› added 3 years ago

67

TIL that at least 3 astronauts in the Challenger disaster were conscious till the cabin hit the water approximately 3 mins after the breakup. 2 astronauts activated their air providers, while one of them activated it for the pilot Michael J. Smith, who was trying to restore power by moving switches.

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yWeM TIL In 1988 Ian Mckellen visited Michael Howard, then Environment Secretary, to lobby against Section 28. Howard refused to change his position but did ask him to leave an autograph for his children. McKellen agreed, but wrote, “Fuck off, I’m gay.”
Zp08B TIL in 1967, The Doors scored their first #1 hit with "Light My Fire." Elektra Records’ founder Jac Holzman offered each member a gift; Jim Morrison picked a 1967 Ford Mustang, inspired by his hairstylist Jay Sebring. In 1969, Morrison mysteriously lost the Mustang, and its fate remains a mystery.
kJ0n7 TIL a Russian named Vasili Arkhipov avoided causing WWIII after refusing his captain's orders to launch nuclear torpedoes at US war ships during the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis. 2 of the 3 officers on board wanted to fire the missile, however a unanimous decision was required.
wo5W8 TIL: That The U.S. Department of Energy has set the maximum shelf life for gasoline at six months when stored properly. With that said, most experts agree that as long as fuel is kept fresh and free of contaminants, it can last up to three years.
v17Lj TIL about the feud between Howard Hughes and Frank Sinatra over the affections of Ava Gardner, culminating in Sinatra driving a golf cart through a café window, a resulting fist-fight in which Sinatra lost two teeth, and ultimately led to the Mob's withdrawal from Vegas.