Here is a look at the astrology of the exploration of our universe. We generally associate space with the planet Uranus and the sign of Aquarius. The symbol of Aquarius is represented by wavy lines and signifies, progress, technology, science, robots, and cosmic things. Aquarius symbolizes the universal fount of knowledge and essentially represents the growth of human consciousness. It rules the nature of light, sub-atomic particles, parapsychology and alternative branches of restorative powers in acupuncture and laser therapy. The sign also finds itself governing telepathy and telekinesis along with the exploration of the etheric body.
Aquarius is the broader cultural matrix with the latest advances of science and technology at its fingertips, everything is analysed through scientific and statistical investigation. The Aquarian type of individual can often be found floating into a distant tomorrow with fixed ideals, grand plans, and models of the future. Uranus, its ruler, is also related to unprecedented bursts of discovery and invention, a series of scientific revolutions, along with explosive developments. We all have a cosmic urge for expansion, but our physical form often limits us at arriving at new worlds. The advancement of mankind kindles the fire within to pursue with freedom and self-determination – our destiny.
Aquarius is also, broadly, about science, and knowledge, and invention, and discoveries which will improve the lot of men in the generations to come. By Liz Greene
U.S Views Satellite as Russian Victory
Man’s exploration of space began with a competitive race between the Soviet Union and the United States. In the dash to explore the outer world, the Soviet Union took the lead on October 4th, 1957, and were the first to put a man-made object into space called Sputnik 1 and became the first artificial satellite to successfully orbit the Earth.
Astrology: Uranus the revolutionary, ingenious planet, striving for human independence is in Leo and squares the Nodes which are said to represent cyclic time and developments. Neptune had just entered Scorpio and Pluto had also entered into the sign of Virgo. We also have Saturn in Sagittarius forming a trine to Uranus in Leo a fiery trine.
Saturn-Uranus is characterized by news stories involving science…Science is pushing back the boundaries, and scientific breakthroughs are cutting time in some way. The Contemporary Astrologer
Soviet Rocket Lands on Moon
On September 12th, 1959, Soviet Rocket lands on Moon. On board were various scientific instruments intended for measuring the magnetic fields of the Earth and Moon.
Astrology: Jupiter was square Uranus which is an aspect of growth and futuristic developments. Saturn entered 0 degrees Capricorn symbolic of the birth of the energy, and Saturn formed a trine to Pluto in Virgo an aspect of overcoming old structures and a willingness for transformation.
Soviets Launch Man into Space
On April 12th, 1961, the Soviet spacecraft Vostok 1 was launched into space with a man on board. It has been called a time when mankind was to go where nobody had gone before. The spacecraft was controlled automatically and went on its course. After completing one orbit of the Earth which took 108 minutes, the astronaut, Yuri Gagarin, ejected himself and parachuted safely to the ground.
Astrology: Jupiter had not long entered Aquarius and was sitting at 4 degrees forming a conjunction with Saturn in Capricorn on the 29th degree. End degree signs often advance to some sort of mighty climax, out of which the next great movement emerges. Also, anytime Saturn is involved in an event many things are materialised and manifested into form. Jupiter in Aquarius is future orientated placement and it is good for scientific and space exploration.
First American in Space
On February 20th, 1962, the Americans finally achieved what the Soviets achieved less than a year earlier – they sent a man into space. The Mercury capsule Friendship 7 was boarded by astronaut John Glenn, and in it, he circled the globe three times.
Astrology: Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and North Node were in all the space cadet sign of Aquarius and it is probably the most interesting and stunning to observe for this period. Aquarius is called the sign of friendship, something essential to the sign, and it is primarily orientated towards thinking principles and within groups. Jupiter in Aquarius was also opposite Uranus in Leo at those critical degrees for advancement. The aspect of Jupiter-Uranus being one of progress being made in fields such as space exploration and science and breaking new world records.
Telstar Communications Arrive
As an aside, Telstar launched terrestrial communication with 55 satellite communications in the sky in orbit at the time, and 25 ground stations spaced across the globe to receive signals. Telstar 1 was launched on July, 10th, 1962, and on that same day live television pictures originating in the United States were received in France and Britain. The day after its first transmission President Kennedy made the following statement:
“The successful firing and subsequent operation of the Telstar communications satellite is an outstanding example of the way in which government and business can cooperate in a most important field of human endeavour. There is no more important field at the present time than communications, and we must grasp the advantages presented to us by the communications satellite to use this medium wisely and effectively to ensure greater understanding among the peoples of the world.”
Astrology: Uranus was still in the critical degrees of Leo and with Saturn conjunct the South Node in Aquarius. Mercury was in Gemini, the sign of communication and at the critical 28 degrees with Mars also in Gemini 0 degrees (critical) and trine to Saturn and South node in Aquarius. It was a phenomenal and powerful emphasis around the space age sign of Aquarius and emphasis of communication through Gemini on the more mundane level.
First Ever Spacewalk
Ever since the U.S.S.R had won the race to send the first man into space, the American’s had wanted their own first. N.A.S.A.’S Gemini 4 programme aimed to deliver this, the goal being that an American would be the first to walk in space. By early 1965 Astronauts were in training and it looked set to happen. However, the Soviets got there first and on March, 18th, 1965, the first man walked in space. He carried a hand-held jet, which he used to propel himself back to his space jet. The astronaut walked in space for around half an hour and then the pictures appeared across the globe.
Astrology: Uranus was in Virgo square the nodes with a Mars/Uranus/Pluto conjunction in Virgo along with Saturn opposite Uranus.
Men Land on the Moon
Apollo 11 was the first space mission of the Apollo Project and the third to take humans to the Moon. On July, 20th, 1969 man landed on the Moon. The once in a lifetime event was watched by millions across the globe on television screens. Often, Jupiter-Uranus can represent those large global events that are broadcasted and mankind’s biggest growth, and ability to grow beyond his physical limitations. Jupiter and Uranus were at the critical degrees in Libra conjunct the SN. Here is an amazing excerpt of Jupiter-Uranus in a detailed article by GRAYASTROLOGY
Combined with Uranus, we can see how this expansion toward a greater whole and a higher order of magnitude may appear on the surface as paradoxical when linked to the shattering change wrought by Uranus that can feel like chaos or the dismantling of an old secure order or framework. Yet this is the necessary urge for creation and change underlying our reality, and the change brought by Jupiter and Uranus take us beyond our previous restricted worldview into a new reality giving us goosebumps…
Skylab in Orbit
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The Americans launched its first space lab on May 14, 1973, called Skylab, it was to act as a space laboratory for one year, but instead remained there for six years. Astronauts conducted scientific research and went on space walks. Around 2,000 hours of scientific and medical experiments took place it was during some of these experiments the sun’s coronal holes were discovered.
Astrology: Jupiter was in Aquarius trine Uranus in Libra and Saturn in Gemini producing a beautiful airy grand trine expressing extremely social relationships, ideas that lift us above reality and an emphasis on theory, and abstract thought and so was a perfect time to birth the reality of an experimental ship in the universe drifting in space above the Earth collecting data, experimenting and a place of human study.
Air is light, breezy, and graceful, and if you can imagine these types having their heads above the clouds, they often find it difficult to pick up on the subtlety of emotional clues in the environment. Many air people are usually well educated attempting to understand things logically rather than blindly reacting. Those with lots of planets in Air are the scholars, scientists, writers, political thinkers, journalists and objective folks in our world. It is thought that with the advent of the Aquarian age we are returning back to the values of the mind, rather than the heart, and human ingenuity and inventiveness will take a stronger hold on the world at large. This will bring great changes in social and political structures, but it will also create a greater emphasis on logic and technology. On the Aquarian level such new perceptions immediately threaten the old order, and such a shift in energy, initially reflects the beginning of conflict. The Age of Aquarius represents a tremendous amount of new energy to pour out into life. The Air Signs
Uranus was also square the Nodes.
America’s First Female Astronaut
The first female astronaut Dr. Sally Ride went on the challenger mission that launched June 18, 1983 and there were a few firsts with the use of a robotic arm in space to retrieve a satellite. Sally was one of six women chosen, and she took part in several other space missions.
Astrology: Pluto in the critical degrees in Libra setting the karmic balance straight before it leaves. Jupiter was also conjunct Uranus in Sagittarius and Venus at a critical degree – 0. A Venus-Mars conjunction at the time and a battle of the sexes contact in Virgo was present.
Pluto was in Libra between 1971 and 1984 and reflected deep changes in our ideas about marriage, love and human relationships. Sexual equality and the ease of divorce were two of the profound changes which occurred during this generational transition of partnerships. Pluto is known as the timekeeper of the collective, and Pluto’s transit in Libra signified the death of relating according to a complacent set of values. Pluto destroys, breaks down old forms and reveals a more honest way to relate (Libra). Libra rules relationships, not only marriage but world relationships, diplomacy between countries, alliances, peace, bridge-building and political parties. Pluto through Libra altered relationships significantly and was prominent at the rise of the feminist movement. Pluto was in Libra in 1979, when Margaret Thatcher became the first lady Prime Minister in England. Transiting Pluto was conjunct the British Descendant in Libra. Evolutionary astrologers would describe Pluto’s conjunction on the cusp of Libra, to signify forced lessons of equality. The Sex Discrimination and Equal Pay Acts also came into force in the U.K in 1975. Pluto in Libra
Shuttle Explodes
Shuttle explodes January, 28th, 1986, all seven astronauts killed. The Challenger exploded one minute after liftoff and watched in horror by family and friends. As the space shuttle burst into flames, it showered the surrounding area with debris. The tragedy was said to deal a massive blow to human space travel and a couple of years passed before manned missions into space were resumed. “We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them this morning as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and slipped the surly bonds of Earth to touch the face of God.”
Astrology: Astoundingly, Pluto the terrorist was conjunct the SN in its own sign of Scorpio and was square most of the large stellium in the Rocketeer sign and space voyager – Aquarius- involving the Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter. Pluto doesn’t exactly come out of this event smelling of roses, and it can be a destructive energy to progress and we come out of such a transit with fewer illusions. The collective shadow was looming large and it always serves to remind us of nature’s laws, but no one really knows the reason of such an event and as was stated Pluto brought a tragic blow to human space travel (Aquarius). Mars was also in the critical degree of Scorpio and squared accidental Jupiter and part of the mishap involved a faulty seal. There was also a wide Mar-Saturn conjunction which is associated with bad luck and progress being delayed as well as being associated with burns and fire.
Astronauts Die in Space Shuttle
The second space shuttle disaster which burst into flames shocked the world as much as the first. All seven crew members killed on February 1st, 2003, and at first glance some astrological similarities with the first shuttle explosion are evident with the Sun, Uranus, and Neptune in Aquarius. Uranus at the critical degree of Aquarius. Along with all of this energy, there was the violence, and sudden explosive force of intense heat provided by the combination of Mars and Pluto forming a wide conjunction in the extremely flammable sign of Sagittarius. The cause of the shuttle’s explosion was later found to have been sustained during launch. A piece of foam insulation had broken off and hit a left wing, damaging the thermal protection system that was designed to prevent overheating during re-entry. Shuttle flights were stopped for two years while an investigation took place.
Mars Colony 2025
Plans to start a colony on Mars in 2025 have been set in motion. I was reading a book about it published in the 90s and the author is now part of the Mars One team on this project.
Astrology: Pluto will have just entered the futuristic sign of Aquarius, bringing evolution and dramatic changes to all in Aquarius ruled areas stated at the beginning of this article. Neptune is nearing the end of Pisces in the critical degrees and so further shifts are taking place at this time. The next Jupiter conjunct Uranus aspect is in the settling and taking root sign of Taurus that occurs in 2024 with a stellium in Aries the sign ruled over by Mars which would be a much better time to go ;-p. The Sun in Aries, Mercury, Venus and North Node would be a pioneering energy into a brave new world.
The planet Mars is where the action will be in the next century. It is the only world in the solar system on which there is a strong probability of find Life past, and perhaps even Life present. Also we can reach it and survive on it -with technologies which are available today, or which we can acquire in the very near future. The Case for Mars