20 August 1975 started the space program “Viking”, designed to thoroughly explore Mars. All through this Odyssey, NASA launched two spacecraft: “Viking-1 and Viking-2”. The study of the planet were conducted with both Mars orbit and on its surface. In a number of studies including the were included a program to search for life. Each “Viking” was a space station — an artificial satellite of Mars, is equipped with a descent camera.
Spacecraft “Viking 1” was released in Mars orbit on 19 June 1976. Coiled camera touched the surface of the planet July 20, 1976. After 25 seconds, he sent the first photos that came to Earth in four minutes. Lander “Viking-1” worked on the surface of Mars until November 11, 1982. Artificial satellite worked until 7 August 1980.
Spacecraft “Viking-2” reached Mars orbit on 7 August 1976.
Space program “Viking” has given mankind the first color photographs of Mars in very good quality. Also coiled the station has examined the soil of this planet for life. The results were very interesting. So, it was detected relatively high chemical activity of the soil, but the unequivocal traces of microorganisms could not be found.
In the second experiment, samples of Martian soil was placed in a specially prepared nutrient soil, enriched with radioactive elements. After this experience, the mixture was separated gases and showed an increase in carbon dioxide almost the same as in the analysis of biologically active samples of the earth’s soil.
In summary, it was concluded that: the number of microorganisms in areas of landing of landers is negligible, or even zero.
Legendary panorama of Mars, made the descent apparatus “Viking 1”
August 20, 2001, the company presented a legendary Creative line of sound cards Sound Blaster Audigy. Just at the time it was released in four models: Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum eX, Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum, Sound Blaster Audigy X-Gamer and Sound Blaster Audigy MP3. General characteristics of the following cards: 24-bit/96 kHz d / a Converter (DAC), the ratio signal/noise (SNR) — 100 dB, support for Dolby Digital 5.1.
In the early 2000s without most motherboards could not boast the presence of built-in high-quality audio section. Therefore, connoisseurs definitely bought a discrete sound card. The Sound Blaster Audigy line has been so successful that moves Creative to this day.
The word Audigy appeared by combining two others: audio and prodigy.
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum eX
20 Aug 2014 Steve Ballmer finally leaving Microsoft. First, he gave the post of head of the company the current Chapter of the Satya Nadella. And in August, Steve left the Microsoft Board of Directors. The former head decided to focus its attention on carrying out his childhood dream — the management of the basketball club NBA LA Clippers, which he has spent about two billion dollars. Ballmer faithfully served the software giant for the last 33 years.
Initially, Steve came to Microsoft as a sales Manager. In the 80s, few people believed that software for personal computer you can earn serious money, after all, home of such equipment almost no one had. However, in the 90s the situation has changed radically. Ballmer became the right hand of the gates, although it is well known that their relationship was strained.
In 2000, Microsoft has been a serious reshuffle. Bill gates took the chair of the Board of Directors, and Steve took the post of Executive Director. August 23, 2013, it was announced that Ballmer will leave the post of Executive Director of Microsoft, as soon as he is found a successor. This news seemed surprising: shortly before her Steve announced a major reorganization, the purpose of which was the increasing concentration on the development of devices. It was clear that Balmer was hoping to control Microsoft for at least another couple of years, however, on 4 February 2014, he gave the chair the Director Satya Nadella is the former head of the business division of Microsoft.
Learn more about the era of Ballmer at Microsoft can be read in this material.
Steve Ballmer himself