The Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster
On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger broke apart during the launch of its 10th mission.
Science
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First International Polar Year
On August 1, 1882, the first International Polar Year (IPY) began.
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First Heat-Sensitive Stamp
On June 20, 2017, the USPS issued the first-ever heat sensitive stamp, honoring the total solar eclipse that occurred later that year.
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Launch of Pioneer 11
On April 5, 1973 (some sources cite April 6 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time), the Pioneer 11 space probe launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
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First Light of the Hale Telescope
On January 26, 1949, the Hale Telescope at Palomar Observatory first saw light. Still in use today, the Hale telescope is one of the world’s largest optical telescopes.
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Birth of Benjamin Banneker
Benjamin Banneker was born on November 9, 1731, in Baltimore County, Maryland.
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Birth of Leonardo da Vinci
Renaissance Man Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452, in Vinci, Republic of Florence, Italy.
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First Man in Space
On April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person to travel into space.
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Final Mission to the Moon
On December 11, 1972, Apollo 17 became the last manned NASA mission to the Moon.
