This Week In Space History (12/14 - 12/20)

This Week In Space History (12/14 - 12/20) ​This week in space history is packed with milestones, from daring planetary flybys to the launch of a revolutionary space telescope. Join us as we journey back in time to relive some of humanity's incredible achievements beyond Earth! ​December 14, 1962: Mariner 2's Venus Flyby ​On December 14, 1962, NASA's Mariner 2 made history as the first spacecraft to successfully perform a planetary flyby, zipping past Venus at a distance of approximately 21,600 miles (34,760 kilometers). The probe confirmed Venus's scorching hot surface temperatures and dense, cloudy atmosphere, debunking earlier theories of a potentially habitable "sister planet." Mariner 2's success paved the way for future interplanetary missions and our understanding of the solar system. ​December 15, 1965: Gemini 6A & 7 Rendezvous a truly awe-inspiring moment in space history occurred on December 15, 1965, when Gemini 6A, commanded by Wally Schirra, and Gemini 7, commanded by Frank Borman, performed the first-ever space rendezvous. The two spacecraft maneuvered within a foot of each other, demonstrating the crucial techniques needed for future lunar missions. This incredible feat was a critical step in the journey to the Moon. ​December 17, 1999: Stardust Launch ​NASA's Stardust mission embarked on its journey on December 17, 1999, with a unique goal: to collect samples from the coma of Comet Wild 2 and return them to Earth. 

This daring mission successfully returned its sample capsule in 2006, providing scientists with invaluable insights into the early solar system's composition. 

On December 20, 1999, the Terra satellite, a flagship mission of NASA's Earth Observing System, was launched into orbit.