January 20

Jean Quintin served as a royal chaplain and naval commander under King Francis I. He documented voyages and coastal surveys, blending religious duty with exploration. In 1533, he published accounts of his travels to the North Sea and Baltic regions. Quintin’s writings provided valuable maps and observations for mariners. His unique perspective combined ecclesiastical insight with pioneering cartography. He passed away in 1561, remembered for enriching maritime knowledge.

Edwin 'Buzz' Aldrin Jr. was born in 1930 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. A former fighter pilot and US Air Force colonel, he joined NASA's Gemini program and set a record for the longest extravehicular activity. As lunar module pilot on Apollo 11, Aldrin became the second human to step onto the Moon's surface on July 21, 1969, following Neil Armstrong. He later advocated for human exploration of Mars and authored several books on spaceflight. Aldrin's contributions to astronautics and his vision for future space missions have made him an enduring icon of exploration.