1783day.year
The Montgolfier brothers publicly demonstrate their montgolfière (hot air balloon).
The Montgolfier brothers publicly unveiled their hot air balloon, marking the birth of man-carrying aviation.
On June 4, 1783, in Annonay, France, Joseph-Montgolfier and Étienne-Montgolfier demonstrated their first full-scale montgolfière.
The unmanned hot air balloon rose to an altitude of several hundred meters, thrilling onlookers.
This invention harnessed heated air's buoyancy, setting the stage for human flight exploration.
Royal guests and members of the French Academy of Sciences witnessed the remarkable ascent.
The successful demonstration sparked widespread interest in aeronautics across Europe.
Within months, ballooning evolved from a spectacle into a serious scientific and adventurous pursuit.
1783
Montgolfier brothers
hot air balloon
1784day.year
Élisabeth Thible becomes the first woman to fly in an untethered hot air balloon. Her flight covers four kilometres (2.5 mi) in 45 minutes, and reached 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) altitude (estimated).
Élisabeth Thible became the first woman to fly in an untethered hot air balloon, soaring over Lyons in 1784.
On June 4, 1784, French aeronaut Élisabeth Thible climbed into a Montgolfier hot air balloon piloted by Monsieur Fleurant.
Her flight over Lyons covered about four kilometers in approximately 45 minutes.
She reached an estimated altitude of 1,500 meters, making her the world's first female aerial pioneer.
Draped in flowing silk, Thible captivated spectators with a theatrical performance from the basket.
Her successful ascent challenged gender norms and inspired future generations of women in aviation.
Thible's flight remains a landmark event in the history of flight and women's achievements.
1784
Élisabeth Thible
1855day.year
Major Henry C. Wayne departs New York aboard the USS Supply to procure camels to establish the U.S. Camel Corps.
Major Henry C. Wayne sets sail to procure camels for a bold experiment in American military transport.
In 1855, Major Henry C. Wayne departed New York on the USS Supply with a daring mission.
He was tasked with procuring camels from the Mediterranean to establish the U.S. Camel Corps.
The experiment aimed to test camels as pack animals suited to frontier conditions in the American Southwest.
This military innovation sought to improve transport efficiency across arid regions.
Although initial results were promising, logistical and cultural challenges limited the Corps' success.
The expedition remains a fascinating example of 19th-century military ingenuity.
1855
Henry C. Wayne
USS Supply
camels
U.S. Camel Corps
1896day.year
Henry Ford completes the Ford Quadricycle, his first gasoline-powered automobile and also gives it a successful test run.
Henry Ford’s completion and test run of his Quadricycle marked a milestone in automotive history.
In 1896, Henry Ford built and successfully tested the Quadricycle, his first gasoline-powered vehicle.
The simple machine featured a four-wheeled chassis powered by a two-cylinder engine.
This invention launched Ford's automotive career and laid foundations for mass production.
Ford's Quadricycle demonstrated the feasibility of self-propelled road vehicles for the public.
The eight-mile test ride through Detroit streets captured imaginations and spurred innovation.
It marked the humble beginning of an industry that would transform global transportation.
1896
Henry Ford
Ford Quadricycle
1977day.year
JVC introduces its VHS videotape at the Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago. It will eventually prevail against Sony's rival Betamax system in a format war to become the predominant home video medium.
On June 4, 1977, JVC unveiled its VHS videotape format at the Chicago Consumer Electronics Show, launching the home video era.
At the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago, JVC demonstrated the VHS (Video Home System) format to the public.
VHS offered longer recording times and user-friendly features compared to Sony's Betamax system.
This introduction sparked the famous videotape format war that would shape home entertainment.
By focusing on affordability and recording duration, VHS gradually outpaced Betamax in market share.
The victory of VHS revolutionized how audiences consumed movies and television programs at home.
VHS tapes became a cultural phenomenon, establishing video rental stores worldwide.
1977
JVC
VHS
Consumer Electronics Show
Chicago
Sony
Betamax
format war
home video
1996day.year
The first flight of Ariane 5 explodes after roughly 37 seconds. It was a Cluster mission.
Ariane 5’s maiden flight fails when the rocket self-destructs 37 seconds after liftoff.
On June 4, 1996, ESA's new heavy-lift rocket Ariane 5 lifted off from Kourou, French Guiana on its first mission.
Only 37 seconds into flight, a software error caused the guidance system to malfunction.
The onboard computer triggered the rocket's self-destruct mechanism, destroying the vehicle.
The payload, four Cluster atmospheric research satellites, was lost in the incident.
Investigators traced the failure to an unhandled data conversion in the inertial reference software.
Lessons learned led to major software and design overhauls, ensuring the success of later Ariane launches.
1996
Ariane 5
explodes
Cluster mission
2010day.year
Falcon 9 Flight 1 is the maiden flight of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 40.
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket made its maiden voyage from Cape Canaveral on June 4, 2010, heralding a new chapter in commercial spaceflight.
On June 4, 2010, SpaceX launched Falcon 9 Flight 1, marking the debut of its first two-stage orbital launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
The mission aimed to test key systems including first-stage engines, stage separation, and payload fairing deployment.
Despite some minor anomalies, Falcon 9 achieved its primary objectives and demonstrated the feasibility of a reusable rocket design.
This successful flight laid the foundation for subsequent resupply missions to the International Space Station.
Today, Falcon 9 remains one of the most frequently flown rockets in history, driving down launch costs and shaping the future of space access.
2010
Falcon 9 Flight 1
maiden flight
SpaceX
Falcon 9
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 40