September 19

Born in 1560 in Dorset, Thomas Cavendish made his mark as a daring naval explorer. He departed in 1586 aboard the Desire and completed a successful global circumnavigation by 1588. His voyage followed in the footsteps of Sir Francis Drake, combining exploration with privateering. Cavendish raided Spanish settlements along the Pacific coast, returning with vast plunder. He earned the nickname “The Navigator” for his seafaring skill and bold tactics. He embarked on a second expedition in 1591 but died at sea in 1592 off the coast of Brazil.

Sunita Williams is a decorated United States Navy officer and NASA astronaut. She holds records for the longest single spaceflight by a woman and most spacewalks by a female astronaut. Williams piloted and commanded missions to the International Space Station, conducting extensive scientific research. She performed experiments in areas such as astrophysics, biology, and earth sciences. Williams earned degrees in engineering and was selected by NASA in 1998. She continues to inspire future generations of explorers through outreach and advocacy.