1960day.year
The TIROS-1 satellite transmits the first television picture from space.
TIROS-1 becomes the first satellite to transmit television images of Earth from space.
Launched on April 1, 1960, TIROS-1 (Television Infrared Observation Satellite) achieved the first successful television transmission from space.
Developed by NASA and RCA, the satellite carried two slow-scan television cameras.
Its images provided unprecedented views of Earth's cloud patterns and weather systems.
Data from TIROS-1 revolutionized meteorology, enabling more accurate weather forecasts.
The mission demonstrated the potential of satellites for continuous environmental monitoring.
TIROS-1's success laid the foundation for modern weather satellite programs still in use today.
1960
TIROS-1
satellite
first television picture from space
1969day.year
The Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the first operational fighter aircraft with Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing capabilities, enters service with the Royal Air Force.
The first operational Harrier jump jet enters service with the Royal Air Force, pioneering V/STOL capabilities.
On April 1, 1969, the Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the world's first operational Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing (V/STOL) fighter, joined the Royal Air Force.
Developed during the 1960s, the Harrier could hover, take off vertically, or operate from short runways.
Its unique engine design and vectored-thrust nozzles allowed unprecedented flexibility in deployment.
The Harrier soon proved its value in close air support and expeditionary roles.
Variants would serve in conflicts worldwide, including the Falklands War.
The Harrier series influenced future VTOL aircraft development across the globe.
1969
Hawker Siddeley Harrier
fighter aircraft
Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing
Royal Air Force
1997day.year
Comet Hale–Bopp is seen passing at perihelion.
Comet Hale–Bopp reaches perihelion, offering an extraordinary celestial spectacle visible to the naked eye.
On April 1, 1997, Comet Hale–Bopp makes its closest approach to the Sun (perihelion), dazzling observers worldwide.
Discovered independently in 1995, the comet exhibits an exceptionally bright nucleus and twin tails.
Its extended visibility led to one of the most widely observed cometary displays of the 20th century.
Amateur and professional astronomers alike track its passage across the sky for weeks before and after perihelion.
Hale–Bopp's prominence sparks renewed public fascination with astronomy and space science.
1997
Comet Hale–Bopp
perihelion
2004day.year
Google launches its Email service Gmail.
Google launched Gmail on April 1, 2004, unveiling a free email service with unprecedented storage capacity.
Initially announced as an April Fool’s joke, Gmail proved to be a genuine breakthrough.
It offered users 1 gigabyte of storage, dwarfing competitors at the time.
Innovations included conversation threading and powerful search functionality.
Gmail’s launch ignited a new era of web-based email services.
Today, it remains one of the most widely used email platforms globally.
2004
Google
Email
Gmail