Christoph Seidler @chs42@qoto.org

On my way. #artemis1

#otd in 1988, the Soviet Space Shuttle #Buran launched for the first and only time on the giant #Energia rocket. This is the giant rail transporter-erector that was built for the project at the #BaikonurCosmodrome. The 'grasshopper' was pulled by by four railcars and was used to bring the stack to the launch site. I took this picture in 2014 during a visit to Baikonur. But I am pretty sure that those 2700+ tons of steel still sit exactly in the same place today.

That ist exactly what it looks like. The "Disposable Absorption Containment Trunk" was originally developed for female astronauts like Sally Ride to be used on the US #spaceshuttle for bathroom breaks at inconvenient times. Men were supposed to use a urine collection hose and bag assembly. #spacehistory

@chrtitz Hallöle

#astronaut Pete Conrad flew to space four times. On his last flight in summer 1973 he took a mixtape to the #skylab station to entertain his colleagues. And, by the way, without the bravery of Conrad and his two fellow astronauts there would have been no Skylab at all as the station was badly damaged during the start earlier. The three decided that it would still be possible to stay and managed to repair the station. What's on the tape you ask? Among others it's country by Loretta Lynn.

Today's image is one of a Transall C-160 transport #plane , forever parked in Hohn in northern Germany. The German #Luftwaffe has finally stopped using the plane by the end of 2021. In the years before it was gradually replaced by the #a400m. The French-German project for the #Transall was started in the late 50s and 60s. The name C-160 refers to the fact that it was used for C-argo and had a wing area of 160 square meters.

@skanman It's a sunrise..

Today's image is a Nike #missile at the former launch site NY-56 in Sandy Hook, NJ. These surface to air missiles were supposed to protect #newyorkcity during the early phase of the cold war. #airdefense

Until I figure out what to make of this new place, I might occasionally post some random air and #space related pictures. This one belongs to the instructions on the bottom of a #Soyuz capsule (specifically TMA-14 that carried among others #spaceflight participant Charles Simonyi) on how to open it in case no rescue team is around.