- On This Day!
- Posts
- May 30th, 1971 🚀
May 30th, 1971 🚀
Is there life on Mars?
In partnership with
Today, we’re dialing the time machine to May 30th, 1971. Today marked the beginning of an international space race, that the Americans ultimately won.
Thanks for reading On This Day. If you’re enjoying this newsletter, send it to a friend.
Let’s go! 🚀
May 30th, 1971 📆
NASA
On May 30th, 1971, NASA’s Mariner 9 launched into space with two missions: capture pictures of the surface of Mars, and to beat the Soviets. The Soviet Mars 2 had an 11-day head start on the Mariner 9, but a little American speed got us there weeks in advance. Packed with high-tech (for 1971) gear and a healthy sense of ambition, Mariner 9 rocketed off from Cape Canaveral, ultimately becoming the first spacecraft to orbit another planet.
After a 167-day journey through space, Mariner 9 arrived at Mars to a giant dust storm. Not exactly the red-carpet welcome to the red planet. But once the dust settled it began mapping over 80% of the Martian surface and capturing the first close-up views of Olympus Mons and Valles Marineris.
Take an interplanetary trip down memory lane 👇
Take Me Back ⏮️
🎥 What we’re watching: A Clockwork Orange from Stanley Kubrick
📖 What we’re reading: Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl
🕹️ What we’re playing: Speed Circuit board game
🥤 What we’re drinking: A Harvey Wallbanger (vodka, Galliano, and OJ)
🛒 What we’re buying: Weebles (“Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down!”)
🍔 What we’re eating: McDonald’s, which had just introduced its first PlayPlace in Birmingham, Alabama
🎤 What we’re singing: “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye
Just For Fun 🙃
Big Jake, the latest Western featuring John Wayne, had just been released a few days earlier (May 26th, 1971).
Take a wild west guess 👇
How many Western films did John Wayne star in?HINT: His first was in 1926, and last in 1976 |
OOTD On This Day🧢
The girl on the right may not have had a choker necklace, but at least she could blow a bubble that literally turned heads!
Happy Birthday🎂
Tony Award-winning actress and singer Idina Menzel was born TODAY!
1971 Meets 2025 📰
You’ve never experienced business news like this
Morning Brew delivers business news the way busy professionals want it — quick, clear, and written like a human.
No jargon. No endless paragraphs. Just the day’s most important stories, with a dash of personality that makes them surprisingly fun to read.
No matter your industry, Morning Brew’s daily email keeps you up to speed on the news shaping your career and life—in a way you’ll actually enjoy.
Best part? It’s 100% free. Sign up in 15 seconds, and if you end up missing the long, drawn-out articles of traditional business media, you can always go back.
Refer and Earn🎁
Are you enjoying On This Day? Send it to your friends & earn cool stuff.
Copy and send your unique referral link: https://onthisdaynewsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER
You currently have 0 referrals, only 1 away from earning the On This Day Playlist!
P.S. in order to count towards rewards, your referrals must confirm their subscription in the welcome email. This ensures you’re not cheating and adding fake email addresses. 😜