November 20

Events - Science & Technology

1985day.year

Microsoft Windows 1.0, the first graphical personal computer operating environment developed by Microsoft, is released.

On November 20, 1985, Microsoft released Windows 1.0, its first graphical operating environment for personal computers.
Microsoft Windows 1.0 debuted as a graphical user interface extension for MS-DOS, bringing windows, menus, and mouse support to PCs. It introduced basic applications such as Paint, Notepad, and Calculator within resizable windows. Though greeted with mixed reviews and limited hardware support, Windows 1.0 paved the way for future versions that would dominate the personal computer market. Its release marked Microsoft's shift toward user-friendly interfaces and foreshadowed the importance of GUI in computing. Over time, Windows evolved into a core platform for software development and home computing. Version 1.0 is now a milestone in the history of personal computing innovation.
1985 Microsoft Windows 1.0
1998day.year

The first space station module component, Zarya, for the International Space Station is launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

On this day in 1998, the first module for the International Space Station, Zarya, was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
On November 20, 1998, Russia launched the Zarya module, the first component of the International Space Station, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Zarya, known as the Functional Cargo Block, provided the station's initial power, propulsion, and guidance systems. The module carried solar arrays, fuel tanks, and control electronics essential for early ISS operations. Its successful deployment marked the start of one of the most ambitious international collaborations in space history. Over subsequent years, additional modules from NASA, ESA, and other partners expanded the station into a multi-national orbital laboratory.
Zarya International Space Station Baikonur Cosmodrome Kazakhstan