October 13

Jacques Félix Emmanuel Hamelin (1768–1839) was a French naval officer and explorer. He began his career in the French Navy and saw action during the Revolutionary Wars. Hamelin commanded ships in expeditions to the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, mapping parts of the Australian and Southeast Asian coasts. He served under Admiral d'Entrecasteaux on a search for La Pérouse and later led his own voyages of discovery. Hamelin was noted for his cartographic contributions and diplomatic interactions with indigenous peoples. He rose to the rank of vice-admiral and was awarded honors for his service. His maps and journals provided valuable information for future maritime navigation.

Mary Kingsley (1862–1900) was an intrepid English explorer and ethnographic writer. After traveling to Gabon and Cameroon, she studied local cultures, fish species, and traditional practices. Kingsley's decision to venture alone into remote regions challenged Victorian norms for women. Her book 'Travels in West Africa' provided detailed observations on geography, anthropology, and missionary work. She argued for understanding African societies on their own terms, criticizing colonial and missionary policies. Kingsley volunteered as a nurse during the Boer War but died at sea en route to join a relief mission. Her writings inspired future explorers and contributed to the development of African studies.

Born on October 13, 1964, Nie Haisheng graduated from the PLA Air Force Academy and joined the astronaut corps in 1998. He flew on Shenzhou 6 in 2005, becoming China's second-taikonaut to orbit Earth. In 2013, he commanded Shenzhou 10, conducting scientific experiments aboard Tiangong-1. Nie later led the Shenzhou 12 mission in 2021, China's first crewed flight to its space station. A decorated general, he has been honored for his contributions to China's human spaceflight program.