1864day.year
American Civil War: The H. L. Hunley becomes the first submarine to engage and sink a warship, the USS Housatonic.
The Confederate submarine H. L. Hunley became the first submersible to sink an enemy warship during the American Civil War in 1864.
On the night of February 17, 1864, the H. L. Hunley attacked the USS Housatonic in Charleston Harbor.
Using a spar torpedo mounted on its bow, the Hunley detonated alongside the Union warship, causing it to sink.
This groundbreaking operation marked the first successful submarine strike in naval history.
The Hunley itself vanished shortly after the attack, and its crew was lost, adding to the mission’s mystery.
The incident foreshadowed the strategic importance of submarine warfare in future conflicts.
1864
American Civil War
H. L. Hunley
engage and sink a warship
USS Housatonic
1959day.year
Project Vanguard: Vanguard 2: The first weather satellite is launched to measure cloud-cover distribution.
Project Vanguard launched Vanguard 2, the world's first weather satellite, on February 17, 1959, to map cloud distributions.
On February 17, 1959, the United States launched Vanguard 2, the first spacecraft dedicated to weather observation.
Part of the Navy's Vanguard program, it carried a photometric instrument to detect and record cloud cover.
The satellite achieved an orbit of approximately 386 km by 1,404 km at an inclination of 34.5°.
Due to its slow and unstable rotation, data collection was limited and uneven across the globe.
Despite technical challenges, Vanguard 2 marked a major milestone in space-based meteorology.
It laid the groundwork for subsequent generations of weather satellites with improved imaging capabilities.
The mission's legacy endures as the foundation of modern Earth observation and forecasting systems.
1959
Project Vanguard
Vanguard 2
weather satellite
1965day.year
Project Ranger: The Ranger 8 probe launches on its mission to photograph the Mare Tranquillitatis region of the Moon in preparation for the crewed Apollo missions. Mare Tranquillitatis or the "Sea of Tranquility" would become the site chosen for the Apollo 11 lunar landing.
NASA launches Ranger 8 to photograph the Sea of Tranquility on the Moon. Its high-resolution images help prepare for the historic Apollo 11 landing.
On February 17, 1965, NASA's Project Ranger sent the Ranger 8 spacecraft to image Mare Tranquillitatis. The probe carried cameras that transmitted high-resolution photos of the lunar surface over three days. Ranger 8 returned thousands of images of the Sea of Tranquility, revealing critical details of cratered terrain and rock formations. Scientists used these photographs to evaluate safe landing zones for future missions. The data directly informed the Apollo 11 team as they plotted their descent to the Moon. Ranger 8's successful operation demonstrated the capabilities of robotic lunar missions and boosted confidence for America's crewed lunar ambitions. Moments before impact, the probe sent its final clear shots, cementing its legacy in space exploration.
1965
Project Ranger
Ranger 8
Mare Tranquillitatis
Apollo
Apollo 11
1969day.year
American aquanaut Berry L. Cannon dies of carbon dioxide poisoning while attempting to repair a leak in the SEALAB III underwater habitat. The SEALAB project was subsequently abandoned.
Aquanaut Berry L. Cannon dies inside the SEALAB III underwater habitat due to carbon dioxide poisoning, leading to the program's cancellation.
On February 17, 1969, American aquanaut Berry L. Cannon was working inside SEALAB III, an experimental underwater habitat off the coast of California. While repairing a leaking valve, Cannon's breathing system failed to remove rising carbon dioxide levels. He succumbed to carbon dioxide poisoning in the sealed chamber. The tragic incident prompted the U.S. Navy to suspend and eventually terminate the SEALAB program. SEALAB III had aimed to study human endurance in deep-sea environments and develop underwater research techniques. Cannon's death underscored the perils of pioneering life-support technology under extreme conditions. The loss remains a cautionary lesson in the risks of deep-ocean scientific exploration.
1969
Berry L. Cannon
SEALAB III
1996day.year
In Philadelphia, world champion Garry Kasparov beats the Deep Blue supercomputer in a chess match.
On February 17, 1996, world chess champion Garry Kasparov defeated the IBM Deep Blue supercomputer in Philadelphia.
In a landmark event bridging human intellect and artificial intelligence, Garry Kasparov bested IBM's Deep Blue supercomputer in a six-game exhibition match held in Philadelphia. Although Kasparov won the overall match 4–2, Deep Blue won the first game, recording the first computer victory over a reigning world champion under classical time controls. The match sparked worldwide fascination with the potentials and limits of AI, fueling research and debate on machine cognition. IBM’s project demonstrated rapid advancements in computing power and algorithmic strategy, while Kasparov’s resilience highlighted human creativity and adaptability. The encounter laid groundwork for future human-machine competitions and remains a defining moment in technological history.
1996
Philadelphia
Garry Kasparov
Deep Blue
supercomputer
chess
1996day.year
NASA's Discovery Program begins as the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft lifts off on the first mission ever to orbit and land on an asteroid, 433 Eros.
NASA's Discovery Program began on February 17, 1996, when the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft launched to study and land on asteroid 433 Eros.
The NEAR (Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous) Shoemaker mission marked the inaugural flight of NASA's Discovery Program, emphasizing low-cost, highly focused planetary exploration. Launched from Cape Canaveral, the spacecraft carried instruments to map the surface and analyze the composition of asteroid 433 Eros. In February 2000, NEAR Shoemaker became the first spacecraft to orbit an asteroid, and on February 12, 2001, it achieved the first soft landing on an asteroid’s surface. The mission provided unprecedented high-resolution images and data, enhancing understanding of asteroid geology and the early solar system. NEAR Shoemaker’s success paved the way for future Discovery missions and inspired continued exploration of near-Earth objects.
NASA
Discovery Program
NEAR Shoemaker
433 Eros