This Day In History : April 8

2022 United States

First All-Private Space Flight Launches to ISS

On April 8, 2022, Axiom-1, the first all-private space flight, launched to the International Space Station. The mission was carried out by SpaceX and marked a significant step in commercial space travel. The crew spent eight days aboard the ISS.

Also on This Day in History April 8

Discover what happened on April 8 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.

Births on This Day, April 8
  • 1911 Melvin Calvin

    American biochemist who was awarded the 1961 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for furthering our knowledge of the mechanism of photosynthesis.

  • 1869 Harvey Cushing

    Harvey Williams Cushing was an American neurosurgeon who was a pioneer of neurosurgery, and studied blood pressure.

  • 1817 Charles-Édouard Brown-Séquard

    French physiologist and neurologist who was a pioneer endocrinologist and neurophysiologist.

  • 1805 Hugo von Mohl

    German botanist noted for his research on the anatomy and physiology of plant cells.

  • 1779 Johann Salomo Christoph Schweigger

    German physicist who invented the galvanometer (1820), a device to measure the strength of an electric current.

Deaths on This Day, April 8
  • 1925 Frank Stephen Baldwin

    American inventor best-known for his development of the Monroe calculator.

  • 1901 Giulio Bizzozero

    Italian pathologist who discovered the role of platelets in hemostasis and identified the bone marrow as the site of production of blood cells.

  • 1861 Elisha Graves Otis

    American inventor of the automatic safety brake for elevators, which later made high-rise buildings practical.

  • 1968 Harold Delos Babcock

    American astronomer who with his son, Horace, invented the solar magnetograph (1951), for detailed observation of the Sun's magnetic field.

  • 1936 Robert Bárány

    Austrian physician and otologist who won the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1914 for his work on the physiology and pathology of the vestibular (balancing) apparatus of the inner ear.

2016

First rocket landed on ship at sea

In 2016, SpaceX successfully made the first soft return landing of a reusable Falcon 9 rocket booster on a robotic drone ship at sea.
1904

France and the United Kingdom Sign the Entente Cordiale

In 1904, France and the United Kingdom formalized the Entente Cordiale, a series of agreements aimed at resolving colonial disputes. This marked the beginning of improved diplomatic relations between the two nations.
1966

First Orbiting Astronomical Observatory Launched

On April 8, 1966, OAO 1, the first orbiting astronomical observatory, was launched. It was designed to study the ultraviolet and X-ray emissions from stars and other celestial objects. Unfortunately, the mission was cut short due to power failures.
2004

Condoleezza Rice Testifies Before 9/11 Commission

On April 8, 2004, U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice testified before the 9/11 Commission. She addressed the events leading up to the September 11 attacks and the government's response. This was a key moment in the investigation.
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