On This Day in Tech History

KazSat-1 is the first telecommunications satellite of Kazakhstan. It was launched on June 18, 2006, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The satellite was designed and manufactured by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center in Russia. KazSat-1 was designed to provide communication and broadcasting services to Kazakhstan and neighboring countries in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and parts of Russia. The satellite has a geostationary orbit, which means it remains stationary above the equator and rotates at the same rate as the Earth. This allows it to maintain a constant line of sight with ground stations, providing uninterrupted communication services. The launch of KazSat-1 was a significant milestone for Kazakhstan's space program, as it marked the country's first venture into space. It also allowed Kazakhstan to reduce its dependence on foreign communication satellites and establish its own satellite communication infrastructure. Since the launch of KazSat-1, Kazakhstan has continued to develop its space program, launching additional satellites and developing partnerships with other countries in the space industry.

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is a robotic spacecraft that was launched by NASA on June 18, 2009. Its primary mission was to make a comprehensive map of the Moon's surface, and to provide information about the Moon's resources and environment. The LRO was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida aboard an Atlas V rocket. It took four days for the spacecraft to reach the Moon, and it entered into a polar orbit around the Moon on June 23, 2009. The LRO carries seven instruments that allow it to study the Moon in great detail. Some of the instruments include a laser altimeter, a high-resolution camera, a neutron detector, and a cosmic ray telescope. These instruments allow the LRO to study the Moon's topography, temperature, radiation environment, and mineralogy.

The Checker Cab Manufacturing Company, based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, was founded in 1922 by Morris Markin, a Russian immigrant who had previously founded the Markin Automobile Body Company. The first Checker Cab, also known as the Model M, was produced in 1923 and quickly became a popular choice for taxi operators due to its durability and spacious interior. By 1925, the Checker Cab Company had become the largest manufacturer of cabs in the United States, with its vehicles being used in cities across the country. Checker Cabs became a cultural icon, featuring in movies, TV shows, and popular music of the time. In 1956, Checker made a significant departure from its taxi manufacturing roots by introducing the Checker Marathon, a passenger car designed for personal use. However, despite the company's efforts to market the vehicle to the general public, it never really took off and sales remained relatively low.