June 01

Born in France, Jacques Marquette joined the Society of Jesus and was sent to New France in 1666. He established missions among the Native American tribes around the Great Lakes and mastered several indigenous languages. In 1673, he partnered with Louis Jolliet on an expedition to chart the Mississippi River, traveling as far south as present-day Arkansas. Marquette’s detailed journals provided some of the earliest European accounts of inland North America and its peoples. After returning east, he continued missionary work until his death in 1675 at the age of 37. His pioneering efforts laid the groundwork for future exploration and missionary activity in the Mississippi Valley.

Born in 1912, Herbert Tichy studied geology at the University of Vienna and developed a lifelong passion for mountains. In 1954, he completed the first ascent of Cho Oyu, the world's sixth highest peak, alongside Sepp Jöchler and Pasang Dawa Lama. Tichy's detailed geological surveys of the Himalayas advanced scientific understanding of the region. He brought the remote world of high-altitude exploration to readers through his vivid travelogues and books. His work inspired generations of climbers, scientists, and adventure enthusiasts. Tichy passed away in 1987, leaving a lasting legacy in both mountaineering and earth science.

Georgy Dobrovolsky trained as a pilot before joining the Soviet space program in the 1960s and was selected for Soyuz 11. He and his crewmates successfully boarded the Salyut 1 space station, conducting experiments in microgravity. Their 23-day mission set new records for human spaceflight duration. During reentry preparations, a cabin valve malfunction led to depressurization, killing the crew before landing. The tragedy prompted extensive safety reviews and improvements in spacecraft design. Dobrovolsky's courage and dedication to exploration remain honored in space history.

In May 1987, 19-year-old Mathias Rust flew a rented Cessna 172 from Helsinki and landed near Red Square in Moscow. His unauthorized flight surprised Soviet defenses and triggered a major shakeup in the USSR military leadership. Rust was arrested and convicted of hooliganism, receiving a four-year sentence but released after 14 months. Since his return to Germany, he has maintained a low profile, pursuing private business interests and aviation projects. His daring flight remains one of the most audacious Cold War stunts and a symbol of individual defiance.