NASA Pioneer Mission - Video

On April 5, 1973, exactly 40 years ago today, Pioneer 11 blasted off from Cape Canaveral for a risky mission that would take the small satellite dangerously close to Jupiter's surface and through Saturn's outer rings, paving the way even more ambitious explorations of the solar system.

The spacecraft had a tough act to follow. Its sister craft, Pioneer 10, which launched on March 2, 1972, was the first to fly beyond Mars, the first to fly through the asteroid belt and the first to zip by Jupiter, sending volumes of scientific data back to Earth.

But Pioneer 10's success allowed NASA managers to set their sights higher for the 9.5-foot (2.8-m), 570-pound (258-kg) Pioneer 11. The spacecraft would fly not only three times closer to Jupiter than Pioneer 10 but it would also whiz past the next planet out: Saturn.

Sally Ride NASA US Astronaut - Launching Into History

NASA - Launching Into History

On June 18, 1983, a young physicist from California took her seat aboard the space shuttle and launched into history.

On that date, Sally Ride became the first American woman in space as a mission specialist on STS-7. In this image

Ride monitors control panels from the pilot's chair on the Flight Deck.

Unfortunately this was a full 20 years after the USSR cosmonauts, due to rampant masogyny in the US and NASA.

Image Credit: NASA

Galileo; technology pointer

Galileo's Middle finger - Right Hand

The power of Galileo's observations in supplanting religious ideology is best captured in this image of his finger.

It was detached from his remains in 1737 and encased in glass and gilt, pointing heavenward: a scientific reliquary for a secular saint.

A new exhibit in Florence shows Galileo's contribution to humanity using astronomical artefacts, stunning artwork and impressive technology (Image: Biblioteca Marucelliana / Firenze)

Question; If you had the option to 'collect' one finger from a famous or revered person, which finger would you select and why?