Holiday: Peter Weyland Day
On this day in 1964, NASA launched the Mariner 4 Spacecraft, which embarked on an eight-month journey to gather data about Mars on a scheduled fly-by.
Mariner 4 marked the first time Earthlings were able to take photos of another planet from space. The public was disappointed in the photos, however. They seemed as bleak and lifeless as the black and white photos taken of the moon. For centuries, astronomers and storytellers had been speculating on the types of life that we might one day find on Mars. The science community didn’t help set expectations either. Three months before the first photos were taken, the National Academy of Sciences announced, “Given all the evidence presently available, we believe it entirely reasonable that Mars is inhabited with living organisms and that life independently originated there.” After processing the Mariner 4 data, NASA determined that the Red Planet had no signs of water or other conditions necessary to support life and its atmosphere was only 1% that of Earth’s, providing no protection from solar or cosmic radiation.
The Mariner science team learned a great deal about the surface and atmosphere of Mars and proved that interplanetary travel was possible without paying exorbitant costs, paving the way for every other space mission that followed. Here’s some original footage of the day NASA received data from the Mariner IV satellite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=At9aLKtmoiM
Music Du Jour: Bruno Mars playlist or Red Planet playlist
Films Du Jour:
- Red Planet (2000)
- The Martian (2015)
- The Space Between Us (2017)
- John Carter (2012)
- Mars (2016 Series)
- Mission to Mars (2000)
- Total Recall (1990)
- The War of the Worlds (2012)
- Settlers (2021)
- Mars Attacks (1996)
- Ghosts of Mars (2001)
- My Favorite Martian (1999)
- The Last Days on Mars (2013)
- Rocketman (1997)
- Invaders from Mars (1986)
- Marvin the Martian (2003)
- The Expanse (2016 Series)
Snacks du Jour: Astronaut food like freeze-dried meals, freeze-dried ice cream, and dehydrated fruit.
Cocktail Du Jour – Martian Martini
- 2 oz gin
- 1 oz Midori Melon Liqueur
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a coupe glass or martini glass.
Mocktail Du Jour – Martian Martini Mocktail
- 2 oz non-alcohol gin
- 1 oz melon syrup
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a coupe glass or martini glass.
Beer Du Jour
Any Red Ale or Red Lager
Wine Du Jour
Red
Use freshly squeezed citrus in your cocktails and mocktails when called for – It makes such a difference! Here’s a reliable and inexpensive juicer.
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Photo credit: “Mars Visualization with Satellite Imagery Overlay” by Kevin M. Gill is licensed
