1977day.year
France conducts the Oreste nuclear test as 14th in the group of 29, 1975–78 French nuclear tests series.
France conducts the Oreste nuclear test on November 12, 1977, as part of its 1975–78 test series.
The French military executes the Oreste underground nuclear test in the South Pacific on this day in 1977.
It is the 14th detonation in France's 1975–78 nuclear testing campaign.
The test advances France's independent nuclear deterrent capabilities.
Environmental concerns and global non-proliferation debates intensify.
Oreste underscores the Cold War arms race and atomic experimentation of the era.
1977
France
1975–78 French nuclear tests
1980day.year
The NASA space probe Voyager I makes its closest approach to Saturn and takes the first images of its rings.
In 1980, NASA's Voyager 1 makes its closest approach to Saturn and sends back the first detailed images of its rings.
On this day in 1980, Voyager 1 passes within 124,000 kilometers of Saturn's cloud tops.
The spacecraft captures humanity's first high-resolution views of Saturn's rings.
Scientists analyze the ring structure and composition in unprecedented detail.
The encounter furthers our understanding of the outer solar system.
Voyager's triumph cements its legacy as a pioneering interplanetary mission.
1980
NASA
Voyager I
Saturn
rings
1981day.year
Space Shuttle program: Mission STS-2, utilizing the Space Shuttle Columbia, marks the first time a crewed spacecraft is launched into space twice.
The Space Shuttle Columbia's STS-2 mission in 1981 becomes the first crewed spacecraft to fly in space twice.
Two months after its maiden voyage, Columbia returns to space on STS-2 on this day in 1981.
Commanded by Joe Engle and Richard Truly, the flight tests robotic and scientific experiments.
It proves the reusability concept of the Space Shuttle program.
Columbia completes 54 orbits over two days before landing at Edwards AFB.
STS-2 paves the way for the operational era of reusable human spaceflight.
1981
Space Shuttle program
STS-2
Space Shuttle
Columbia
1990day.year
Tim Berners-Lee publishes a formal proposal for the World Wide Web.
On November 12, 1990, Tim Berners-Lee published the first formal proposal for the World Wide Web, setting the stage for the Internet as we know it today.
Working at CERN in Switzerland, Tim Berners-Lee presented his proposal titled "Information Management: A Proposal" on November 12, 1990, envisioning a system of interconnected hypertext documents.
The document outlined concepts like URLs, HTTP, and HTML, laying the technical foundation for the World Wide Web.
Berners-Lee's vision aimed to facilitate information sharing among scientists across institutions.
This proposal led to the development of the first web browser and web server in 1991, igniting a global digital revolution.
The World Wide Web has since transformed communication, commerce, education, and society at large.
Tim Berners-Lee
World Wide Web
1995day.year
Space Shuttle Atlantis launches on STS-74 to deliver the Mir Docking Module to the Russian space station Mir.
On November 12, 1995, Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted off on mission STS-74 to deliver the Mir Docking Module to Russia's Mir space station.
Atlantis launched from Kennedy Space Center on November 12, 1995, carrying the Mir Docking Module built by Boeing for the Shuttle–Mir program.
This mission marked the second shuttle docking with Mir, strengthening US–Russian cooperation in space.
The delivered module provided a permanent docking port for future shuttle missions and served as a platform for experiments.
Astronauts performed critical installation tasks during two EVAs, advancing the construction of what would become the International Space Station.
STS-74 symbolized a new era of partnership in post-Cold War space exploration.
Space Shuttle Atlantis
STS-74
Mir Docking Module
Mir
2003day.year
Shanghai Transrapid sets a new world speed record of 501 kilometres per hour (311 mph) for commercial railway systems, which remains the fastest for unmodified commercial rail vehicles.
The Shanghai Transrapid maglev train set a new commercial rail speed record of 501 km/h, showcasing high-speed magnetic levitation technology.
Developed by Transrapid International, the Shanghai maglev system broke the world speed record on November 12, 2003. The train reached 501 km/h on a test run between Longyang Road Station and the Pudong International Airport. This achievement remains unparalleled for unmodified commercial rail vehicles. The demonstration highlighted the potential for future high-speed maglev networks. Engineers focused on levitation stability, aerodynamic design, and passenger comfort. Despite its record, high costs and infrastructure challenges have limited wider adoption. The record run continues to inspire research into next-generation rail technologies.
Shanghai Transrapid
world speed record
2014day.year
The Philae lander, deployed from the European Space Agency's Rosetta probe, reaches the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko.
The Philae lander successfully touched down on Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, making history with the first soft landing on a comet.
Part of ESA’s Rosetta mission launched in 2004, Philae separated from its mothership on November 12, 2014. Despite harpoon deployment failures, it made the first-ever soft touchdown on a comet nucleus. Philae’s instruments analyzed organic molecules and surface properties, offering clues to the early solar system. Power constraints in the shadowed landing zone limited its operational time but still yielded groundbreaking data. The mission faced challenges from communication delays and cold temperatures. Philae’s success inspired global interest in small-body exploration and future sample-return missions.
2014
Philae lander
European Space Agency
Rosetta probe
67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko