Jason Thompson
@jasonjtt.bsky.social
Biochemist, Doctor Who fan, astronomer, model-maker... these are just some of the nicer terms used to describe me. Co-host of @robotsineyes podcast.
It sampled the surface, sent back many images, and even saw two lasers aimed at it from observatories on Earth. It also detected a horizon glow believed to be caused by fine dust held up by electrostatic interactions lit up by the sun after sunset. The Surveyor series really gave us new insight.
November 27, 2025 at 10:20 PM
It sampled the surface, sent back many images, and even saw two lasers aimed at it from observatories on Earth. It also detected a horizon glow believed to be caused by fine dust held up by electrostatic interactions lit up by the sun after sunset. The Surveyor series really gave us new insight.
Human Spaceflight: 07 Jan 1968. OK, not really related but as the others have had a mention, the final Surveyor probe is launched, landing near Tycho crater a few days later. This wasn't in support of Apollo but purely to get a probe on the lunar highlands to examine a different sort of terrain.
November 27, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Human Spaceflight: 07 Jan 1968. OK, not really related but as the others have had a mention, the final Surveyor probe is launched, landing near Tycho crater a few days later. This wasn't in support of Apollo but purely to get a probe on the lunar highlands to examine a different sort of terrain.
And why was it Apollo 4? Well, Apollo 1 had been officially adopted as the name of the test that killed Grissom, White and Chaffee in a fire, and there had been two prior test flights of the production Apollo spacecraft (AS-201 and AS-202 the previous year), so this was the fourth, hence Apollo 4.
November 26, 2025 at 10:22 PM
And why was it Apollo 4? Well, Apollo 1 had been officially adopted as the name of the test that killed Grissom, White and Chaffee in a fire, and there had been two prior test flights of the production Apollo spacecraft (AS-201 and AS-202 the previous year), so this was the fourth, hence Apollo 4.
The spacecraft then fired the engine again to accelerate re-entry to translunar speeds to give the heat shield a good test. The Apollo spacecraft splashed down in the Atlantic brining the first Saturn V flight to a successful conclusion.
November 26, 2025 at 10:22 PM
The spacecraft then fired the engine again to accelerate re-entry to translunar speeds to give the heat shield a good test. The Apollo spacecraft splashed down in the Atlantic brining the first Saturn V flight to a successful conclusion.
The third stage, the S-IVB, then placed the spacecraft into parking orbit before re-igniting to raise the apogee to over 9,000 miles. The Apollo spacecraft then separated and fired its own engine to go oven higher, nearly 10,000 miles at apogee. An automatic camera captured images of Earth.
November 26, 2025 at 10:22 PM
The third stage, the S-IVB, then placed the spacecraft into parking orbit before re-igniting to raise the apogee to over 9,000 miles. The Apollo spacecraft then separated and fired its own engine to go oven higher, nearly 10,000 miles at apogee. An automatic camera captured images of Earth.
30 seconds later the interstage separation was captured by film cameras on the second stage and provided us with one of the most famous pieces of rocketry footage ever seen as the huge metal ring cartwheeled away, lit up in flame by the otherwise invisible exhaust of the second stage engines.
November 26, 2025 at 10:22 PM
30 seconds later the interstage separation was captured by film cameras on the second stage and provided us with one of the most famous pieces of rocketry footage ever seen as the huge metal ring cartwheeled away, lit up in flame by the otherwise invisible exhaust of the second stage engines.
Over a third of the height and two thirds of the mass of the rocket was in the first stage, designated the S-IC. 2 and a half minutes into the flight this was cut loose to fall back into the Atlantic. The second stage, S-II, then took over.
November 26, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Over a third of the height and two thirds of the mass of the rocket was in the first stage, designated the S-IC. 2 and a half minutes into the flight this was cut loose to fall back into the Atlantic. The second stage, S-II, then took over.
The Saturn V was by far the biggest thing ever launched to that point. It stood over 360 feet tall and weighed around 6 million pounds fully fueled. The first stage used kerosene and liquid oxygen to generate 7.5 million pounds of thrust to lift the beast. The other 2 stages burned liquid hydrogen.
November 26, 2025 at 10:22 PM
The Saturn V was by far the biggest thing ever launched to that point. It stood over 360 feet tall and weighed around 6 million pounds fully fueled. The first stage used kerosene and liquid oxygen to generate 7.5 million pounds of thrust to lift the beast. The other 2 stages burned liquid hydrogen.
Human Spaceflight: 09 Nov 1967. A huge milestone for the Apollo programme as the colossal Saturn V rocket is launched for the first time. Designated Apollo 4, this was an all-up test of the massive, 3-stage launch vehicle that would hopefully send astronauts to the Moon before the end of the decade.
November 26, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Human Spaceflight: 09 Nov 1967. A huge milestone for the Apollo programme as the colossal Saturn V rocket is launched for the first time. Designated Apollo 4, this was an all-up test of the massive, 3-stage launch vehicle that would hopefully send astronauts to the Moon before the end of the decade.
The probe also fired its vernier engines to examine the effect of rocket exhaust on the lunar regolith, and fired them again for longer to become the first craft to lift off from the lunar surface. It rose to a few feet in height and landed again some ten feet from its original landing spot.
November 25, 2025 at 9:57 PM
The probe also fired its vernier engines to examine the effect of rocket exhaust on the lunar regolith, and fired them again for longer to become the first craft to lift off from the lunar surface. It rose to a few feet in height and landed again some ten feet from its original landing spot.
Human Spaceflight: 07 Nov 1967. Surveyor 6 makes a successful lunar landing, sending back nearly 30,000 images from its TV cameras and conducting various experiments on the surface regolith. This was the final Surveyor mission intended to support the upcoming Apollo missions.
November 25, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Human Spaceflight: 07 Nov 1967. Surveyor 6 makes a successful lunar landing, sending back nearly 30,000 images from its TV cameras and conducting various experiments on the surface regolith. This was the final Surveyor mission intended to support the upcoming Apollo missions.
Human Spaceflight: 30 Oct 1967. 3 days after the launch of Kosmos 186, a second uncrewed Soyuz, this time designated Kosmos 188, was launched. Barely an hour later, these two spacecraft completed a totally automated rendezvous and docking, the first time such a thing had been done without a pilot!
November 24, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Human Spaceflight: 30 Oct 1967. 3 days after the launch of Kosmos 186, a second uncrewed Soyuz, this time designated Kosmos 188, was launched. Barely an hour later, these two spacecraft completed a totally automated rendezvous and docking, the first time such a thing had been done without a pilot!
Human Spaceflight: 27 Oct 1967. The Soviets launch what is officially designated Kosmos 186. This turns out to be an uncrewed Soyuz launch, with a spacecraft modified after the disaster of Soyuz 1. This time it enters orbit and deploys its solar panels correctly.
November 23, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Human Spaceflight: 27 Oct 1967. The Soviets launch what is officially designated Kosmos 186. This turns out to be an uncrewed Soyuz launch, with a spacecraft modified after the disaster of Soyuz 1. This time it enters orbit and deploys its solar panels correctly.
And that's not hyperbole. Ever since the earliest days of my fandom journey a love of this show has brought me into contact with some of the best people I have ever known and given me some of the greatest friendships I could have wished for. You're all amazing.
So, Happy Doctor Who Day!
So, Happy Doctor Who Day!
November 23, 2025 at 9:20 PM
And that's not hyperbole. Ever since the earliest days of my fandom journey a love of this show has brought me into contact with some of the best people I have ever known and given me some of the greatest friendships I could have wished for. You're all amazing.
So, Happy Doctor Who Day!
So, Happy Doctor Who Day!
62 years since millions of UK viewers first heard two of the most iconic sounds in TV history: that theme tune and the TARDIS. For a show that was at one point only guaranteed a 13-week run it's not done too badly! At this point I cannot imagine what my life would have been like without it.
November 23, 2025 at 9:20 PM
62 years since millions of UK viewers first heard two of the most iconic sounds in TV history: that theme tune and the TARDIS. For a show that was at one point only guaranteed a 13-week run it's not done too badly! At this point I cannot imagine what my life would have been like without it.
Human Spaceflight: 08 Sep 1967. Exploration of the lunar surface by probes continues as Surveyor 5 is launched on this day, successfully landing in the Sea of Tranquility a few days later. Apollo 11 would land just a few miles from Surveyor 5. Almost 20,000 images were returned.
November 21, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Human Spaceflight: 08 Sep 1967. Exploration of the lunar surface by probes continues as Surveyor 5 is launched on this day, successfully landing in the Sea of Tranquility a few days later. Apollo 11 would land just a few miles from Surveyor 5. Almost 20,000 images were returned.
Human Spaceflight: 01 Aug 1967. The Lunar Orbiter series comes to an end with the launch of Lunar Orbiter 5. Altogether they have managed to map 98% of the lunar surface in unprecedented detail. Among the images this probe took were those of the future landing site for Apollo 11.
November 20, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Human Spaceflight: 01 Aug 1967. The Lunar Orbiter series comes to an end with the launch of Lunar Orbiter 5. Altogether they have managed to map 98% of the lunar surface in unprecedented detail. Among the images this probe took were those of the future landing site for Apollo 11.
Human Spaceflight: 04 May 1967. NASA continues mapping the lunar surface with Lunar Orbiter 4. Despite a few technical issues, this probe manages to photograph almost all of the near side and a little of the far side. It also got a lovely picture of a crescent moon with a crescent Earth behind it.
November 19, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Human Spaceflight: 04 May 1967. NASA continues mapping the lunar surface with Lunar Orbiter 4. Despite a few technical issues, this probe manages to photograph almost all of the near side and a little of the far side. It also got a lovely picture of a crescent moon with a crescent Earth behind it.
Re-entry appeared to proceed normally, but when recovery crews found the capsule it was burning. When they finally reached it they realised there was no hope for Komarov. Later investigation showed he had died instantly when the capsule slammed into the ground after the parachutes failed.
November 18, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Re-entry appeared to proceed normally, but when recovery crews found the capsule it was burning. When they finally reached it they realised there was no hope for Komarov. Later investigation showed he had died instantly when the capsule slammed into the ground after the parachutes failed.
When it reach orbit, one of Soyuz 1's solar panels failed to deploy, as did a star sensor cover. This meant the spacecraft had limited power and could not orient itself in space effectively. Soyuz 2 was canceled and plans immediately began to get Komarov back.
November 18, 2025 at 9:44 PM
When it reach orbit, one of Soyuz 1's solar panels failed to deploy, as did a star sensor cover. This meant the spacecraft had limited power and could not orient itself in space effectively. Soyuz 2 was canceled and plans immediately began to get Komarov back.
The original plan was ambitious. A three-person crew was to follow Komarov into space on Soyuz 2. The spacecraft would dock and two of the Soyuz 2 cosmonauts would spacewalk over to Soyuz 1, becoming the first men to return to Earth in a different craft from the one they left on.
November 18, 2025 at 9:44 PM
The original plan was ambitious. A three-person crew was to follow Komarov into space on Soyuz 2. The spacecraft would dock and two of the Soyuz 2 cosmonauts would spacewalk over to Soyuz 1, becoming the first men to return to Earth in a different craft from the one they left on.
Human Spaceflight: 23 Apr 1967. The year started badly for NASA. Sadly, it would be no better for the USSR. Soyuz 1 lifted off on this day with Vladimir Komarov as the pilot. Things went wrong almost immediately, and Komarov died the following day when the parachutes failed to open after re-entry.
November 18, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Human Spaceflight: 23 Apr 1967. The year started badly for NASA. Sadly, it would be no better for the USSR. Soyuz 1 lifted off on this day with Vladimir Komarov as the pilot. Things went wrong almost immediately, and Komarov died the following day when the parachutes failed to open after re-entry.
Today it is the best known of the Surveyor probes because Apollo 12 landed next to it a couple of years later and it was extensively photographed. The astronauts also removed and returned its TV camera. Decades Later the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter imaged it from orbit.
November 17, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Today it is the best known of the Surveyor probes because Apollo 12 landed next to it a couple of years later and it was extensively photographed. The astronauts also removed and returned its TV camera. Decades Later the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter imaged it from orbit.
The probe bounced three times before finally landing. It carried a remote controlled scoop arm with which it dug trenches in the lunar soil, as well as depositing some on the footpad for colour photography. It also took the first image of Earth from the surface of another body.
November 17, 2025 at 9:21 PM
The probe bounced three times before finally landing. It carried a remote controlled scoop arm with which it dug trenches in the lunar soil, as well as depositing some on the footpad for colour photography. It also took the first image of Earth from the surface of another body.
Human Spaceflight: 17 Apr 1967. Continuing their efforts to understand the lunar surface better before landing with a crew, NASA sends Surveyor 3 to the Moon. The probe lands in the 'Ocean of Storms' and sends back many monochrome and colour images of the surface via its TV camera.
November 17, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Human Spaceflight: 17 Apr 1967. Continuing their efforts to understand the lunar surface better before landing with a crew, NASA sends Surveyor 3 to the Moon. The probe lands in the 'Ocean of Storms' and sends back many monochrome and colour images of the surface via its TV camera.