1768day.year
Captain James Cook sets sail from England on board HMS Endeavour.
Captain James Cook departs England aboard HMS Endeavour in 1768 for a groundbreaking Pacific expedition.
On August 26, 1768, Captain James Cook set sail from Plymouth on HMS Endeavour to observe the transit of Venus in Tahiti. The scientific mission, accompanied by naturalists like Joseph Banks, aimed to expand European knowledge of astronomy, geography, and natural history. After the astronomical observations, Cook was tasked with charting the coastlines of New Zealand and the eastern shores of Australia. His detailed maps and surveys added vast stretches of the Pacific to European charts for the first time. The voyage returned to England in 1771, having significantly advanced scientific and navigational understanding.
1768
James Cook
sets sail
HMS Endeavour
1791day.year
John Fitch is granted a United States patent for the steamboat.
Inventor John Fitch receives the first US patent for a steam-driven boat in 1791.
On August 26, 1791, John Fitch was awarded United States Patent No. 1 for his innovative steamboat design. Fitch had previously demonstrated a working steam-powered vessel on the Delaware River in the 1780s. His patent outlined a system of paddle wheels driven by steam pressure to propel a boat. Despite limited financial support and competition, Fitch’s work laid vital groundwork for the future of steam navigation. His patent marked a significant step in the evolution of transportation technology during the early Industrial Revolution.
1791
John Fitch
steamboat
1998day.year
The first flight of the Boeing Delta III ends in disaster 75 seconds after liftoff resulting in the loss of the Galaxy X communications satellite.
The maiden flight of the Boeing Delta III rocket ended in failure 75 seconds after liftoff on August 26, 1998, destroying the Galaxy X satellite.
Launching from Cape Canaveral, the Delta III was Boeing’s next-generation heavy-lift vehicle designed to carry larger payloads to orbit.
At T+75 seconds, a premature shutdown of the Delta Cryogenic Second Stage engine caused the rocket to veer off course and self-destruct.
The Galaxy X communications satellite, owned by PanAmSat, was lost in the accident, representing a major commercial setback.
Boeing and its partner McDonnell Douglas conducted a thorough investigation, leading to design revisions in subsequent Delta models.
Despite its initial failure, the Delta III program contributed engineering lessons that benefited future launch vehicles.
1998
Delta III
2011day.year
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Boeing's all-new composite airliner, receives certification from the EASA and the FAA.
On August 26, 2011, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner received certification from both the EASA and FAA, paving the way for commercial service of the composite airliner.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner represented a groundbreaking shift in commercial aviation, featuring a mainly composite fuselage and wings, advanced aerodynamics, and more efficient engines. After extensive ground tests and flight evaluations, the European Aviation Safety Agency and U.S. Federal Aviation Administration granted type certification on August 26, 2011. This approval confirmed that the aircraft met stringent safety and performance standards required for passenger service. Airlines anticipated the Dreamliner for its fuel savings, reduced emissions, and enhanced passenger comfort elements like improved cabin humidity and air pressure control. Deliveries began shortly after to launch customer All Nippon Airways. Despite early production delays and technical challenges involving batteries and electrical systems, the 787 program reshaped long-haul air travel and influenced subsequent aircraft designs.
2011
Boeing 787 Dreamliner
EASA
FAA