Celebrating National Space Day

Night sky filled with stars — Geek Emeritus Tom snapped this celestial shot during a camping trip.
(Free download courtesy of @tom_stre on Unsplash)

We’re making space … for SPACE

That’s because May 5, 2023, is National Space Day. And since our team of web geeks is also full of space nerds, we’ve decided to do a galactic takeover of this blog post that (we hope) is outta this world. 🪐

So double check those pressure seals and buckle up tight because our National Space Day celebration launches in 5 … 4 … 3 … 2 … 1 🚀

Why Are We Celebrating National Space Day?

In 1997, the Lockheed Martin Corporation introduced National Space Day as a one-off event—and it’s been celebrated on the first Friday in May ever since.

Our CodeGeek mascot Randall in a space suit

Whether on the web or in the cosmos, our curiosity for “what’s possible” keeps pushing us towards “what’s next.”

So for National Space Day, we’ve curated a list of fact-based and fiction-fueled adventures to help us all celebrate that curiosity.

And to keep us looking to the stars. ✨

What’s On Our (Space) Bucket List?

If money (and time) were no object, this is how some of the Geeks would celebrate National Space Day.

Take a ride in the Vomit Comet. — John

I would build my own rocket, endure months of arduous physical training to become an astronaut, and fly out to the moon. — Steven

Buy a trip to the ISS (International Space Station). — Jamie

I would have an astronaut-guided private tour (with my family) of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Then we’d go to Kennedy Space Center to see a night launch. — Cathy

Spend the night in one of the International Dark Sky Places, gazing up at the stars. — Rebecca

Should You Stream, Read Or Visit? (Yes.)

If you’re looking for some awesome continued space-age education, check out all the goodies on the Geeks’ reco list.

Watch

Read or Listen

13 Minutes to the Moon
In the Blink of an Eye: Space in an Instant (3-min YouTube video)
Any of the books by Andy Weir
The Foundation series by Isaac Asimov

Visit

Flight Club – Real-life satellite passes and rocket launches
CelesTrak – Freely available data and other resources for the space community
Earth Restored – A selection of the most beautiful photographs of Earth

We Spy With Our Little Eyes … July 20, 1969

The Moon in a shade of red during a lunar eclipse — Jamie’s breathtaking pic of 2019’s Super Blood Wolf Moon Eclipse still has us (you guessed it) over the Moon.

If we could go back in time (a simple slingshot around the sun should do it), then the Geeks overwhelmingly vote to witness firsthand the Apollo 11 Moon landing.

I watched Apollo 11’s Moon landing and Neil Armstrong’s first steps onto the Moon on TV.

I was only seven, and my dad woke me up to watch it. (He knew it was important!)

I don’t have super clear memories and would love to witness that again.
Cathy

We’re Going Back –> To The (Space) Future!

A futuristic concept image of a space elevator. A mini-capsule is on the track leading to a star-studded opening toward space.

As we peer into the future, the Geeks are super excited for humankind to achieve some of these space-based milestones.

Space elevators! — John

How it’s going: Space elevators are possible with today’s technology, researchers say—we just need to dangle them off the Moon.

It will be so exciting for humans to walk on Mars. — Todd

How it’s going: NASA is currently training four people to live on Mars this summer (in a simulated Mars habitat.)

The day we’re able to travel through vast amounts of space, with humans, in relatively short amounts of time. In other words: light speed! — Steven

How it’s going: Not so good, with most of the blame placed on the laws of physics. But there may be one way to beat the speed of light.

I also look forward to finding a habitable planet with water within our solar system. — Todd

How it’s going: In 2020, NASA discovered a second Earth-sized world in another system’s habitable zone.

The Artemis missions. I love that we will be collaborating with commercial and international partners and establishing the first long-term presence on the Moon to get us better prepared for Mars. — Cathy

How it’s going: Pretty dang good. Keep up to date on all the Artemis missions as we collectively reach for the Moon, Mars and beyond.

Speaking of space elevators …

While we haven’t yet figured out how to get around the prohibitive cost of escaping Earth’s gravitational pull, we can at least check out Neal.Fun’s digital space elevator—and let our imaginations blast off into the future.

Screenshot from Neal.Fun's Space Elevator web app. — Catch a ride on Neal.Fun’s Space Elevator!

What We’re Geeking Spacing Out About 🤓

Early phase of a supernova, radiating in pinks and blues

How super is this supernova?

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope seems to be getting a lot of attention these days.

And it should when it captures images like this one: the prelude to a supernova (also known as the Wolf-Rayet phase).

A spaceplane flying against a backdrop of gray clouds

It’s a bird! It’s a spaceplane!

Dawn Aerospace recently conducted the first rocket-powered flights of the Mk-II spaceplane at New Zealand’s Gentanner Aerodrome.

“It will completely revolutionize the economics of space access.” — Dawn CEO Stefan Powell

The four astronauts on the crew of the Artemis II mission

Meet the Moon’s fab four

NASA’s announcement of the Artemis II crew sent us digging through our photos from Space Camp.

These four astronauts will be on the first crewed mission on NASA’s path toward establishing a long-term presence on the Moon. 🌔

Tweet by VP Kamala Harris. Text reads: "In addition to paving the way for further deep space exploration, these four brave astronauts are breaking barriers as the first woman, first person of color, and the first international crew to enter the moon's orbit."

Rebecca's gear from her time at Space Academy: a t-shirt, hat and the official binder of intel — Speaking of Space Camp, Rebecca dug up her souvenirs from her time at “the academy.”

Space Sponsorship: Young Minds At Work

Three middle school kids holding up house-shaped boxes to their faces and looking through a hole toward the ceiling.

Young Minds At Work is an annual event hosted by Lockheed Martin to support STEM education and develop the next generation of innovators.

About our sponsorship

Every year, students can experience a day of hands-on learning with the latest technology at Lockheed Martin campuses across the U.S.

As a swag bag sponsor for the event on April 27, 2023, at the Boulder campus, CodeGeek was thrilled to help introduce more young minds to the wonders of science and technology. 🤓

Two astronauts sitting in a space shuttle — One of three free Zoom backgrounds from the 2021 YMAW event.

Learn more about Young Minds At Work

Space Humor

Four panels of illustrated plants dancing with the Sun standing by watching them. — @safelyendangered

@pennythegingercat

Joke reads: Freddie Mercury, Bruno Mars, and Venus Williams all walk into the same bar. But they didn't planet. — @dadsaysjokes

This is space! Course, we’re just in the beginning part of space. We haven’t even got to ‘outer’ space yet.
Oscar, Armaggedon (1998)

Wanna see what else we love to geek out about?

Check out our blog Archive