1488day.year
Bartolomeu Dias of Portugal lands in Mossel Bay after rounding the Cape of Good Hope, becoming the first known European to travel so far south.
In 1488, Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias rounded the Cape of Good Hope and reached Mossel Bay, becoming the first European to sail so far south.
On February 3, 1488, Bartolomeu Dias landed at Mossel Bay after becoming the first known European to round the southern tip of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope. Commissioned by King John II of Portugal, Dias’s expedition sought a sea route to the riches of India and the East. His successful navigation through previously uncharted waters proved the feasibility of a southern maritime passage. The journey faced treacherous storms, unpredictable currents, and the constant threat of mutiny. Dias’s discoveries opened the door for future Portuguese expeditions, including Vasco da Gama’s voyage to India. This milestone marked a significant step in the Age of Discoveries, reshaping global trade networks and European colonial ambitions.
1488
Bartolomeu Dias
Mossel Bay
Cape of Good Hope
1966day.year
The Soviet Union's Luna 9 becomes the first spacecraft to make a soft landing on the Moon, and the first spacecraft to take pictures from the surface of the Moon.
The Soviet Luna 9 spacecraft performs the first soft landing on the Moon and returns surface images to Earth.
On February 3, 1966, the Soviet Luna 9 mission achieved the first controlled soft landing on the lunar surface, touching down in the Oceanus Procellarum. After a flawless descent and airbag inflation upon impact, the spacecraft stabilized and deployed its television cameras. Luna 9 then transmitted panoramic images of the lunar terrain, revealing details of the surface's texture and composition. These photographs provided the world's first direct view from the Moon, confirming theories about its geology. The successful mission bolstered Soviet prestige in the space race and inspired further lunar exploration. Scientists used the data to refine landing techniques and inform future missions by both superpowers. Luna 9's achievement marked a milestone in space technology and human curiosity about celestial bodies.
1966
Soviet Union
Luna 9
1984day.year
Doctor John Buster and a research team at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in the United States announce history's first embryo transfer, from one woman to another resulting in a live birth.
Scientists announced the world’s first embryo transfer from one woman to another, resulting in a healthy live birth.
On February 3, 1984, Dr. John Buster and his team at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center announced the world’s first successful embryo transfer between women.
Using in vitro fertilization techniques, embryos created from one woman's eggs were transferred to a surrogate mother’s uterus.
The resulting pregnancy and birth marked a major breakthrough in assisted reproductive technology, offering hope to women with fertility challenges.
This pioneering procedure demonstrated that embryos could be safely transported and implanted, expanding options for fertility treatment.
The landmark achievement paved the way for modern surrogacy practices and advanced reproductive medicine.
It remains a cornerstone in the history of infertility treatment, celebrated for its scientific innovation and social implications.
1984
John Buster
embryo transfer
1984day.year
Space Shuttle program: STS-41-B is launched using Space Shuttle Challenger.
Space Shuttle Challenger launched on mission STS-41-B, which featured the first untethered spacewalks in history.
On February 3, 1984, NASA’s Space Shuttle Challenger launched on mission STS-41-B from Kennedy Space Center.
This seventh shuttle flight tested new satellite deployment techniques and conducted two spacewalks.
Astronauts Robert L. Stewart and Bruce McCandless performed the first untethered spacewalks using the Manned Maneuvering Unit, floating freely beyond the shuttle.
The mission demonstrated advanced EVA capabilities and satellite handling procedures, paving the way for future shuttle operations.
STS-41-B lasted seven days with successful deployment of communication satellites and critical in-orbit experiments.
Its achievements contributed significantly to NASA’s understanding of human operations in microgravity and satellite servicing.
Space Shuttle program
STS-41-B
Space Shuttle Challenger
1994day.year
Space Shuttle program: STS-60 is launched, carrying Sergei Krikalev, the first Russian cosmonaut to fly aboard the Shuttle.
Space Shuttle Discovery launched on STS-60, carrying the first Russian cosmonaut aboard a U.S. shuttle.
On February 3, 1994, NASA’s Space Shuttle Discovery launched mission STS-60, embarking on a milestone in U.S.-Russian cooperation.
Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev became the first Russian citizen to fly aboard a U.S. spacecraft, symbolizing thawing Cold War tensions.
The ten-day mission conducted joint experiments under the Shuttle-Mir program, preparing for long-duration stays aboard Russia’s space station.
STS-60 carried a diverse international crew and an array of biomedical, materials science, and engineering investigations.
The successful collaboration laid the groundwork for the International Space Station and deeper integration of global space agencies.
Krikalev’s flight underscored the unifying power of space exploration beyond geopolitical divides.
1994
Space Shuttle program
STS-60
Sergei Krikalev
1995day.year
Astronaut Eileen Collins becomes the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle as mission STS-63 gets underway from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Eileen Collins became the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle during mission STS-63.
On February 3, 1995, Lieutenant Colonel Eileen Collins broke new ground as the first female pilot of NASA’s Space Shuttle on mission STS-63.
Aboard Discovery, Collins handled the spacecraft’s flight operations during a critical rendezvous with Russia’s Mir space station.
The nine-day mission tested shuttle-Mir docking procedures in a close flyby, advancing international partnership efforts.
Collins’ achievement represented a major milestone for women in aerospace and inspired a generation of female astronauts.
Throughout her career, she continued to shatter barriers, later commanding shuttle missions and championing STEM education.
Her piloting role on STS-63 remains a landmark in NASA’s history of inclusive exploration.
1995
Eileen Collins
Space Shuttle
STS-63
Kennedy Space Center
Florida