1965day.year
Craig Breedlove sets a land speed record of 600.601 mph (966.574 km/h) in his car, the Spirit of America, at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.
Craig Breedlove rockets his jet-powered car to a new land speed record of 600.601 mph at Bonneville Salt Flats.
On November 15, 1965, American driver Craig Breedlove achieved an unprecedented land speed of 600.601 mph (966.574 km/h) in his vehicle, Spirit of America.
The record-setting run took place on the salt-crusted expanse of the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.
Breedlove’s innovative jet-powered design pushed the boundaries of automotive engineering and aerodynamics.
His accomplishment marked the first time a land vehicle officially surpassed 600 mph.
The feat captured the public imagination during the height of the Space Race and Cold War era.
Breedlove’s name became synonymous with speed, ambition, and technological daring.
1965
Craig Breedlove
Spirit of America
Bonneville Salt Flats
Utah
1966day.year
Project Gemini: Gemini 12 completes the program's final mission, when it splashes down safely in the Atlantic Ocean.
Gemini 12 splashes down, successfully concluding NASA’s Gemini program and paving the way for Apollo moon missions.
On November 15, 1966, Gemini 12 returned safely to Earth, marking the final mission of NASA’s second human spaceflight program.
Astronauts James A. Lovell Jr. and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin conducted critical spacewalks and rendezvous exercises in Earth orbit.
The mission demonstrated vital techniques for docking and extravehicular activity (EVA) needed for lunar exploration.
Gemini’s achievements bridged the technological gap between Mercury flights and the upcoming Apollo missions.
The safe recovery of the spacecraft in the Atlantic Ocean showcased improvements in reentry and splashdown procedures.
Gemini 12’s success solidified confidence in NASA’s strategy to land astronauts on the Moon by the end of the decade.
1966
Project Gemini
Gemini 12
Atlantic Ocean
1967day.year
The only fatality of the North American X-15 program occurs during the 191st flight when Air Force test pilot Michael J. Adams loses control of his aircraft which is destroyed mid-air over the Mojave Desert.
Test pilot Michael J. Adams perishes in a devastating X-15 crash during the program’s 191st flight over the Mojave Desert.
On November 15, 1967, Air Force pilot Michael J. Adams lost control of the North American X-15 rocket plane during its 191st flight.
The aircraft disintegrated mid-air, and Adams was tragically killed in the first—and only—fatal accident of the X-15 program.
The X-15 was a cutting-edge hypersonic research vehicle designed to explore flight at the edge of space.
Adams’s death prompted a thorough investigation into flight dynamics, control systems, and pilot physiological factors.
Lessons learned from the accident influenced safety protocols for later high-speed and spaceflight programs.
The incident remains a sobering reminder of the risks inherent in pioneering aerospace research.
1967
North American X-15
191st flight
Michael J. Adams
Mojave Desert
1971day.year
Intel releases the world's first commercial single-chip microprocessor, the 4004.
Intel releases the 4004, the world's first commercial single-chip microprocessor, revolutionizing computing.
On November 15, 1971, Intel unveiled the 4004 microprocessor, the first commercially available CPU on a single integrated circuit.
Developed for use in calculators, the 4004 contained 2,300 transistors and operated at a clock speed of 740 kHz.
Its compact design demonstrated the potential of microprocessors to perform complex tasks in small devices.
The success of the 4004 paved the way for modern personal computers and a new era of digital electronics.
This milestone marked the beginning of the microprocessor revolution that reshaped technology and society.
1971
Intel
microprocessor
4004
1988day.year
In the Soviet Union, the uncrewed Shuttle Buran makes its only space flight.
The Soviet Buran shuttle completed its first and only unmanned spaceflight, showcasing a fully automated launch and landing.
On November 15, 1988, the Soviet Union launched the uncrewed shuttle Buran on its maiden orbital mission from Baikonur Cosmodrome.
The spacecraft completed two orbits and returned to Earth with a fully autonomous landing at the Yubileyniy landing facility.
This flight demonstrated the Soviet space program's ability to develop a reusable shuttle comparable to NASA's Space Shuttle.
Despite this technical success, the program was canceled due to budget constraints and the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Buran remains a unique achievement in spaceflight history as the only shuttle to fly without humans on board.
1988
Soviet Union
Shuttle Buran
1990day.year
Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on STS-38, a classified mission for the Department of Defense.
Space Shuttle Atlantis launched on the classified STS-38 mission, carrying out undisclosed Department of Defense objectives.
On November 15, 1990, Atlantis lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on STS-38, a mission shrouded in secrecy for the U.S. Department of Defense.
The flight likely deployed a military communications satellite under top-secret classification.
Crew members conducted classified experiments and tests on shuttle systems in orbit.
After four days, Atlantis returned to Earth with a nominal landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
STS-38 remains one of the most clandestine missions in NASA's shuttle program due to its undisclosed payload and objectives.
Space Shuttle Atlantis
STS-38
classified
Department of Defense
2001day.year
Microsoft launches the Xbox game console in North America.
Microsoft enters the gaming console market by launching the Xbox in North America, aiming to challenge established competitors.
On November 15, 2001, Microsoft officially launched the Xbox game console in North America.
This release marked the company's first venture into the highly competitive video game industry.
Featuring advanced graphics and an integrated hard drive, the Xbox set new technical standards for consoles at the time.
Microsoft positioned the Xbox as a premium gaming system, competing with Sony's PlayStation 2 and Nintendo's GameCube.
The launch laid the groundwork for Microsoft's long-term commitment to gaming and online services through Xbox Live.
Over time, the Xbox brand would grow into one of the leading platforms in the global gaming market.
2001
Microsoft
Xbox
North America