45 Years: Apollo 1 Fire

1967: Apollo 1 astronauts Grissom, White, and Chaffee died in the cockpit fire on the launch pad during a test.

National Day of Remembrance for Americans Downwind from Nuclear Testing Sites

S.Res. 330: DESIGNATING JANUARY 27, 2012, AS A NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR AMERICANS WHO, DURING THE COLD WAR, WORKED AND LIVED DOWNWIND FROM NUCLEAR TESTING SITES AND WERE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE RADIATION EXPOSURE GENERATED BY THE ABOVE GROUND NUCLEAR WEAPONS TESTING

   Whereas on January 27, 1951, the first of years of nuclear weapons tests was conducted at a site known as the Nevada Proving Ground, located approximately 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada;

   Whereas the extensive testing at the Nevada Proving Ground came just years after the first ever nuclear weapon test, which was conducted on July 16, 1945, at what is known as the Trinity Atomic Test Site, located approximately 35 miles south of Socorro, New Mexico;

   Whereas many Americans who, during the Cold War, worked and lived downwind from nuclear testing sites (referred to in this preamble as ``downwinders'') were adversely affected by the radiation exposure generated by the above ground nuclear weapons testing, and some of the downwinders sickened as a result of the radiation exposure;

   Whereas the downwinders paid a high price for the development of a nuclear weapons program for the benefit of the United States; and

   Whereas the downwinders deserve to be recognized for the sacrifice they have made for the defense of the United States: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the Senate--

    (1) designates January 27, 2012, as a national day of remembrance for Americans who, during the Cold War, worked and lived downwind from nuclear testing sites and were adversely affected by the radiation exposure generated by the above ground nuclear weapons testing; and

    (2) encourages the people of the United States to support and participate in appropriate ceremonies, programs, and other activities to commemorate January 27, 2012.

(Senate - November 16, 2011)

1972: Space Shuttle Program Announced

President Nixon's 1972 Announcement on the Space Shuttle



President Richard M. Nixon and NASA Administrator James C. Fletcher announced the Space Shuttle program had received final approval in San Clemente, California, on 5 January 1972.

Statements by President Nixon and NASA Administrator James Fletcher
5 January 1972

HT: This Week in Space, January 2, 2012

International Year of Cooperatives

S.Res. 87: A resolution designating the year of 2012 as the "International Year of Cooperatives"

2012 is Beginning

Welcome to 2012.

Innovative Ideas to Watch in 2012

4 Big Moves Google Should Make in 2012

Marc Andreesen's predictions for 2012: "Software is eating the world...2012 retail really starts feeling the pressure." awe.sm/5c8oY
— ian c rogers (@iancr) December 20, 2011

Investor's Business Daily 2012 tech predictions

Is Samsung giving up on netbooks?

Six tech trends to watch in 2012 usat.ly/yTdvHx
— USA TODAY Top News (@USATODAY) January 3, 2012

America’s Most Stressful Jobs 2012 cnbc.com/id/45859025 - America's Least Stressful Jobs 2012 bit.ly/y35Vfs
— CNBC (@CNBC) January 3, 2012

The Most Anticipated Movies of 2012