Three major tragedies in the US manned space flight proram

November 29, 2008

Dear friends,

I have earlier studied the US space achievements (on my blog on Wednesday, May 28, 2008). There the conclusion was that "In addition to MARS being highlighted indicating technical achievement and SATURN signifying death defying acts, the role of MERCURY as 3rd lord of transportation and communication comes out loud and clear."

http://cosmologer.blogspot.com/2008/05/us-space-achievements.html

The difficult aspects at the present time and the discussion about the space shuttle Endeavor landing tomorrow made me curious to understand better the astrological elements behind the well known tragedies of this program. Below I share with you a study of the transits in the SAMVA USA chart (Perpetual Union) at the time of three major tragedies in the US manned space flight program.

As earlier discussed, the achievements of the US space flight program resonate strongly with the character of the American people as seen through the SAMVA USA chart. Not surprisingly, it is found that the same planets highlighted during the significant achievements also show up prominently during the tragedies, along with all the major malefics.

1. Apollo 1 fire

The Apollo 1 command module (CM-012) was destroyed by fire during a test and training exercise on January 27, 1967 at Pad 34 (Launch Complex 34, Cape Canaveral, then known as Cape Kennedy) atop a Saturn IB rocket. The crew aboard were the astronauts selected for the first manned Apollo program mission: Command Pilot Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, Senior Pilot Ed White and Pilot Roger B. Chaffee. All three died in the fire.

"After nearly ten seconds of frenetic movement noises Chaffee yelled, "We've got a bad fire! Let's get out! We're burning up! We're on fire! Get us out of here!" Some witnesses said they saw Ed White on the television monitors, reaching for the hatch release handle as flames in the cabin spread from left to right and licked the window. Only 17 seconds after the first indication by crew of any fire, the transmission ended abruptly at 6:31:21 with a scream of pain as the cabin ruptured after rapidly expanding gases from the fire overpressurized the CM to 29 psi."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_1

The dual malefic Saturn-Rahu period was operating.

- transit Rahu at 18° 13' Aries/H10 was closely conjunct natal Rahu at 17° 47' Aries.

The nodal conjunction is considered one of the most painful aspects to be experienced when stationary. While this aspect was not stationary, we must also take into account that the operating sub-period was that of Rahu. As the sub-period lord was natally afflicted by Rahu and Ketu, some traumatic event could be expected. Ketu is the lord of a sudden eruption of fire with violent heat. Rahu rules crisis. It is said that Astronaut Grissom had complained that he space capsule was inadequate and he told his wife it was a "lemon". Rahu rules crisis due to manipulation by the administration in this regard. Importantly, the conjunction took place in the 10th house, which rule the executive branch of government.

- transit 6th lord Jupiter 5° 01' Cancer/H1 was closely afflicting its natal placement at 4° 25' Scorpio/H5. The 6th lord is the lord of accidents and mishaps.

- natal 6th lord Jupiter at 4° 25' Scorpio/H5 aspected transit 8th lord Saturn at 2° 45' Pisces/H9. This is a classic aspect of violent events in this Cancer rising chart.

- transit 4th lord Venus was in 8th house, which was also closely aspected by transit Ketu.

In short, 'all the bases were loaded' for a traumatic event for the nation on January 27, 1967.

2. The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster

The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986 when Challenger, a Space Shuttle operated by NASA, consisting of the Challenger Orbiter, an External Tank (ET) containing liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer, and two Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs), broke apart 73 seconds into its flight leading to the deaths of its seven crew members. The spacecraft disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of central Florida, United States at 11:39 a.m. EST (16:39 UTC). The crew of seven were probably killed by impact of their crew compartment with the ocean surface, although they might have suffered lethal injuries from the forces of the disintegration.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Challenger_disaster

The Mercury-Jupiter period was operating.

- transit 8th lord Saturn at 14° 02' Scorpio/H5 was closely afflicting four transiting planets including the major period lord, Mercury, which also rules transportation and high technology activities.

* natal 3rd lord Mercury at 12° 05' Capricorn/H7

* transit Mercury at 12° 28' Capricorn/H7

* transit 2nd lord Sun at 14° 48' Capricorn/H7

* transit 4th lord Venus at 16° 57' Capricorn/H7

* transit 1st lord Moon at 17° 22 Leo/H2

The comprehensive affliction involving the lord of death is highly significant.

- transit 6th lord Jupiter, the sub-period lord, had just entered the 8th house and was at 0° 50' Aquarius, from where it received the aspect of transit 10th lord Mars at 3° 37' Scorpio/H5. Importantly, transit Mars was thus also exactly conjunct natal Jupiter at 4° 25' Scorpio/H5. As Mars rules the astronauts of the US space program, this contact is highly important to explain the tragic loss of life in this manned space flight event.

In sum, the chart explains this tragedy very well.

3. Space Shuttle Columbia disaster

The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occurred on February 1, 2003, when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, with the loss of all seven crew members, shortly before it was scheduled to conclude its 28th mission, STS-107. The shuttle was scheduled to land at 9:16 a.m. EST. At 8:59:32 am – a broken response from the mission commander was recorded: "Roger, uh, bu - [cut off in mid-word] ..." It was the last communication from the crew and the last telemetry signal received in Mission Control.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Columbia_disaster

The Venus-Mars period was operating. Mars rules astronauts, who embody heroic qualities in life.

- transit Ketu at 12° 32' Scorpio/H5 was closely conjunct natal 10th lord Mars at 10° 07' Scorpio. A sudden tragic event took the life of the brave astronauts.

- transit Rahu at 12° 32' Taurus/H11 was closely aspecting natal 3rd lord Mercury at 12° 05' Capricorn/H7. A crisis involving transportation, high tech activities and communcation erupted.

- transit 8th lord Saturn at 28° 38 Taurus/H11 was closely opposite natal Saturn at 26° 46' Scorpio/H5. This aspect signals the risk of setbacks for death-defying activities.

- transit 6th lord Jupiter at 19° 18' Cancer/H1 was aspecting the 1st house of self, 5th house of creative activities, 7th house of short journeys and 9th house of luck. Importantly, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn are natally placed in the 5th house and Mercury and Sun are natally placed in the 7th house. Transit Jupiter also exactly afflicted transit 2nd lord Sun at 18° 23' in Capricorn/H7 and 1st lord Moon at 19° 58' Capricorn/H7.

The transit and period influences could not be any more telling about the danger of such an outcome.

Our hopes and prayers are always with the brave people involved in such efforts to expand the existential possibilities of humaninty in the frontier of space.

Best wishes,

Thor

November 29, 2008

Dear list members,

I attach the file for the Columbia disaster, which didn´t make it with the original message.

Best wishes,

Thor

Cosmologer <cosmologersamva Sent: Saturday, November 29, 2008 12:31:26 PM Three major tragedies in the US manned space flight proram

Dear friends,

I have earlier studied the US space achievements (on my blog on Wednesday, May 28, 2008). There the conclusion was that "In addition to MARS being highlighted indicating technical achievement and SATURN signifying death defying acts, the role of MERCURY as 3rd lord of transportation and communication comes out loud and clear." http://cosmologer.blogspot.com/2008/05/us-space-achievements.html

The difficult aspects at the present time and the discussion about the space shuttle Endeavor landing tomorrow made me curious to understand better the astrological elements behind the well known tragedies of this program. Below I share with you a study of the transits in the SAMVA USA chart (Perpetual Union) at the time of three major tragedies in the US manned space flight program.

As earlier discussed, the achievements of the US space flight program resonate strongly with the character of the American people as seen through the SAMVA USA chart. Not surprisingly, it is found that the same planets highlighted during the significant achievements also show up prominently during the tragedies, along with all the major malefics.

1. Apollo 1 fire

The Apollo 1 command module (CM-012) was destroyed by fire during a test and training exercise on January 27, 1967 at Pad 34 (Launch Complex 34, Cape Canaveral, then known as Cape Kennedy) atop a Saturn IB rocket. The crew aboard were the astronauts selected for the first manned Apollo program mission: Command Pilot Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, Senior Pilot Ed White and Pilot Roger B. Chaffee. All three died in the fire.

"After nearly ten seconds of frenetic movement noises Chaffee yelled, "We've got a bad fire! Let's get out! We're burning up! We're on fire! Get us out of here!" Some witnesses said they saw Ed White on the television monitors, reaching for the hatch release handle as flames in the cabin spread from left to right and licked the window. Only 17 seconds after the first indication by crew of any fire, the transmission ended abruptly at 6:31:21 with a scream of pain as the cabin ruptured after rapidly expanding gases from the fire overpressurized the CM to 29 psi."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_1

The dual malefic Saturn-Rahu period was operating.

- transit Rahu at 18° 13' Aries/H10 was closely conjunct natal Rahu at 17° 47' Aries.

The nodal conjunction is considered one of the most painful aspects to be experienced when stationary. While this aspect was not stationary, we must also take into account that the operating sub-period was that of Rahu. As the sub-period lord was natally afflicted by Rahu and Ketu, some traumatic event could be expected. Ketu is the lord of a sudden eruption of fire with violent heat. Rahu rules crisis. It is said that Astronaut Grissom had complained that he space capsule was inadequate and he told his wife it was a "lemon". Rahu rules crisis due to manipulation by the administration in this regard. Importantly, the conjunction took place in the 10th house, which rule the executive branch of government.

- transit 6th lord Jupiter 5° 01' Cancer/H1 was closely afflicting its natal placement at 4° 25' Scorpio/H5. The 6th lord is the lord of accidents and mishaps.

- natal 6th lord Jupiter at 4° 25' Scorpio/H5 aspected transit 8th lord Saturn at 2° 45' Pisces/H9. This is a classic aspect of violent events in this Cancer rising chart.

- transit 4th lord Venus was in 8th house, which was also closely aspected by transit Ketu.

In short, 'all the bases were loaded' for a traumatic event for the nation on January 27, 1967.

2. The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster

The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986 when Challenger, a Space Shuttle operated by NASA, consisting of the Challenger Orbiter, an External Tank (ET) containing liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer, and two Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs), broke apart 73 seconds into its flight leading to the deaths of its seven crew members. The spacecraft disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of central Florida, United States at 11:39 a.m. EST (16:39 UTC). The crew of seven were probably killed by impact of their crew compartment with the ocean surface, although they might have suffered lethal injuries from the forces of the disintegration.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Challenger_disaster

The Mercury-Jupiter period was operating.

- transit 8th lord Saturn at 14° 02' Scorpio/H5 was closely afflicting four transiting planets including the major period lord, Mercury, which also rules transportation and high technology activities.

* natal 3rd lord Mercury at 12° 05' Capricorn/H7

* transit Mercury at 12° 28' Capricorn/H7

* transit 2nd lord Sun at 14° 48' Capricorn/H7

* transit 4th lord Venus at 16° 57' Capricorn/H7

* transit 1st lord Moon at 17° 22 Leo/H2

The comprehensive affliction involving the lord of death is highly significant.

- transit 6th lord Jupiter, the sub-period lord, had just entered the 8th house and was at 0° 50' Aquarius, from where it received the aspect of transit 10th lord Mars at 3° 37' Scorpio/H5. Importantly, transit Mars was thus also exactly conjunct natal Jupiter at 4° 25' Scorpio/H5. As Mars rules the astronauts of the US space program, this contact is highly important to explain the tragic loss of life in this manned space flight event.

In sum, the chart explains this tragedy very well.

3. Space Shuttle Columbia disaster

The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occurred on February 1, 2003, when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, with the loss of all seven crew members, shortly before it was scheduled to conclude its 28th mission, STS-107. The shuttle was scheduled to land at 9:16 a.m. EST. At 8:59:32 am – a broken response from the mission commander was recorded: "Roger, uh, bu - [cut off in mid-word] ..." It was the last communication from the crew and the last telemetry signal received in Mission Control.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Columbia_disaster

The Venus-Mars period was operating. Mars rules astronauts, who embody heroic qualities in life.

- transit Ketu at 12° 32' Scorpio/H5 was closely conjunct natal 10th lord Mars at 10° 07' Scorpio. A sudden tragic event took the life of the brave astronauts.

- transit Rahu at 12° 32' Taurus/H11 was closely aspecting natal 3rd lord Mercury at 12° 05' Capricorn/H7. A crisis involving transportation, high tech activities and communcation erupted.

- transit 8th lord Saturn at 28° 38 Taurus/H11 was closely opposite natal Saturn at 26° 46' Scorpio/H5. This aspect signals the risk of setbacks for death-defying activities.

- transit 6th lord Jupiter at 19° 18' Cancer/H1 was aspecting the 1st house of self, 5th house of creative activities, 7th house of short journeys and 9th house of luck. Importantly, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn are natally placed in the 5th house and Mercury and Sun are natally placed in the 7th house. Transit Jupiter also exactly afflicted transit 2nd lord Sun at 18° 23' in Capricorn/H7 and 1st lord Moon at 19° 58' Capricorn/H7.

The transit and period influences could not be any more telling about the danger of such an outcome.

Our hopes and prayers are always with the brave people involved in such efforts to expand the existential possibilities of humaninty in the frontier of space.

Best wishes,

Thor

November 30, 2008

dear thor…

your work on this project is brilliant…

as usual, your insights are helpful and informative.

best wishes,

David Hawthorne

SAMVA [sAMVA ] On Behalf Of Cosmologer

Saturday, November 29, 2008 6:31 AM

samva

Three major tragedies in the US manned space flight

proram

Dear friends,

I have earlier studied the US space achievements

(on my blog on Wednesday, May 28, 2008). There the conclusion was that " In

addition to MARS being highlighted indicating technical achievement and SATURN

signifying death defying acts, the role of MERCURY as 3rd lord of

transportation and communication comes out loud and clear. "

http://cosmologer.blogspot.com/2008/05/us-space-achievements.html

The difficult aspects at the present time and

the discussion about the space shuttle Endeavor landing

tomorrow made me curious to understand better the astrological elements

behind the well known tragedies of this program. Below I share

with you a study of the transits in the SAMVA USA chart (Perpetual

Union) at the time of three major tragedies in the US manned space flight

program.

As earlier discussed, the achievements of the US space flight

program resonate strongly with the character of the American people as seen

through the SAMVA USA chart. Not surprisingly, it is found that the same planets highlighted

during the significant achievements also show up prominently during the

tragedies, along with all the major malefics.

1. Apollo 1 fire

The Apollo 1 command module (CM-012) was destroyed by fire

during a test and training exercise on January 27, 1967 at Pad 34 (Launch

Complex 34, Cape Canaveral, then known as Cape Kennedy) atop a Saturn IB

rocket. The crew aboard were the astronauts selected for the first manned

Apollo program mission: Command Pilot Virgil I. " Gus " Grissom, Senior

Pilot Ed White and Pilot Roger B. Chaffee. All three died in the fire.

" After nearly ten seconds of frenetic movement noises

Chaffee yelled, " We've got a bad fire! Let's get out! We're burning up!

We're on fire! Get us out of here! " Some witnesses said they saw Ed White

on the television monitors, reaching for the hatch release handle as flames in

the cabin spread from left to right and licked the window. Only 17 seconds

after the first indication by crew of any fire, the transmission ended abruptly

at 6:31:21 with a scream of pain as the cabin ruptured after rapidly expanding

gases from the fire overpressurized the CM to 29 psi. "

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_1

The dual malefic Saturn-Rahu

period was operating.

- transit Rahu at 18° 13' Aries/H10 was closely conjunct natal

Rahu at 17° 47' Aries.

The nodal conjunction is considered one of the most painful

aspects to be experienced when stationary. While this aspect was not

stationary, we must also take into account that the operating sub-period

was that of Rahu. As the sub-period lord was natally afflicted by Rahu and

Ketu, some traumatic event could be expected. Ketu is the lord of a sudden

eruption of fire with violent heat. Rahu rules crisis. It is said that

Astronaut Grissom had complained that he space capsule was inadequate and he

told his wife it was a " lemon " . Rahu rules crisis due to manipulation

by the administration in this regard. Importantly, the conjunction took place

in the 10th house, which rule the executive branch of government.

- transit 6th lord Jupiter 5° 01' Cancer/H1 was closely

afflicting its natal placement at 4° 25' Scorpio/H5. The 6th lord is the lord

of accidents and mishaps.

- natal 6th lord Jupiter at 4° 25' Scorpio/H5 aspected transit

8th lord Saturn at 2° 45' Pisces/H9. This is a classic aspect of violent events

in this Cancer rising chart.

- transit 4th lord Venus was in 8th house, which was also

closely aspected by transit Ketu.

In short, 'all the bases were loaded' for a traumatic event

for the nation on January 27, 1967.

2. The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster

The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28,

1986 when Challenger, a Space Shuttle operated by NASA, consisting of the

Challenger Orbiter, an External Tank (ET) containing liquid hydrogen fuel and

liquid oxygen oxidizer, and two Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs), broke apart 73

seconds into its flight leading to the deaths of its seven crew members. The

spacecraft disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of central

Florida, United States at 11:39 a.m. EST (16:39 UTC). The crew of seven were

probably killed by impact of their crew compartment with the ocean surface,

although they might have suffered lethal injuries from the forces of the

disintegration.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Challenger_disaster

The Mercury-Jupiter period was operating.

- transit

8th lord Saturn at 14° 02' Scorpio/H5 was closely afflicting

four transiting planets including the major period lord, Mercury, which also

rules transportation and high technology activities.

* natal 3rd lord Mercury at 12° 05' Capricorn/H7

* transit Mercury at 12° 28' Capricorn/H7

* transit 2nd lord Sun at 14° 48' Capricorn/H7

* transit 4th lord Venus at 16° 57' Capricorn/H7

* transit 1st lord Moon at 17° 22 Leo/H2

The comprehensive affliction involving the lord of death is

highly significant.

- transit

6th lord Jupiter, the sub-period lord, had just entered

the 8th house and was at 0° 50' Aquarius, from where it received the aspect of

transit 10th lord Mars

at 3° 37' Scorpio/H5. Importantly, transit Mars was thus also exactly conjunct

natal Jupiter at 4° 25' Scorpio/H5. As Mars rules the astronauts of the US

space program, this contact is highly important to explain the tragic loss of

life in this manned space flight event.

In sum, the chart explains this tragedy very well.

3. Space Shuttle Columbia disaster

The

Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occurred on February 1, 2003, when the Space

Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas during re-entry into the Earth's

atmosphere, with the loss of all seven crew members, shortly before it was

scheduled to conclude its 28th mission, STS-107. The shuttle was scheduled to

land at 9:16 a.m. EST. At 8:59:32 am – a broken response from the mission

commander was recorded: " Roger, uh, bu - [cut off in mid-word] ... "

It was the last communication from the crew and the last telemetry signal

received in Mission Control.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Columbia_disaster

The Venus-Mars

period was operating. Mars rules astronauts, who embody heroic

qualities in life.

- transit Ketu at 12° 32' Scorpio/H5 was closely conjunct natal

10th lord Mars at 10° 07' Scorpio. A sudden tragic event took the life of

the brave astronauts.

- transit Rahu at 12° 32' Taurus/H11 was closely aspecting natal

3rd lord Mercury at 12° 05' Capricorn/H7. A crisis involving

transportation, high tech activities and communcation erupted.

- transit 8th lord Saturn at 28° 38 Taurus/H11 was closely

opposite natal Saturn at 26° 46' Scorpio/H5. This aspect signals the risk

of setbacks for death-defying activities.

- transit 6th lord Jupiter at 19° 18' Cancer/H1 was aspecting

the 1st house of self, 5th house of creative activities, 7th house of short

journeys and 9th house of luck. Importantly, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn are

natally placed in the 5th house and Mercury and Sun are natally placed in the

7th house. Transit Jupiter also exactly afflicted transit 2nd lord Sun at 18°

23' in Capricorn/H7 and 1st lord Moon at 19° 58' Capricorn/H7.

The transit and period influences could not be any more telling

about the danger of such an outcome.

Our hopes and prayers are always with the brave people

involved in such efforts to expand the existential possibilities of humaninty

in the frontier of space.

Best wishes,

Thor

November 30, 2008

Dear David,

Thanks for the feedback and kind words on the post, which I also put on my blog.

I find it amazing to see the good fit of this chart with nature and timing of specific historical events.

Glad to know you find the work helpful.

Best wishes,

Thor

http://cosmologer.blogspot.com

David Hawthorne <davidSAMVA Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2008 3:11:44 AMRE: Three major tragedies in the US manned space flight proram

dear thor…

your work on this project is brilliant…

as usual, your insights are helpful and informative.

best wishes,

David Hawthorne

SAMVA [sAMVA ] On Behalf Of CosmologerSaturday, November 29, 2008 6:31 AMsamva Subject: Three major tragedies in the US manned space flight proram

Dear friends,

I have earlier studied the US space achievements (on my blog on Wednesday, May 28, 2008). There the conclusion was that "In addition to MARS being highlighted indicating technical achievement and SATURN signifying death defying acts, the role of MERCURY as 3rd lord of transportation and communication comes out loud and clear."

http://cosmologer.blogspot.com/2008/05/us-space-achievements.html

The difficult aspects at the present time and the discussion about the space shuttle Endeavor landing tomorrow made me curious to understand better the astrological elements behind the well known tragedies of this program. Below I share with you a study of the transits in the SAMVA USA chart (Perpetual Union) at the time of three major tragedies in the US manned space flight program.

As earlier discussed, the achievements of the US space flight program resonate strongly with the character of the American people as seen through the SAMVA USA chart. Not surprisingly, it is found that the same planets highlighted during the significant achievements also show up prominently during the tragedies, along with all the major malefics.

1. Apollo 1 fire

The Apollo 1 command module (CM-012) was destroyed by fire during a test and training exercise on January 27, 1967 at Pad 34 (Launch Complex 34, Cape Canaveral, then known as Cape Kennedy) atop a Saturn IB rocket. The crew aboard were the astronauts selected for the first manned Apollo program mission: Command Pilot Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, Senior Pilot Ed White and Pilot Roger B. Chaffee. All three died in the fire.

"After nearly ten seconds of frenetic movement noises Chaffee yelled, "We've got a bad fire! Let's get out! We're burning up! We're on fire! Get us out of here!" Some witnesses said they saw Ed White on the television monitors, reaching for the hatch release handle as flames in the cabin spread from left to right and licked the window. Only 17 seconds after the first indication by crew of any fire, the transmission ended abruptly at 6:31:21 with a scream of pain as the cabin ruptured after rapidly expanding gases from the fire overpressurized the CM to 29 psi."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_1

The dual malefic Saturn-Rahu period was operating.

- transit Rahu at 18° 13' Aries/H10 was closely conjunct natal Rahu at 17° 47' Aries.

The nodal conjunction is considered one of the most painful aspects to be experienced when stationary. While this aspect was not stationary, we must also take into account that the operating sub-period was that of Rahu. As the sub-period lord was natally afflicted by Rahu and Ketu, some traumatic event could be expected. Ketu is the lord of a sudden eruption of fire with violent heat. Rahu rules crisis. It is said that Astronaut Grissom had complained that he space capsule was inadequate and he told his wife it was a "lemon". Rahu rules crisis due to manipulation by the administration in this regard. Importantly, the conjunction took place in the 10th house, which rule the executive branch of government.

- transit 6th lord Jupiter 5° 01' Cancer/H1 was closely afflicting its natal placement at 4° 25' Scorpio/H5. The 6th lord is the lord of accidents and mishaps.

- natal 6th lord Jupiter at 4° 25' Scorpio/H5 aspected transit 8th lord Saturn at 2° 45' Pisces/H9. This is a classic aspect of violent events in this Cancer rising chart.

- transit 4th lord Venus was in 8th house, which was also closely aspected by transit Ketu.

In short, 'all the bases were loaded' for a traumatic event for the nation on January 27, 1967.

2. The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster

The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986 when Challenger, a Space Shuttle operated by NASA, consisting of the Challenger Orbiter, an External Tank (ET) containing liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer, and two Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs), broke apart 73 seconds into its flight leading to the deaths of its seven crew members. The spacecraft disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of central Florida, United States at 11:39 a.m. EST (16:39 UTC). The crew of seven were probably killed by impact of their crew compartment with the ocean surface, although they might have suffered lethal injuries from the forces of the disintegration.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Challenger_disaster

The Mercury-Jupiter period was operating.

- transit 8th lord Saturn at 14° 02' Scorpio/H5 was closely afflicting four transiting planets including the major period lord, Mercury, which also rules transportation and high technology activities.

* natal 3rd lord Mercury at 12° 05' Capricorn/H7

* transit Mercury at 12° 28' Capricorn/H7

* transit 2nd lord Sun at 14° 48' Capricorn/H7

* transit 4th lord Venus at 16° 57' Capricorn/H7

* transit 1st lord Moon at 17° 22 Leo/H2

The comprehensive affliction involving the lord of death is highly significant.

- transit 6th lord Jupiter, the sub-period lord, had just entered the 8th house and was at 0° 50' Aquarius, from where it received the aspect of transit 10th lord Mars at 3° 37' Scorpio/H5. Importantly, transit Mars was thus also exactly conjunct natal Jupiter at 4° 25' Scorpio/H5. As Mars rules the astronauts of the US space program, this contact is highly important to explain the tragic loss of life in this manned space flight event.

In sum, the chart explains this tragedy very well.

3. Space Shuttle Columbia disaster

The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occurred on February 1, 2003, when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, with the loss of all seven crew members, shortly before it was scheduled to conclude its 28th mission, STS-107. The shuttle was scheduled to land at 9:16 a.m. EST. At 8:59:32 am – a broken response from the mission commander was recorded: "Roger, uh, bu - [cut off in mid-word] ..." It was the last communication from the crew and the last telemetry signal received in Mission Control.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Columbia_disaster

The Venus-Mars period was operating. Mars rules astronauts, who embody heroic qualities in life.

- transit Ketu at 12° 32' Scorpio/H5 was closely conjunct natal 10th lord Mars at 10° 07' Scorpio. A sudden tragic event took the life of the brave astronauts.

- transit Rahu at 12° 32' Taurus/H11 was closely aspecting natal 3rd lord Mercury at 12° 05' Capricorn/H7. A crisis involving transportation, high tech activities and communcation erupted.

- transit 8th lord Saturn at 28° 38 Taurus/H11 was closely opposite natal Saturn at 26° 46' Scorpio/H5. This aspect signals the risk of setbacks for death-defying activities.

- transit 6th lord Jupiter at 19° 18' Cancer/H1 was aspecting the 1st house of self, 5th house of creative activities, 7th house of short journeys and 9th house of luck. Importantly, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn are natally placed in the 5th house and Mercury and Sun are natally placed in the 7th house. Transit Jupiter also exactly afflicted transit 2nd lord Sun at 18° 23' in Capricorn/H7 and 1st lord Moon at 19° 58' Capricorn/H7.

The transit and period influences could not be any more telling about the danger of such an outcome.

Our hopes and prayers are always with the brave people involved in such efforts to expand the existential possibilities of humaninty in the frontier of space.

Best wishes,

Thor