This Day In History : November 24

1991 United States

STS-44 Atlantis 10 Launched: 75th Manned Space Mission by the US

On November 24, 1991, NASA launched Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-44) from Kennedy Space Center. The mission deployed a Defense Support Program satellite for global missile detection. Lasting 6 days, 22 hours, and 50 minutes, it included scientific experiments and classified military reconnaissance, showcasing US space capabilities.

Also on This Day in History November 24

Discover what happened on November 24 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.

Births on This Day, November 24
  • 1944 Veerabhadran Ramanathan

    Indian atmospheric scientist who in 1999 discovered the “Asian Brown Cloud” - wandering layers of air pollution as wide as a continent and deeper than the Grand Canyon.

  • 1816 William Crawford Williamson

    English naturalist who founded modern paleobotany, the study of fossil plants found in sediments and rocks.

  • 1921 Robert L. Banks

    American chemist who co-discovered crystalline polypropylene polymer, with J. Paul Hogan.

  • 1925 Simon van der Meer

    Dutch engineer and physicist who, with Italian physicist Carlo Rubbia, discovered the W particle and the Z particle by colliding protons and antiprotons, for which both men shared the Nobel Prize for Physics.

  • 1784 Zachary Taylor

    American General and politician who became the 12th President of the United States

Deaths on This Day, November 24
  • 1916 Hiram Maxim

    Hiram Stevens Maxim was an American-English inventor whose best known innovation is the Maxim machine gun.

  • 1972 Roger Putnam

    Roger Lowell Putnam was a businessman and politician who facilitated the search for Pluto.

  • 1978 Warren Weaver

    Warren Weaver was an American scientist, mathematician, and science administrator. He is widely recognized as one of the pioneers of machine translation and as an important figure in creating support for science in the United States.

  • 1864 Benjamin Silliman

    American geologist and chemist who founded the American Journal of Science and wielded a powerful influence in the development of science in the U.S.

  • 1963 Lee Harvey Oswald

    American assassin of U.S. President John F. Kennedy

1932

FBI Crime Lab Opens in Washington, D.C.

On November 24, 1932, the FBI Crime Lab, officially known as the FBI Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory, opened in Washington, D.C. This facility became a cornerstone in forensic science, providing crucial analysis and evidence processing for criminal investigations across the United States.
1639

Jeremiah Horrocks Observes First Recorded Transit of Venus

In 1639, Jeremiah Horrocks, an English astronomer and clergyman, observed and measured the first recorded transit of Venus. This astronomical event was significant as it provided valuable data for calculating the size of the solar system and laid the groundwork for future observations of planetary transits.
2020

Scotland's Parliament Votes to Make Period Products Free

In November 2020, the Scottish Parliament voted to make period products freely available, marking Scotland as the first country to legislate for such a measure. This decision aimed to address period poverty, ensuring equitable access to menstrual hygiene products for all individuals.
1989

Sachin Tendulkar scores a Test Cricket fifty aged 16 years 214 days creates a record

Sachin Tendulkar, who was just 16-year-old back then, achieved this feat in the second Test match between India and Pakistan that was played in Faisalabad in 1989. In that match, India were struggling at 101/4, when Tendulkar (59) and Sanjay Manjrekar (76) stitched a 143-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
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