July 08

Francis Leopold McClintock was a Royal Navy officer and pioneering Arctic explorer. He participated in expeditions searching for Sir John Franklin's lost Northwest Passage journey. McClintock's 1859 voyage aboard the Fox yielded crucial evidence about Franklin's fate. He charted previously unknown Arctic coastlines and ice conditions. His detailed journals and maps advanced polar science and navigation. McClintock's contributions earned him honors and a lasting place in exploration history.

Vitaly Sevastyanov earned a doctorate in engineering before being selected as a Soviet cosmonaut in 1965. He served as flight engineer on Soyuz 9 in 1970, setting a new record for longest spaceflight at the time. His second flight was aboard Soyuz 18 in 1975, where he conducted scientific experiments on human physiology. After leaving active spaceflight, Sevastyanov held leadership roles in the Soviet space program and contributed to mission planning. He also represented cosmonauts in the Soviet parliament, advocating for space science and engineering.

Born in Derbyshire, England, in 1976, Ellen MacArthur began sailing at a young age and won her first race at 15. In 2001, she became the fastest woman to sail solo around the world and in 2005 broke the overall solo circumnavigation record. Her feats earned her widespread acclaim and a CBE for services to sailing and charity. After retiring from competitive sailing, she founded the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to promote the circular economy. MacArthur remains a leading voice in sustainability and adventure, inspiring sailors and environmentalists alike.