This Day In History : October 29

1998 United States

Oldest person to fly in space

On October 29, 1998, John Glenn became the oldest person to fly in space at the age of 77. Glenn, a former astronaut and U.S. Senator, was a part of NASA's STS-95 mission aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. This historic mission aimed to study the effects of space travel on the elderly, contributing valuable data on aging in microgravity environments.

Also on This Day in History October 29

Discover what happened on October 29 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.

Births on This Day, October 29
  • 1923 Carl Djerassi

    Austrian-American chemist and father of the contraceptive pill

  • 1910 A. J. Ayer

    English Neopositivist philosopher (Logical Positivism)

  • 1920 Baruj Benacerraf

    Venezuelan-American immunologist (Nobel 1980 - discovery of genes that regulate immune responses and of the role that some of these genes play in autoimmune diseases)

  • 1971 Ma Huateng

    Chinese entrepreneur - Tencent

  • 1985 Vijender Singh

    Indian boxer

Deaths on This Day, October 29
  • 1951 Robert Grant Aitken

    American astronomer (New General Catalogue)

  • 1933 Albert Calmette

    French physician, bacteriologist and immunologist (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin)

  • 1783 Jean le Rond D’Alembert

    French Enlightenment philosopher and mathematician (Encyclopédie)

  • 1932 Joseph Babinski

    Polish-French neurologist (Babinski reflex)

  • 2016 John D. Roberts

    American chemist, received American Institute of Chemists Gold Medal (2013)

1929

The New York Stock Exchange crashed

The New York Stock Exchange crashed on October 29, 1929, ending the Great Bull Market of the 1920s. This event, known as Black Tuesday, marked the beginning of the Great Depression, a severe worldwide economic downturn that lasted throughout the 1930s. The crash wiped out thousands of investors, leading to widespread panic and massive unemployment.
1969

The first ever computer to computer link is establish on ARPANET which is the precursor to the Internet

The first-ever computer-to-computer link was established on ARPANET, the precursor to the Internet, on October 29, 1969. This milestone marked the beginning of a revolutionary change in communication and technology, leading to the development of the modern Internet. The initial connection was made between a computer at UCLA and another at the Stanford Research Institute.
2008

Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines merge, becoming the world's largest airline

Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines merged on October 29, 2008, creating the world's largest airline at that time. The merger combined the extensive networks and resources of both carriers, resulting in enhanced global reach and operational efficiencies. The new Delta Air Lines continued to operate under the Delta name, integrating Northwest's routes, employees, and assets into its operations.
2005

Bombings in Delhi

On October 29, 2005, a series of bombings occurred in Delhi, India. The coordinated attacks took place in crowded marketplaces and a public bus, killing over 60 people and injuring more than 200 others. The bombings, which happened just days before the major Hindu festival of Diwali and the Muslim festival of Eid, caused widespread panic and heightened security concerns throughout the city.
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