This Day In History : February 1

1958 United States

1st US satellite (Explorer I) launched

Explorer 1 was the first satellite launched by the United States in 1958 and was part of the U.S. participation in the International Geophysical Year (IGY). The mission followed the first two satellites, both launched by the Soviet Union during the previous year, Sputnik 1 and Sputnik 2. This began a Space Race during the Cold War between the two nations. Explorer 1 was launched on 1 February 1958 at 03:47:56 GMT.

Also on This Day in History February 1

Discover what happened on February 1 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.

Births on This Day, February 1
  • 1931 Boris Yeltsin

    Russian politician, 1st President of Russia

  • 1843 John Isaac Thornycroft

    English naval architect and founder of John I. Thornycroft & Company

  • 1550 John Napier

    Scottish mathematician and inventor of logarithms

  • 1928 Sir Samuel Edwards

    Welsh physicist (condensed matter physics)

  • 1961 Daniel M. Tani

    American astronaut

Deaths on This Day, February 1
  • 2003 Kalpana Chawla

    American astronaut and the first woman of Indian origin in space

  • 1976 Werner Heisenberg

    German physicist who discovered the uncertainty principle

  • 1954 Edwin Armstrong

    American electrical engineer and inventor known for developing FM (frequency modulation) radio

  • 1903 George Stokes

    Irish physicist and mathematician (Navier-Stokes equations, Stokes' theorem)

  • 1929 Alexander Ogston

    British surgeon, educator, and military doctor known for discovering Staphylococcus bacteria

1884

First Fascicle of the Oxford English Dictionary Published

In 1884, the first fascicle (part) of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) was published. This monumental dictionary project aimed to comprehensively document the English language's vocabulary, providing definitions, etymologies, and usage examples. The OED remains a vital resource for scholars, linguists, and anyone interested in the history and evolution of the English language.
2003

Space Shuttle Columbia disaster

On Saturday, February 1, 2003, Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated as it reentered the atmosphere over Texas and Louisiana, killing all seven astronauts on board. It was the second Space Shuttle mission to end in disaster, after the loss of Challenger and crew in 1986. The mission, designated STS-107, was the twenty-eighth flight for the orbiter, the 113th flight of the Space Shuttle fleet and the 88th after the Challenger disaster.
1963

India Declares Peacock as National Bird

On February 1, 1963, the Indian government officially declared the peacock as the national bird of India. This decision was made to symbolize grace, beauty, and cultural significance within Indian traditions and folklore. The peacock, known for its vibrant plumage and majestic appearance, holds a special place in Indian art, mythology, and spiritual symbolism.
1835

Abolition of Slavery in Mauritius

The Abolition of Slavery had started by an Act of Parliament passed by the British Government in 1833, which was supposed to be implemented on 1st February 1835. Despite the fact that the Legislative of the Abolition of Slavery came into force, the slaves’ owners in Mauritius and in other British colonies had asked that the slaves continued to stay on their properties.
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