1963day.year
The first push-button telephone goes into service.
The world’s first push-button telephone was introduced in 1963, replacing the rotary dial with a modern keypad.
On November 18, 1963, the Bell System rolled out the first commercial push-button telephone in Carnegie, Pennsylvania. The device used dual-tone multi-frequency signaling to register key presses instead of rotating a dial. This innovation significantly sped up dialing and improved user convenience. It also paved the way for automated switching systems and touch-tone services. Businesses and consumers quickly adopted the new phones for their efficiency. The push-button design remains a standard feature in telephony decades later.
1963
push-button telephone
1978day.year
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet makes its first flight, at the Naval Air Test Center in Maryland, United States.
The prototype McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet took its maiden flight in Maryland in 1978, heralding a new multirole fighter era.
On November 18, 1978, the first F/A-18 Hornet prototype soared from the runway at the U.S. Naval Air Test Center in Maryland. Developed jointly by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, this multirole jet combined fighter agility with ground-attack capability. Its advanced avionics, twin-engine design, and lightweight airframe set new standards for naval aviation. The Hornet’s successful maiden flight launched a rigorous testing and evaluation program. Eventually, the F/A-18 would become a backbone of U.S. Navy and Marine Corps air wings, prized for its versatility. Allied nations also adopted the Hornet, further cementing its legacy in modern military aviation.
1978
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet
Naval Air Test Center
Maryland
2013day.year
NASA launches the MAVEN probe to Mars.
NASA launches the MAVEN spacecraft to study Mars' upper atmosphere and climate history.
The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mission was launched by NASA on November 18, 2013, from Cape Canaveral. Its goal is to investigate how the Red Planet lost its early atmosphere and water to space. MAVEN carries eight scientific instruments to measure atmospheric composition, structure, and solar wind interactions. The data collected help scientists understand the processes that led to Mars' transition from a warm, wet world to the cold desert it is today. The mission has provided critical insights into atmospheric escape mechanisms and solar-mars coupling. MAVEN continues to orbit Mars and contributes to our broader knowledge of planetary habitability.
2013
NASA
MAVEN
Mars