1968day.year
Space Race: The Soyuz 3 mission achieves the first Soviet space rendezvous.
The Soviet Soyuz 3 mission achieved the USSR’s first successful space rendezvous on October 26, 1968.
Cosmonaut Georgi Beregovoi piloted Soyuz 3 into orbit to rendezvous with its uncrewed counterpart, Soyuz 2.
This marked the Soviet Union's maiden success in orbital docking techniques.
The mission demonstrated critical capabilities for future crewed lunar and interplanetary flights.
Despite challenging manual maneuvers, the rendezvous validated Soviet spacecraft guidance systems.
Engineers hailed the achievement as closing the gap in the Space Race era.
It paved the way for extended missions and more complex orbital assemblies.
1968
Space Race
Soyuz 3
1977day.year
Ali Maow Maalin, the last natural case of smallpox, develops a rash in Somalia. The WHO and the CDC consider this date to be the anniversary of the eradication of smallpox, the most spectacular success of vaccination.
On October 26, 1977, Ali Maow Maalin became the last person to develop natural smallpox, marking the world’s final known case.
Ali Maow Maalin, a hospital cook in Somalia, developed a smallpox rash on this historic day.
The World Health Organization and CDC observe this date as the anniversary of smallpox eradication.
No new natural cases have been recorded since, thanks to a decade-long global vaccination campaign.
Smallpox, once a scourge killing millions, was declared eradicated after this milestone.
The triumph remains the most spectacular success in public health history.
It underscores the power of coordinated international immunization efforts.
1977
Ali Maow Maalin
smallpox
WHO
CDC
eradication of smallpox
vaccination
2012day.year
Microsoft made a public release of Windows 8 and made it available on new PCs.
Microsoft publicly released Windows 8 on October 26, 2012, introducing a new user interface optimized for touchscreens and traditional PCs.
Microsoft launched Windows 8 on October 26, 2012, marking a major redesign of its flagship operating system.
The release featured the new Start screen with live tiles, a shift toward a touchscreen-first user experience.
Windows 8 supported both legacy desktop applications and a new platform for modern apps via the Windows Store.
Despite praise for its performance improvements, the interface changes generated mixed reactions among users.
Tile-based navigation and the removal of the traditional Start menu became focal points in the debate.
Microsoft later released Windows 8.1 to address feedback, reintroducing some familiar elements.
Windows 8 laid the groundwork for future Windows releases, influencing design across multiple device types.
2012
Microsoft
Windows 8