March 29

Events - Science & Technology

1974day.year

NASA's Mariner 10 becomes the first space probe to fly by Mercury.

In 1974 NASA's Mariner 10 became the first spacecraft to fly by Mercury, capturing detailed images of the planet's surface.
NASA launched Mariner 10 on November 3, 1973, with the goal of studying Mercury and Venus. The probe used gravity assists from Venus to alter its trajectory and approach Mercury. On March 29, 1974, Mariner 10 performed the first-ever flyby, passing within 703 kilometers of the planet's surface. It sent back the first close-up images of Mercury's cratered terrain and thin exosphere, revealing unexpected details about its geology and magnetic field. The mission completed three Mercury flybys before its hydrogen supply ran out in 1975. Mariner 10's discoveries laid the groundwork for future missions like MESSENGER and BepiColombo.
1974 NASA Mariner 10 space probe Mercury
2004day.year

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat certifies Taipei 101 as the world's tallest building, based on the building having been topped out on 1 July 2003, even though the building was not completed until 31 December 2004.

On March 29, 2004, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat officially recognized Taipei 101 as the tallest building in the world, highlighting a new era of skyscraper engineering.
The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) certified Taipei 101's height at 508 meters based on its topping out, even before its final completion in December 2004. This record-breaking feat surpassed Kuala Lumpur's Petronas Towers and showcased Taiwan's rapid economic growth and technological prowess. Engineers overcame challenges such as typhoon winds and seismic activity to achieve this architectural marvel. The building's multi-tiered design and tuned mass damper set new industry standards in high-rise safety and stability. Taipei 101 held the title of the world's tallest building until 2010, inspiring a global skyscraper boom and advances in structural engineering.
2004 Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat Taipei 101