Science data

The first item produced by humans to be recovered from Earth's orbit occurred on August 11, 1960, when a portion of the Discoverer 13 spacecraft was done so. The first item produced by humans to be recovered from Earth's orbit occurred on August 11, 1960, when a portion of the Discoverer 13 spacecraft was done so. The mission was launched by the US Department of Defense as a component of the C.I.A.'s Corona spy satellite program. They intended to test if they could bring a satellite's sensor payload back to Earth in a way that would preserve the thing. The only thing inside the reentry capsule, a large bowl-shaped piece of metal weighing roughly 120 pounds, was the American flag. The capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after its heat shield and parachute were deployed. It was carried to a ship by a Navy helicopter, which then transported it back to Pearl Harbor.

Both the Soyuz 7 and the Soyuz 16 were commanded by Filipchenko. Anatoly Filipchenko, a cosmonaut from the Soviet period who participated in two docking tests—the first for a potential Russian lunar landing and the second for the first mission in which the United States participated—died at the age of 94. The Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, outside of Moscow, and Roscosmos, the government space enterprise of Russia, both confirmed Filipchenko's passing on Sunday (opens in new tab) (Aug. 7). "Anatoly Vasilievich was a goal-oriented, exacting, industrious, and fair individual who was constantly willing to assist others. His life's work included faithfully serving the Motherland, being innovative, and being committed to the cause of his choice "Officials from the training center released a statement (opens in new tab). "The center's management and personnel, [as well as] the cosmonaut team] offer their genuine deepest sympathies to everyone Anato...