September 21

Louis Jolliet embarked on an expedition with Jesuit priest Jacques Marquette in 1673 to explore the Mississippi River. They became the first non-Indigenous people to chart the river's course from the Great Lakes to the Arkansas River. Their detailed journals provided Europe with the first comprehensive maps of the interior of North America. Jolliet continued to explore the Great Lakes region and led fur-trading ventures that opened trade routes with Indigenous nations. He settled on the shores of the St. Lawrence River and later received a land grant near Quebec. Jolliet played a crucial role in France's expansion into Louisiana and the Mississippi Valley. His contributions laid the groundwork for future explorers and traders. He died in 1700, leaving a legacy as one of North America's pioneering cartographers.

Hermann Buhl was a pioneering Austrian alpinist renowned for his bold ascents in the Himalayas and Karakoram. In 1953, he achieved the first solo climb of Nanga Parbat, braving extreme altitude and treacherous terrain. His minimalist style and self-reliance inspired a new generation of climbers to pursue light-and-fast ascents. Buhl also made first ascents of Broad Peak and Chogolisa, demonstrating exceptional endurance and skill. He authored detailed expedition accounts that remain classics in mountaineering literature. Tragically, he fell to his death on Chogolisa in 1957, cementing his legacy as one of history's greatest explorers.

Born on 21 September 1955, Richard H. Hieb earned a doctorate in aerospace engineering before joining NASA in 1985. He served as a mission specialist on STS-39, STS-49, and STS-65, contributing to satellite deployment and scientific experiments. Hieb completed three spacewalks, including EVA work to repair the Intelsat VI satellite during STS-49. After leaving NASA, he held various positions in aerospace research and education. His career has advanced both space exploration and engineering innovation.