May 21

On May 21, 1927, Charles Lindbergh made history by landing the Spirit of St. Louis at Le Bourget Field in Paris, completing the first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Departing from Long Island, New York, 33 hours earlier, Lindbergh navigated alone over 3,600 miles of open water. Facing sleep deprivation, fog, and mechanical challenges, he maintained radio silence to preserve weight and fuel. His achievement won him the Orteig Prize and catapulted him to international fame as a symbol of aviation’s new frontier. Lindbergh's flight demonstrated the potential of long-distance air travel and inspired public confidence in aviation. He was greeted by throngs of cheering Parisians and received accolades from leaders around the world.

On May 21, 1932, Amelia Earhart made aviation history by becoming the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Poor weather conditions forced her to land her Lockheed Vega in a pasture near Derry, Northern Ireland, instead of her intended destination. Departing from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, Earhart completed the flight in just under 15 hours. Her courageous solo achievement shattered gender barriers and inspired a generation of women aviators. She received widespread acclaim and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, becoming the first woman to earn this honor. Earhart's Atlantic crossing solidified her legacy as one of the era's most celebrated pioneering flyers.

On May 21, 1937, the Soviet icebreaker Krasin delivered scientists and equipment to establish North Pole-1, the first drifting polar research station. Anchored to an ice floe in the Arctic Ocean, the station carried out meteorological, oceanographic, and geophysical studies. Led by scientist Ivan Papanin, the crew endured extreme cold and isolation for nearly a year. Their data improved understanding of Arctic weather patterns and ocean currents. North Pole-1's success spurred further Soviet polar expeditions and established the model for modern drifting research stations. The mission showcased Soviet prowess in exploration and contributed to advances in Earth sciences.

On May 21, 1946, physicist Louis Slotin received a fatal dose of radiation during a criticality experiment with a plutonium core at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Known as the 'demon core,' the assembly of two hemispheres of plutonium suddenly went supercritical when a screwdriver slipped during a manual test. Slotin's swift hand motion halted the reaction, but he absorbed a lethal amount of radiation. He died nine days later, and the incident became a cautionary tale in nuclear safety. Slotin's accident led to stricter protocols and the development of remote handling techniques for fissile materials. The 'demon core' was later used in atomic bomb tests and remains a stark reminder of the perils of early nuclear research.

IKAROS (Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation Of the Sun) lifted off aboard an H-IIA rocket from Tanegashima Space Center. The mission aimed to test thin-film solar sails for propulsion by sunlight pressure. IKAROS successfully deployed its 14-meter-wide sail, becoming the first of its kind in space. Later in 2010, the spacecraft performed a flyby of Venus to test trajectory control. The project provided valuable data for future low-thrust propulsion systems.