to explore Mars from orbit. It was launched on August 12, 2005, and reached Martian orbit on March 10, 2006. The spacecraft was built by Lockheed Martin, and the mission is managed by the California Institute of Technology. In this video, some of the flight engineers working on the project discuss what will happen once the MRO reaches Martian orbit.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLH14k5Vszg

On February 20, 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth, completing three orbits in just under five hours. Glenn orbited the earth as part of the Mercury Seven, who were a group of military test pilots selected by NASA in 1959 to become the first astronauts. Glenn went on to resign from NASA and in 1974 was elected to the Senate from his home state of Ohio, where he served until 1999. This video shows live footage from Glenn’s historic mission, including some radio transmissions between Glenn and mission control.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlkV1ybBnHI

The Apollo 11 mission landed the first humans on the moon in 1969. While on their journey, the astronauts observed an unidentified object in space. They decided not to mention this encounter until years later. In this video, Buzz Aldrin recalls what they saw.

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Buzz Aldrin Tells Of His UFO Encounter appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRuSCl30ByY

“I bask in the majesty of the cosmos”. Neil deGrasse Tyson, world-renowned astrophysicist, discusses what led him to his career. He remembers: “I didn’t accidentally land at the Bronx High School of Science. I wanted to become an astrophysicist, not because i chose it. In a way, the universe chose me”. DeGrasse Tyson knew that he wanted to become an astrophysicist after his first visit to the Hayden Planetarium – which he now directs – at age 9. In discussing why he loves his field, deGrasse Tyson says: “It is quite literally true that we are stardust. In the highest exalted way one can use that phrase”.

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Neil deGrasse Tyson On Becoming An Astrophysicist appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtdcdxvNI1o

Neil Armstrong discusses landing on the moon and describes his view from the color of the Earth to the topography of the moon. Armstrong was one of three astronauts to board the Apollo 11 spacecraft and he is the first man to walk on the moon on July 21, 1969. Speaking to the differences in depth perception on the moon, Armstrong notes: “The peculiar phenomenon is the closeness of the horizon due to the greater curvature of the moon than we have here on earth, of course four times greater. And the fact that it is an irregular surface with crater rims overlying other crater rims. You can’t see the real horizon, you are seeing hills that are somewhat closer to you.”

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Neil Armstrong Describes What It’s Like on the Moon appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeqrN3Bfro8

Neil deGrasse Tyson, world-renowned astrophysicist, author and director of the Hayden Planetarium, talks about meeting Carl Sagan for the first time when he was just 17 years old. Sagan, a professor at Cornell University, personally wrote to deGrasse Tyson upon seeing his application to the university, inviting him to visit the campus. During his visit, Sagan gave him a personal tour of the lab, offered him a signed copy of one of his books and drove him to the bus station for his trip home. Of the impact this had on him, deGrasse Tyson notes: “To this day, I have this duty to respond to students who are inquiring about the universe as a career path. To respond to them, in the way that Carl Sagan had responded to me.”

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Neil deGrasse Tyson on the Influence of Carl Sagan appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=488wi-ziNo0

Celebrities and politicians alike share their stories about where they were and what they were doing on July 20, 1969 when the Apollo 11 spaceflight became the first mission to successfully land humans on the moon. American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin spent about two and a half hours on the surface of the moon with Armstrong being the first man to set foot on the moon on July 21, 1969. With his first step, Armstrong spoke the famous words, “That’s one small step for man, and one giant leap for mankind.” For the 45th anniversary of this momentous occasion, Aldrin encourages people to share their memories about the Apollo 11 moon landing and what it meant to them.

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The Apollo 11 Moon Landing appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyBChpiSwYw

Executive director of Pride at Work, a nonprofit organization that aims to seek full equality for LGBT workers, thanks late astronaut Sally Ride. Ride revealed through her obituary that she had maintained a secret relationship with Tam O’Shaunghnessy, an educator and childhood friend of Ride’s, for twenty-seven years. O’Shaughnessy is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Sally Ride Science. Ride passed away on July 23, 2012 due to pancreatic cancer.

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Peggy Shorey Thanks Sally Ride appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wojiv4AhD4g

Sally Ride describes the experience of finding out she would be the first American woman in space and her excitement prior to launch. On June 18th, 1983, Ride successfully entered space as a crew member on board the “Challenger” spacecraft.

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First American Woman in Space Remembers Her Selection appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDyICjWWKFM

Did you dream of becoming an astronaut growing up? This video footage captures the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on July 8, 2011 from inside the shuttle. The mission, known as STS 135, was the last of Atlantis’s 33 missions and the final mission of the United States Space Shuttle Program. Listen to the astronauts communicate with the flight deck and watch their excited reactions.

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Experience Atlantis Launch as the Astronauts Did appeared first on Witnify.