November 28

Events - Science & Technology

1520day.year

After 38 days, an expedition under the command of Ferdinand Magellan completes the first passage through the Strait of Magellan and enters the Pacific Ocean.

Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition achieved the first navigation through the treacherous Strait of Magellan into the Pacific Ocean.
On 11 November 1520, after 38 grueling days of navigation, Ferdinand Magellan’s fleet succeeded in traversing the narrow southern passage later named the Strait of Magellan. This route, carved by unpredictable winds and violent currents at the tip of South America, linked the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans for the first time. The passage opened a new western maritime corridor to Asia, revolutionizing global trade routes. Magellan’s sailors endured starvation, disease, and mutinies before emerging into the vast Pacific. Their accomplishment expanded the horizons of European exploration and underscored the perils of early seafaring ventures.
1520 Ferdinand Magellan Strait of Magellan
1660day.year

At Gresham College, twelve men, including Christopher Wren, Robert Boyle, John Wilkins, and Sir Robert Moray decide to found what is later known as the Royal Society.

A gathering at Gresham College set the stage for the founding of the Royal Society of London.
On 11 November 1660, twelve scholars and natural philosophers met at Gresham College in London, including Christopher Wren, Robert Boyle, John Wilkins, and Sir Robert Moray. Their discussions laid the groundwork for a formal society dedicated to experimental science and knowledge sharing. With royal patronage secured shortly thereafter, this group evolved into the Royal Society, one of the first institutions to promote empirical research. The Society’s founding marked a turning point in the Scientific Revolution, fostering collaboration across disciplines. Its model of peer-reviewed publication and public lectures remains central to modern scientific practice.
1660 Gresham College Christopher Wren Robert Boyle John Wilkins Robert Moray Royal Society
1814day.year

The Times of London becomes the first newspaper to be produced on a steam-powered printing press, built by the German team of Koenig & Bauer.

In 1814, The Times of London became the first newspaper printed on a steam-powered press devised by Koenig & Bauer, revolutionizing news production.
On November 28, 1814, the London daily newspaper The Times pioneered industrial printing by adopting a steam-powered press built by German engineers Friedrich Koenig and Andreas Bauer. The new technology dramatically increased the speed and volume of printed pages, reducing costs and expanding circulation. Previously reliant on hand-operated presses, newspapers could now meet growing public demand for timely information. Koenig & Bauer’s design also improved print clarity and reliability, setting a global standard for the industry. This breakthrough played a critical role in the rise of mass media and the democratization of knowledge during the 19th century. The innovation laid the foundation for modern high-speed printing techniques still in use today.
1814 The Times printing press Koenig & Bauer
1958day.year

First successful flight of SM-65 Atlas; the first operational intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), developed by the United States and the first member of the Atlas rocket family.

On November 28, 1958, the U.S. achieved the first successful test flight of the SM-65 Atlas, its inaugural operational ICBM.
The Atlas missile was designed as America’s first operational intercontinental ballistic missile. On this date, the SM-65 Atlas completed its maiden flight from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The launch validated the missile’s stage-and-a-half design and thrust-vector control systems. Data from the test advanced guidance, propulsion, and re-entry technologies for long-range delivery. The Atlas program later served as the launch vehicle for Project Mercury astronauts. Its success marked a milestone in both military deterrence and the emerging space race.
SM-65 Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile United States Atlas rocket family
1964day.year

Mariner program: NASA launches the Mariner 4 probe toward Mars.

On November 28, 1964, NASA launched Mariner 4 toward Mars, initiating humanity’s first successful planetary flyby.
Mariner 4 was tasked with photographing Mars and measuring its atmosphere and environment. The probe lifted off from Cape Kennedy on a mission to gather unprecedented data on the red planet. During its seven-month cruise, Mariner 4 transmitted information on space radiation and solar conditions. On July 14, 1965, it completed the first-ever close flyby of Mars, sending back 21 images showing a cratered landscape. The mission revolutionized understanding of Mars and validated deep-space communication techniques. Mariner 4’s success paved the way for future exploration of our planetary neighbor.
1964 Mariner program NASA Mariner 4 Mars
1967day.year

The first pulsar (PSR B1919+21, in the constellation of Vulpecula) is discovered by two astronomers Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Antony Hewish.

In 1967, astronomers Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Antony Hewish announced the discovery of the first pulsar, PSR B1919+21, in the constellation Vulpecula.
Using the radio telescope at Cambridge University, Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Antony Hewish detected a regular pulsing radio signal on November 28, 1967. This object, later named PSR B1919+21, was identified as a rapidly rotating neutron star emitting beams of radiation. The discovery revolutionized astrophysics by confirming the existence of neutron stars predicted by theory. Pulsars became vital tools for testing general relativity and probing the interstellar medium. Bell Burnell's painstaking analysis of the data set a new standard for observational astronomy. This breakthrough earned Hewish a share of the Nobel Prize and cemented pulsars' role in modern space science.
1967 pulsar PSR B1919+21 Vulpecula Jocelyn Bell Burnell Antony Hewish
1983day.year

Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on STS-9, the first mission to carry the European Space Agency's Spacelab module.

On November 28, 1983, NASA launched Space Shuttle Columbia on mission STS-9, carrying the European Space Agency’s first Spacelab module.
STS-9 marked the first flight of Europe’s Spacelab laboratory in orbit. Columbia lifted off from Kennedy Space Center with a seven-member international crew. The Spacelab module provided a pressurized environment for microgravity experiments in medicine, biology, and materials science. Researchers conducted over 70 experiments during the 10-day mission, advancing knowledge in multiple scientific fields. STS-9 demonstrated the viability of international collaboration in space research. The mission paved the way for future Spacelab flights and contributes to the legacy of the International Space Station. Columbia's success on STS-9 reaffirmed the shuttle’s role as a versatile scientific platform.
1983 Space Shuttle Columbia STS-9 European Space Agency Spacelab