Word: rocketeer
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...successfully completed the separation from Mir early Tuesday morning, then crawled into the cramped re-entry vehicle and jettisoned the compartment of the Soyuz craft that contained toilet facilities and living space. They had just settled in to await the firing of the computer-controlled rocket that was programmed to decelerate the spacecraft from its orbital speed for the descent into the atmosphere. Accounts of what happened next differ, but indications are that as the ship passed through a twilight region of space between day and night, an infrared sensor, which fixes the spacecraft's position in relation to earth...
When the re-entry manuever was attempted again, three hours later, the rocket abruptly stopped after just seven seconds. Reason: it had apparently not occurred to either the cosmonauts or the ground controllers to reprogram the computer for the spacecraft's new position. Lyakhov responded by pressing a manual button to restart the engine, but the computer again cut off the rocket. Admitted the cosmonaut afterward: "I am not excusing myself. There was fault there...
Instead, the resistance has been adopting the Maoist strategy of controlling the countryside, isolating towns and cities, and gradually wearing down government morale through rocket barrages. Earlier this month, a huge munitions dump near Kalagay was blown up, reportedly claiming hundreds of Soviet lives. Last week Najibullah's enemies scored a propaganda coup when his brother Sediqullah Rahi, 37, turned up in Washington to announce his defection and call his brother "mentally deranged." Though heavy combat has not touched the capital, Kabul, the sights and sounds of war intrude almost daily. At the airport planes follow a narrow corkscrew flight...
...sending up such a satellite for the first time. All that remains is for the Israeli Cabinet to set a launch date. When lift-off occurs, Israel will become only the eighth country -- after the Soviet Union, U.S., France, Japan, China, Britain and India -- known to possess a rocket powerful enough to put a satellite into space. With its own orbiting electronic eye constantly monitoring Arab states, Israel would gain a distinct advantage in any military confrontation with its neighbors. In addition, Israel would no longer be forced to depend on U.S. satellite intelligence...
Though Israel has long had the technology to produce a sophisticated satellite, work on the project did not begin until 1983, when Jerusalem created a space agency. Dubbed Shavit (Hebrew for comet), the rocket was built jointly by Rafael, the country's leading missile manufacturer, and Israel Aircraft Industries, creator of the Lavi jet fighter. Various electronics companies developed the satellite. Initially, the Israelis plan to launch an experimental satellite that will survive less than a month. If that mission is successful, the Israelis are expected to put up a satellite with a life-span of about two years...