This Day In History : September 24

1960 United States

The world's first nuclear powered aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise is launched

The USS Enterprise (CVN-65), the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, was launched on September 24, 1960. This event marked a significant advancement in naval technology, showcasing the capability of nuclear power to propel large vessels. The USS Enterprise went on to have a long and distinguished career in the United States Navy, playing key roles in various military operations and exercises around the world.

Also on This Day in History September 24

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

Births on This Day, September 24
  • 1801 Mikhail Ostrogradsky

    Mikhail Vasilievich Ostrogradsky was a Russian mathematician who contributed in the fields of integral calculus and mathematical physics.

  • 1870 Georges Claude

    French chemist, engineer and inventor who invented the neon light, which was the forerunner of the fluorescent light.

  • 1898 Howard Walter Florey

    Australian pathologist, who, with Ernst Boris Chain, researched, isolated and purified penicillin for general clinical use.

  • 1906 Pol Swings

    Polidore F. F. Swings was a Belgian astrophysicist who made spectroscopic studies to identify elements and structure of stars and comets.

  • 1907 John R. Dunning

    John Ray Dunning was an American nuclear physicist whose experiments in nuclear fission helped lay the groundwork for the development of the atomic bomb.

Deaths on This Day, September 24
  • 1895 Hermann Hellriegel

    German chemist who directed agricultural research at the Bernburg experimental Station in Prussia concerned with determining optimum conditions for growing sugar beets, the primary source of sugar.

  • 1945 Hans Geiger

    Hans Wilhelm Geiger was a German physicist who introduced the Geiger counter, the first successful detector of individual alpha particles and other ionizing radiations.

  • 2004 Raja Ramanna

    Indian nuclear physicist who was picked by Homi Nhabha to help shape India’s nuclear physics and energy programs.

  • 1541 Philippus Aureolus Paracelsus

    Paracelsus, born Theophrastus von Hohenheim, was a Swiss physician, alchemist, lay theologian, and philosopher of the German Renaissance.

  • 1834 Pedro I

    Dom Pedro I was the founder and first ruler of the Empire of Brazil, where he was known as "the Liberator".

1948

The Honda Motor Company is founded

The Honda Motor Company was founded on September 24, 1948, in Hamamatsu, Japan. Established by Soichiro Honda and Takeo Fujisawa, it began as a small venture producing motorized bicycles. Over the years, Honda expanded its operations into automobile manufacturing, becoming one of the world's largest and most recognized automotive companies known for its innovation and quality.
1855

The discovery of glycogen stored in the liver

In 1855, Claude Bernard, a French physiologist, communicated the discovery of glycogen stored in the liver to the Académie des Sciences. This finding was significant in understanding the role of liver in metabolism and energy storage.
1996

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty is signed by 71 nations at the United Nations

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) is an international treaty aiming to ban all nuclear explosions for both civilian and military purposes. It was opened for signature on September 24, 1996, at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. As of today, 185 countries have signed the treaty, and 170 have ratified it.
1970

Soviet space probe Luna 16 lands on earth after 1st unmanned round trip to moon

The Soviet space probe Luna 16 successfully landed back on Earth on September 24, 1970, marking the first unmanned round trip to the Moon by a spacecraft. Luna 16 had autonomously collected lunar soil samples and returned them to Earth, demonstrating Soviet technological prowess in space exploration during the Cold War era.
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