Korabl-Sputnik 3 or Vostok-1K No. 3 (Sputnik 6), is launched with dogs Pchyolka and Mushka who spend a day in orbit, but their craft is intentionally destroyed due to a navigation error.
2
50 years ago, in 1915:
Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity is published.
3
61 years ago, in 1904:
At the Lick Observatory, Charles D. Perrine discovers Himalia, the largest irregular satellite of Jupiter.
7 years ago, in 1958:
Control of JPL is transferred from the US Army to NASA.
This year:
Luna 8 is launched to the Moon.
4
7 years ago, in 1958:
Intended for a lunar impact, the Soviets launch Luna E-1 No.3 (Luna 1958C), but the rocket disintegrates 245 seconds after launch due to a hydrogen peroxide pump seizure.
This year:
Gemini VII is launched; stays aloft for 14 days, does rendezvous with Gemini VI-A.
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6
175 years ago, in 1790:
William Herschel discovers NGC 12, a spiral galaxy in the Pisces constellation.
8 years ago, in 1957:
Vanguard TV-3, the first U.S. attempt to launch a satellite into orbit, blows up just four feet after lift-off.
7 years ago, in 1958:
Pioneer 3 is launched for a lunar orbit, but fails and burns up in Earths atmosphere.
4 years ago, in 1961:
Last contact is made with Explorer 12.
This year:
Luna 8 crashes into the Moon instead of a soft landing as planned, due to a punctured airbag.
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8
9
10
2 years ago, in 1963:
After 6 years (and US$660 million), the Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar program is cancelled.
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12
4 years ago, in 1961:
OSCAR 1, the first amateur radio satellite, is launched.
13
7 years ago, in 1958:
A Jupiter IRBM is launched with a South American squirrel monkey named Gordo on board, but the parachute fails to open and Gordo and the craft are lost at sea.
3 years ago, in 1962:
Relay 1, an experimental communications satellite, is launched.
14
3 years ago, in 1962:
Mariner 2 flies by Venus, becoming the first successful mission to another planet.
15
174 years ago, in 1791:
Caroline Herschel discovers her fifth comet, Comet C/1791 X1 (Herschel).
5 years ago, in 1960:
Pioneer P-31 (Atlas-Able 5B, Pioneer Z) is launched for a lunar orbit, but the mission fails due to the third stage breaking up.
1 year ago, in 1964:
The first Italian satellite, San Marco 1, is successfully launched.
This year:
Gemini VI-A is launched; completes rendezvous with Gemini VII at distances of 1 to 300 feet.
16
3 years ago, in 1962:
Explorer 16 is launched to obtain data on the near-Earth meteoroid environment.
This year:
Gemini VI-A lands back on Earth.
This year:
Pioneer 6 is launched to obtain measurements of interplanetary phenomena.
17
62 years ago, in 1903:
The Wright brothers make the first powered flight.
8 years ago, in 1957:
The U.S. successfully test-fires the Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time.
18
7 years ago, in 1958:
Project SCORE is launched by DARPA, becoming the world’s first communications satellite.
This year:
Gemini VII lands back on Earth.
19
182 years ago, in 1783:
Thinking it to be a globular cluster, William Herschel discovers the spiral galaxy NGC 2775 in the constellation of Cancer.
2 years ago, in 1963:
Explorer 19, a balloon satellite, is launched, and is the second satellite for air density research to reach orbit after Explorer 9.
20
65 years ago, in 1900:
Michel Giacobini discovers comet Giacobini–Zinner, which was later a target for the ICE spacecraft.
21
177 years ago, in 1788:
Caroline Herschel discovers her second comet, Comet 35P/Herschel-Rigollet.
This year:
OSCAR 4, the fourth amateur radio satellite, is launched.
22
997 years ago, in 968:
The first clear description of the corona seen during a total eclipse is given by a chronicler in Constantinople.
5 years ago, in 1960:
The Soviet dogs Damka and Krasavka are launched aboard an R2-A for an orbital flight; but the mission fails, though both dogs survive.
This year:
OSCAR 4, an amateur radio satellite, delivers the first direct satellite communication between the United States and the USSR.
23
293 years ago, in 1672:
Giovanni Cassini discovers one of Saturn's moons, Rhea.
6 years ago, in 1959:
The maiden flight of the Soviet R-7A Semyorka ICBM is successfully launched.
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25
26
27
5 years ago, in 1960:
Last contact is made with Explorer 8.
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30
This year:
Explorer 18 reenters the Earth's atmosphere and burns up.
It's been 3963 days
