1513day.year
Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa reaches what would become known as the Pacific Ocean.
In 1513, Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa became the first European to sight the Pacific Ocean from the New World.
On September 25, 1513, after an arduous crossing of the Isthmus of Panama, Vasco Núñez de Balboa reached a ridge overlooking a vast ocean, which he claimed for Spain. Naming it the South Sea, Balboa's discovery revealed a hidden gateway between the Atlantic and the Pacific. His expedition demonstrated the strategic and economic potential of establishing a Spanish presence on the Pacific coast. Balboa's achievement opened the door to trans-Pacific exploration and trade, heralding a new era of global navigation. Although he was later arrested and executed, Balboa's legacy endures as a pioneering figure in the Age of Discovery.
1513
Vasco Núñez de Balboa
1906day.year
Leonardo Torres Quevedo demonstrates the Telekino in the Bilbao Abra (Spain), guiding an electric boat from the shore with people on board, which was controlled at a distance over 2 km (1.2 mi), in what is considered to be the origin of modern wireless remote-control operation principles.
Leonardo Torres Quevedo remotely controls an electric boat via his Telekino system in Bilbao, pioneering wireless remote-control technology.
On September 25, 1906, Spanish inventor Leonardo Torres Quevedo demonstrated his Telekino in the waters of Bilbao Abra. From the shoreline, he sent wireless commands to an electric boat more than two kilometers away, guiding its movements with precision. The demonstration marked the first successful application of remote control using electromagnetic waves. Torres Quevedo's Telekino laid the groundwork for later advancements in radio-controlled vehicles, guided missiles, and unmanned drones. His work bridged theoretical electromagnetic research and practical engineering, showcasing the potential of wireless command systems. The Telekino remains a milestone in the history of automation and communications technology.
1906
Leonardo Torres Quevedo
Bilbao Abra
Spain
1974day.year
Dr. Frank Jobe performs first ulnar collateral ligament replacement surgery (better known as Tommy John surgery) on baseball player Tommy John.
Dr. Frank Jobe pioneers Tommy John surgery, revolutionizing treatment for pitchers’ arm injuries.
On September 25, 1974, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Frank Jobe performed the first ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction on pitcher Tommy John.
The novel procedure transplanted a tendon from John’s forearm to stabilize his elbow.
Prior to this surgery, such injuries often ended baseball careers.
Tommy John returned to the mound less than a year later, winning 164 games over his extended career.
Jobe’s innovation became a standard repair across professional and amateur sports.
The success of “Tommy John surgery” reshaped sports medicine and athlete rehabilitation.
1974
Frank Jobe
ulnar collateral ligament replacement
Tommy John
1992day.year
NASA launches the Mars Observer. Eleven months later, the probe would fail while preparing for orbital insertion.
NASA launched the Mars Observer spacecraft on a mission to map the Martian surface and atmosphere.
On September 25, 1992, NASA successfully launched the Mars Observer aboard a Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral. The probe carried instruments designed to study Martian topography, climate, and magnetic field. It entered a cruise phase en route to Mars, gathering critical engineering data. In August 1993, just days before orbital insertion, communications with the spacecraft were lost due to a suspected fuel line rupture. The failure highlighted the challenges of interplanetary missions and led to design improvements in subsequent Mars exploration programs. Despite its loss, data from the mission informed planning for later successes such as Mars Global Surveyor.
1992
NASA
Mars Observer
1997day.year
NASA launches Space Shuttle Atlantis on STS-86 to the Mir space station.
Space Shuttle Atlantis embarked on STS-86, the seventh Shuttle-Mir docking mission, carrying crew to Russia's Mir space station.
On September 25, 1997, NASA launched Space Shuttle Atlantis from Kennedy Space Center on mission STS-86. The flight was the seventh docking of a shuttle with Russia's Mir station under the Shuttle-Mir program. Atlantis carried a multinational crew, including two Russian cosmonauts, to continue experiments and exchange supplies. Docking occurred smoothly in orbit, allowing a week-long stay aboard Mir. The mission strengthened international cooperation in space and laid groundwork for the future International Space Station. STS-86 demonstrated complex rendezvous procedures and advanced joint operations between NASA and Roscosmos.
1997
Space Shuttle Atlantis
STS-86
Mir