Tag: space

From Monarch Mishaps to Cosmic Capers! (with some grave robbing in between.)

All the events referred to are related to 2 March.

Queen Victoria
[Image Wikipedia]
  1. On March 2, 1872, Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom narrowly escaped an assassination attempt. During her reign, how many such attempts were made on her life?
    • Four
    • Six
    • Eight
  2. Which film, which premiered on this day in the early 20th century, ended with the line “It was Beauty that killed the Beast”?
    • Frankenstein
    • King Kong
    • The Island of Dr. Moreau 
  3. On this day in 1969, the first test flight of the supersonic Concorde took place at…
    • Bristol, England
    • Prestwick, Scotland
    • Toulouse, France.

    Screenshot of Charlie Chaplin in Kid Auto Races at Venice, (1914)
    [Image Wikipedia]
  4. Overnight from the 1st to the 2nd of March, 1978, the coffin of the comic actor Charlie Chaplin, containing his body, was stolen from his grave in…
    • California, USA
    • Vaud, Switzerland
    • Cornwall, England.
  5. On 2 March 1978, an astronaut or cosmonaut made history by becoming the first person of neither American nor Russian nationality to travel in space. What nationality was he?
    • Chinese
    • Canadian
    • Czech

Good luck, the answers will be posted later today.

Gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd—Atebion*

(“Do ye the little things in life”—Answers*)

Saint David
[Image Wikipedia]
  1. Saint David—Today, March 1st, marks Saint David’s Day. David, a prominent Welsh Christian prelate who served as Bishop of Mynyw in the 6th century and is the patron saint of Wales. His exact birthdate remains uncertain, with estimates ranging from 462 to 512. Traditionally, he is believed to be the son of Non and grandson of Ceredig ap Cunedda. St. David’s profound wisdom is encapsulated in the phrase “Do ye the little things in life.” This timeless advice emphasises the significance of small tasks and details in our daily routines. By cultivating humility, mindfulness, and a present-moment focus, we can unlock the potential for personal growth and spiritual fulfilment. By diligently attending to these minor details, we can pave the way for greater achievements and a deeper connection with ourselves and the world around us.
  2. Massachusetts—In 1692, Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne and Tituba were brought before local magistrates in Salem Village, Massachusetts. This marked the beginning of the infamous Salem witch trials. Tituba was an enslaved Native American but little is known of her. The Smithsonian Magazine says —

    Tituba may have sailed from Barbados in 1680 with Parris [Samuel Parris, the minister in whose household the witchcraft erupted], then still a bachelor and not yet a minister. Though likely a South American Indian, her origins are unclear.

    The Smithsonian Magazine
    David Niven with Oscar (1959)
    [Image Wikipedia]
  3. David Niven—David Niven, an English actor, soldier, and author, initially served in the British Army but returned during World War II. He gained fame in Hollywood, winning an Academy Award and two Golden Globes for films like ‘Separate Tables’ and ‘Around the World in 80 Days’. After studying at Sandhurst, he left the army in 1933 to pursue acting. Niven returned to military service in WWII and earned the Legion of Merit for his contributions to the BBC Allied Expeditionary Forces Programme. Post-war, he continued acting, notably playing James Bond in ‘Casino Royale’ (1967), and enjoyed renewed popularity with his memoir ‘The Moon’s a Balloon’. He also wrote a second novel, ‘Go Slowly, Come Back Quickly’, and appeared in films like ‘Death on the Nile’. Niven passed away in 1983 from ALS, remembered as a charismatic Hollywood figure.
    1966 Soviet Union 6 kopeks stamp. Venera 3 Pendant and Medal.
    [Image Wikipedia]
  4. Venera 3 and Venus—Venera 3, the first spacecraft to land on another planet, crashed on Venus on 1 March 1966 after a course correction manoeuvre. A Soviet space probe, Venera 3 was launched in 1965 to explore Venus’ surface. It comprised an entry probe and a carrier/flyby spacecraft. Contact was lost on 15 February due to overheating.
  5. 1872—Established on March 1, 1872, Yellowstone National Park stands as the first national park dedicated to preserving and showcasing the world’s unique hydrothermal and geologic features. Spanning an expansive 2.2 million acres, visitors are afforded unparalleled opportunities to witness wildlife in their natural habitat and explore geothermal wonders. Yellowstone boasts approximately half of the world’s active geysers, as well as awe-inspiring geologic formations like the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.
Horace M. Albright, Superintendent of Yellowstone, with some bears at a table in Yellowstone National Park, 1922.
[Image Wikipedia]

*Atebion and Answers. I hope my translation is correct but if not please accept my apologies.

Gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd

(“Do ye the little things in life”)

Here are some trivia questions which have some connection to 1 March.

  1. The saying in Welsh at the top of this post is attributed to which Holy man who is connected to March?
    • Saint David
    • Saint Joseph
    • Saint Patrick
    Salem Witch Trials
    [Image Wikipedia]
  2. Three women were brought before local magistrates on 1 march 1692 beginning what would become the Salem Witch Trials. In what colony was Salem?
    • Connecticut
    • Massachusetts
    • Rhode Island
  3. An English actor, soldier and author born this day in 1910 who links Phileas Fogg, The Pink Panther and James Bond. As an officer in the British Army he took part in the World War II Normandy invasion. He also wrote the memoir The Moon’s a Balloon. Who is he?
    • Alec Guinness
    • David Niven
    • Richard Burton
    Solar System
    [Image Wikipedia]
  4. What became the first space craft to land on another planet on this day in 1966 and what planet did it land on?
    • Mars 1 and Mars
    • Mariner 2 and Mercury
    • Venera 3 and Venus
  5. The world’s first national park is established at Yellowstone in the US. This establishment took place on 1 March…
    • 1859
    • 1872
    • 1885

Good luck, the answers will be posted later today.

Into Orbit—Answer

  1. John Glenn
  2. Friendship 7
  3. 3 orbits
John Glenn boarding Friendship 7.
[Image from Wikipedia]

On February 20, 1962, John Glenn, aboard Friendship 7, made history as the first American to orbit the Earth. This achievement was a significant milestone for NASA, following the successes of the Soviet space program.

John H. Glenn, Jr., the eldest of the Mercury Seven—the seven astronauts chosen by NASA for Project Mercury spaceflight training—completed three orbits of the Earth, landing safely in the Atlantic Ocean. His flight lasted 4 hours and 56 minutes.

The Mercury Seven astronauts with a U.S. Air Force Convair F-106B Delta Dart aircraft at Langley Air Force Base. From left to right: Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton.
[Image from Wikipedia]

In 1959, NASA had selected Glenn and six other military test pilots as the nation’s first astronauts, and the Friendship 7 flight made Glenn the third American and the fifth person to venture into space.

Senator-astronaut John Glenn on the shuttle Discovery.(1998)
[Image fromWikipedia]

Even at the remarkable age of 77 in 1998, Glenn continued to inspire generations by becoming the oldest human to travel in space. His unwavering dedication and remarkable achievements were a testament to his enduring legacy.

The following comment is attributed to John Glenn…

I guess the question I’m asked the most often is: “When you were sitting in that capsule listening to the count-down, how did you feel?” Well, the answer to that one is easy. I felt exactly how you would feel if you were getting ready to launch and knew you were sitting on top of two million parts — all built by the lowest bidder on a government contract.

Into Orbit

On 20 February 1962 a NASA spacecraft orbited the Earth, the first time an American astronaut had done so.

  1. Who was the astronaut?
    • Gus Grissom
    • Alan Shepard
    • John Glenn
  2. What was the spacecraft?
    • Faith 7
    • Freedom 7
    • Friendship 7
  3. How many orbits did the spacecraft complete?
    • 3 orbits
    • 6 orbits
    • 9 orbits