Where were you #OTD (in fact, on this exact day – Friday, July 18th, 1969) 56 years ago? I can tell you where I was…on the way to the Moon! Happy #Apollo11 Friday!

Officially starting the countdown to the anniversary of #Apollo11 today. You may recall that a few months ago, India’s Space Research Organization moon orbiter Chandrayaan 2 captured photos of both the Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 lunar modules on the Moon’s surface. They may be small in size – but those landers represent one of humankind’s most noble and successful accomplishments.

Congratulations to the @NSF and @ENERGY Vera C. Rubin Observatory on the first striking batch of images just released! The Cosmic Treasure Chest and new astronomical discoveries (from new galaxies to asteroids) will continue to reshape and advance our understanding of the universe far into the future. @VRubinObs – excellent work and we look forward to the next catalog of findings!

This is a most interesting effort – a photo-assembly video recently produced by @NASA showing the fury and reach of Coronal Mass Ejections (solar flares) across the solar system. I’m continually impressed with the new and creative ways that we gain improved understanding and enhanced perspective of the dynamism of space. New illumination on the science of the Sun – how about that?!

Wishing everyone a meaningful and Happy #FlagDay today! With #Apollo11 anniversary right around the corner, I thought this was a great way to showcase our celebration of Old Glory as well as the ideas, principles and values that the Stars and Stripes represents. Also – wishing the @USArmy a Happy #Army250 birthday today as well!

The world’s most numerable aircraft – the famous and graceful Cessna 172 – took its first flight this week in 1955. The production numbers for the Skyhawk are pretty remarkable – more than 44,000 manufactured and it’s still built today! I wonder how many pilots over the years learned to fly in a 172? It certainly is one of the greats of all time!

Happy Earth Day!

The Apollo 13 mission launched on April 11th, 1970 – 55 years ago today. Above all else, Apollo 13 showed the greatness that people are capable of when put to a test with the highest stakes. Over the course of several tense days, the Apollo 13 crew (Jim Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert) and the NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration team on Earth worked as one to save lives and bring the spacecraft home. Apollo 13 will always remain a shining episode in America’s history. #AProudSalute to all of you for your extraordinary efforts during that challenging time.

160 years ago today, General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia – effectively bringing four long, bloody years of civil war to a close. For so many reasons, it remains one of the most important days in American history, and visiting our expertly-preserved Civil War battlefields is time well spent.

If your nights are clear this week, you might have prime viewing of the annual Geminid #meteorshower – one of the best shows during the “season of lights.” The #geminids will peak DEC 13th-14th, and we may be able to witness up to 120 meteors per hour – that’s a lot! December is certainly the month for magical and dazzling phenomena hurtling across the skies!