1909day.year
Ernest Shackleton's expedition finds the magnetic South Pole.
Ernest Shackleton's British Antarctic Expedition reached the magnetic South Pole on January 16, 1909, marking a major milestone in polar exploration.
Led by Sir Ernest Shackleton, the Nimrod Expedition ventured deep into Antarctica between 1907 and 1909. On January 16, 1909, the team arrived at the magnetic South Pole, more than 100 miles from the geographic pole. Their scientific measurements advanced understanding of Earth's magnetic field. Although they did not reach the geographic South Pole, the expedition demonstrated remarkable endurance and established Shackleton as a leading figure in the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.
1909
Ernest Shackleton
South Pole
1913day.year
Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan writes his first letter to G. H. Hardy at Cambridge, stating without proof various formulae involving integrals, infinite series, and continued fractions, beginning a long correspondence between the two as well as widespread recognition of Ramanujan's results.
Indian mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan sent his first letter to G. H. Hardy at Cambridge on January 16, 1913, unveiling groundbreaking formulae that would revolutionize mathematics.
Ramanujan, largely self-taught, penned a remarkable letter on January 16, 1913, containing dozens of unproved theorems on integrals, infinite series, and continued fractions. Hardy immediately recognized the depth of his insights and invited Ramanujan to Cambridge. Their ensuing collaboration yielded fundamental advances in number theory, partitions, and modular forms. Ramanujan's intuitive methods and profound results have left a lasting legacy in modern mathematics.
1913
Srinivasa Ramanujan
G. H. Hardy
Cambridge
integrals
infinite series
continued fractions
1969day.year
Space Race: Soviet spacecraft Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 5 perform the first-ever docking of crewed spacecraft in orbit, the first-ever transfer of crew from one space vehicle to another, and the only time such a transfer was accomplished with a space walk.
On January 16, 1969, Soviet missions Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 5 achieved the first crewed docking in orbit and conducted a historic spacewalk transfer.
Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 5 rendezvoused and docked in Earth orbit, marking the first time two crewed spacecraft linked together in space.
Cosmonauts Pavel Popovich and Yevgeny Khrunov transferred from Soyuz 5 to Soyuz 4 via an extravehicular activity, the only such transfer by spacewalk.
The operation demonstrated critical rendezvous and transfer techniques necessary for future lunar and orbital missions.
Engineers and flight controllers meticulously planned the docking trajectory and spacewalk to ensure crew safety.
The success reinforced Soviet capabilities in the Space Race and provided valuable data for subsequent programs.
This milestone remained unique until similar EVA transfers were later utilized by other space agencies.
Space Race
Soyuz 4
Soyuz 5
orbit
space walk
2003day.year
The Space Shuttle Columbia takes off for mission STS-107 which would be its final one. Columbia disintegrated 16 days later on re-entry.
Space Shuttle Columbia embarks on its final research mission STS-107 before tragically disintegrating upon re-entry.
On January 16, 2003, NASA launched Space Shuttle Columbia on mission STS-107, embarking on a 16-day scientific research journey.
The crew of seven carried a diverse array of experiments focusing on microgravity, Earth observations, and atmospheric studies.
Columbia’s departure marked the beginning of what would become one of NASA’s most poignant missions.
Tragically, upon re-entry on February 1, the shuttle broke apart over Texas and Louisiana, killing all aboard.
The disaster prompted extensive investigations, leading to major changes in NASA’s safety protocols and shuttle design.
Decades later, STS-107 stands as a sobering reminder of the risks of human spaceflight and the pursuit of scientific discovery.
2003
Space Shuttle Columbia
STS-107
disintegrated 16 days later on re-entry