Last Surviving Apollo 7 Astronaut Walter Cunningham Passes Away
US astronaut Walter Cunningham, the last surviving member of the first NASA mission to ever broadcast live TV from orbit, died at the age of 90.
Apollo 7 was an 11-day manned mission in 1968 that tested the ability to dock and rendezvous in space. But the crew also won an Emmy for their broadcast.
It paved the way for the moon landing by Apollo 11 less than a year later.
Cunningham was born in Creston, Iowa, and went on to earn a masters degree in physics from the University of California in Los Angeles. While working as a civilian at the time, he was one of three astronauts chosen for the first manned spaceflight in the Apollo programme.
As lunar module pilot for Apollo 7, he was accompanied by Navy Captain Walter Schirra and Air Force Major Donn Eisele.
Jan 03, 2023
Gujarat's First Woman Chief Secretary Manjula Subramaniam Passes Away
The first woman Chief Secretary of Gujarat, Manjula Subramaniam, passed away in Vadodara. She was 74.
A Gujarat-cadre officer of 1972-batch, Subramaiam was appointed as the first woman Chief Secretary of Gujarat in 2007. Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat then.
Subramaniam held the office of Chief Secretary between September 1, 2007, and September 30, 2008.
After retirement, Subramaniam was appointed as Chief Vigilance Commissioner of Gujarat. She held several offices after retirement and was also part of the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation. She was also the director of Gujarat Industries Power Company Limited (GIPCL), from where Subramaniam resigned around a fortnight ago on health grounds.
Jan 02, 2023
Former Pope Benedict XVI Passes Away
Former Pope Benedict XVI died aged 95, almost a decade after he stood down because of ailing health.
He led the Catholic Church for fewer than eight years until, in 2013, he became the first Pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415.
Benedict spent his final years at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery within the walls of the Vatican where he passed away.
His successor Pope Francis will lead the funeral on 5 January.