Our Planet

Charles Babbage Unveiled the Difference Engine on June 14, 1822

On June 14, 1822, English polymath Charles Babbage (26 December 1791 – 18 October 1871) announced his invention of the Difference Engine on 14 June 1822, in a paper to the Royal Astronomical Society. The title of the paper was “Note on the application of machinery to the computation of astronomical and mathematical tables”.

It was the first that kind of machine Babbage has built, so it’s called Difference Engine 0.

UNIVAC I, the world’s first commercial computer was unveiled on June 14, 1951

On June 14, 1951, UNIVAC I (UNIVersal Automatic Computer I), the world’s first general-purpose electronic digital computer was unveiled. running on a 2.25 MHz clock, it was capable of completing 1,905 instructions per second.

Pioneer 10 became the first spacecraft to pass beyond the orbit of Neptune on June 13, 1983

On June 13, 1983, Pioneer 10 became the first spacecraft to pass beyond the orbit of Neptune. So, it is the first spacecraft to pass beyond all the solar system planets.

Venera 4 was launched on June 12, 1967

On June 12, 1967, the Soviet Union launched Venera 4, which means “Venus 4” in English, a probe in the Soviet Venera program for the exploration of the planet Venus. It became the first successful probe to perform in-place analysis of the environment of another planet.

10 Amazing King Cobra Facts

King cobra (scientific name: Ophiophagus hannah) is one of the most venomous snakes on Earth. Their most distinctive attribute is that distinctive hood that flares around their face when they are aggressive or in defense. Due to their huge size and color patterns, they can easily be distinguishable from other cobras. Here are 10 amazing king cobra facts.

Is there a planet made entirely of diamonds?

Earth and the entire Solar system carry a significant abundance of precious stones and metals. The history of human’s lust for these stones is as old as the earth itself. Earth has embedded in its crust some precious rock of billions of worth. Some of these precious stones are diamonds, black opal, ruby, emerald, red beryl, alexandrite, etc. Therefore, humans have been searching for them since the beginning of the earth. However, the most exorbitant gemstone that has gathered the spectators’ attention is the diamond.

Is Faster-Than-Light (FTL) Travel possible? Dr. Harold “Sonny” White and Limitless Space

Faster-Than-Light (FTL) travel: Spaceship with Warp Drive

Is faster-than-light (FTL) travel possible?

Ever since astronomers found that Earth and the Solar System are not unique in the cosmos, humanity has dreamed of the day when we might explore nearby stars and settle extrasolar planets. Unfortunately, the laws of physics impose strict limitations on how fast things can travel in our Universe, otherwise known as Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity. Per this theory, the speed of light is constant and absolute, and objects approaching it will experience an increase in their inertial mass (thereby requiring more mass to accelerate further).

By Matt Williams

Mariner 9, the first spacecraft to orbit Mars was launched on May 30, 1971

On May 30, 1971, Mariner 9 robotic spacecraft was launched from LC-36B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida on top of an Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D rocket. It reached Mars on November 14 of the same year and became the first spacecraft to orbit Mars, and in general, another planet.

European Space Agency (ESA) was founded on May 30, 1975

European Space Agency ESA's Headquarters in Paris, France

The European Space Agency (ESA), an international organization dedicated to the exploration of space was founded on May 30, 1975.

Shortly after its formation, on August 9, 1975, the space agency ESA launched its first major scientific mission, Cos-B, a space probe monitoring gamma-ray emissions in the universe, which was first worked on by ESRO (European Space Research Organization, one of the precursors of the European Space Agency).

Discovery performed the first Space Shuttle docking to the International Space Station (ISS) on May 29, 1999

Space Shuttle Discovery docked to the International Space Station

On May 29, 1999, the STS-96 crew aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery became the first to dock with the International Space Station. Using the Integrated Cargo Carrier, Discovery delivered the Russian cargo crane, STRELA, the SPACEHAB Oceaneering Space System Box, and the American crane, ORU Transfer Device, to the space station.