1904day.year
The Jovian moon Himalia is discovered by Charles Dillon Perrine at California's Lick Observatory.
Charles Dillon Perrine discovers the Jovian moon Himalia at Lick Observatory.
Astronomer Charles Dillon Perrine discovered the Jovian moon Himalia at Lick Observatory on December 3, 1904. Himalia is one of Jupiter's irregular satellites, characterized by its distant, inclined orbit. Perrine's observation expanded the known family of Jovian moons and advanced the study of planetary satellites. The discovery demonstrated the power of telescopic technology and careful observation techniques. Himalia's identification added to the scientific understanding of Jupiter's complex system. Subsequent observations have refined its orbital parameters and provided insights into its composition.
1904
Jovian moon
Himalia
Charles Dillon Perrine
Lick Observatory
1910day.year
Modern neon lighting is first demonstrated by Georges Claude at the Paris Motor Show.
Georges Claude unveils modern neon lighting for the first time at the Paris Motor Show.
Modern neon lighting was first demonstrated by engineer Georges Claude at the Paris Motor Show on December 3, 1910. Claude used sealed glass tubes filled with neon gas to produce brilliant red-orange light when electrified. This innovation captured wide public attention and revolutionized commercial signage. Neon signs soon became iconic features of urban landscapes around the world. The demonstration marked the dawn of a new era in illumination technology. Neon lighting's vibrant glow influenced advertising, art, and cityscapes throughout the twentieth century.
1910
neon lighting
Georges Claude
Paris Motor Show
1965day.year
Soviet Union, Space probe of the Luna program, called Luna 8, is launched, but crashes on the Moon.
The Soviet spacecraft Luna 8 was launched on December 3, 1965, in a mission intended to land softly on the Moon but ended in a crash.
On December 3, 1965, the Soviet Union launched Luna 8 as part of its Luna lunar exploration program.
The probe was designed to achieve a controlled soft landing on the Moon's surface.
Despite a successful launch and trajectory burn, Luna 8's landing sequence malfunctioned.
The spacecraft crashed upon descent, scattering debris but collecting valuable engineering data.
Lessons learned from Luna 8 paved the way for subsequent successful lunar landers.
1965
Soviet Union
Space probe
Luna program
Luna 8
1967day.year
At Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, a transplant team headed by Christiaan Barnard carries out the first heart transplant on a human (53-year-old Louis Washkansky).
The world's first human heart transplant was performed on December 3, 1967, by Dr. Christiaan Barnard in Cape Town.
On December 3, 1967, Professor Christiaan Barnard and his surgical team at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town performed the first successful human-to-human heart transplant.
Their patient, 53-year-old Louis Washkansky, received a donor heart from a young woman who had suffered fatal injuries.
The groundbreaking operation lasted approximately five hours and demonstrated the feasibility of replacing a failing heart.
Washkansky initially showed signs of recovery but succumbed to pneumonia 18 days later due to immunosuppressive challenges.
This pioneering procedure opened a new frontier in transplant medicine and spurred rapid advancements in immunology.
1967
Groote Schuur Hospital
Cape Town
Christiaan Barnard
heart transplant
Louis Washkansky
1973day.year
Pioneer program: Pioneer 10 sends back the first close-up images of Jupiter.
NASA's Pioneer 10 spacecraft transmitted the first close-up images of Jupiter on December 3, 1973.
On December 3, 1973, the Pioneer 10 probe, launched by NASA in March 1972, returned the first detailed photographs of Jupiter's cloud tops.
The images revealed complex storm systems and provided unprecedented views of the planet's Great Red Spot.
Data from Pioneer 10 confirmed theories about Jupiter's intense radiation belts and magnetic field.
This milestone expanded our understanding of the gas giant and guided future missions like Voyager and Galileo.
Pioneer 10 continued sending data until 2003, making it one of the longest-serving spacecraft in history.
1973
Pioneer program
Pioneer 10
Jupiter
1992day.year
A test engineer for Sema Group uses a personal computer to send the world's first text message via the Vodafone network to the phone of a colleague.
A test engineer from the Sema Group sent the first SMS text message over the Vodafone network, marking the birth of mobile texting.
On December 3, 1992, a test engineer from the Sema Group became the first person in the world to send an SMS text message over the Vodafone network. The short message, simply reading 'Merry Christmas', was sent from a computer to a colleague’s mobile phone. At that time, mobile handsets lacked full keyboards, so texting had to be done via external devices. This pioneering event demonstrated the potential of SMS as a new channel for personal communication. Text messaging soon exploded in popularity, becoming an essential feature of mobile phones throughout the 1990s. The innovation laid the groundwork for modern instant messaging and fundamentally changed how people connect on the go.
Sema Group
text message
Vodafone
1994day.year
Sony releases the PlayStation game console in Japan.
Sony launched the PlayStation console in Japan, introducing 3D gaming and a CD-ROM format that revolutionized home entertainment.
On December 3, 1994, Sony Computer Entertainment introduced the PlayStation, its first entry into the home video game console market. Featuring groundbreaking 3D graphics, a multimedia CD-ROM format, and an innovative controller design, the PlayStation distinguished itself from competitors. The console quickly captured consumer interest with titles like 'Ridge Racer' and 'Battle Arena Toshinden'. Within months, it became a commercial success, redefining expectations for interactive entertainment. Sony’s entry disrupted an industry previously dominated by other manufacturers and sparked intense competition. The PlayStation’s launch laid the foundation for one of the most successful gaming platforms in history, eventually selling over 100 million units worldwide.
Sony
PlayStation
1999day.year
NASA loses radio contact with the Mars Polar Lander moments before the spacecraft enters the Martian atmosphere.
NASA's Mars Polar Lander disappears from contact just before entering the Martian atmosphere.
The mission's final moments remain one of NASA's enduring enigmas.
On December 3, 1999, NASA's Mars Polar Lander approached Mars for its entry, descent, and landing phase.
Seconds before reaching the Martian atmosphere, all radio signals from the spacecraft abruptly ceased.
The mission's objective was to study ice-rich soil at the planet's south pole and search for signs of water.
Despite extensive analysis of telemetry data and failure modes, the precise cause of the communication loss remains unknown.
The incident prompted NASA to implement more rigorous testing and improved fault protection for subsequent missions.
Mars Polar Lander's silent disappearance stands as a reminder of the challenges inherent in interplanetary exploration.
1999
NASA
Mars Polar Lander
Martian atmosphere
2005day.year
XCOR Aerospace makes the first crewed rocket aircraft delivery of U.S. Mail in Kern County, California.
XCOR Aerospace conducts the first crewed rocket-powered mail delivery over California's Kern County.
On December 3, 2005, XCOR Aerospace achieved a milestone by using its EZ-Rocket to carry U.S. Mail in a crewed rocket aircraft.
The flight took place in Kern County, California, demonstrating the potential of rocket-powered vehicles for rapid mail delivery.
This pioneering mission showcased innovative propulsion technology and opened discussions about future commercial space logistics.
Although still experimental, the achievement highlighted the versatility of reusable rocket aircraft beyond traditional aerospace applications.
The event underscored the growing role of private companies in advancing spaceflight and supporting governmental postal services.
While rocket mail has yet to become mainstream, XCOR's demonstration remains a landmark in hybrid aviation history.
2005
XCOR Aerospace
first crewed rocket aircraft delivery of U.S. Mail
Kern County, California
2014day.year
The Japanese space agency, JAXA, launches the space explorer Hayabusa2 from the Tanegashima Space Center on a six-year round trip mission to an asteroid to collect rock samples.
JAXA launches Hayabusa2 on a six-year mission to an asteroid to gather rock samples.
On December 3, 2014, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully launched the Hayabusa2 mission from Tanegashima Space Center.
This round-trip expedition is aimed at visiting the asteroid Ryugu to collect precious rock samples and return them to Earth.
Equipped with advanced sampling devices and scientific instruments, Hayabusa2 represents a leap forward in sample-return technology.
The mission will study the asteroid's composition, offering insights into the early solar system's formation.
Hayabusa2's journey includes deploying rovers and impactors to explore the asteroid's surface in unprecedented detail.
Results from this mission are expected to shed light on organic compounds and water delivery to Earth-like planets.
2014
JAXA
Hayabusa2
Tanegashima Space Center
asteroid