December 12

On December 12, 1901, Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi successfully detected the Morse code letter 'S' sent from Cornwall, England. Using a wireless telegraphy system atop Signal Hill in St John's, Newfoundland, Marconi bridged the Atlantic without cables. This breakthrough proved that radio waves could travel beyond the horizon, defying conventional scientific beliefs. Marconi's achievement ushered in a new era of global communication, reducing reliance on submarine telegraph cables. His work laid the foundation for modern wireless technologies, from radio broadcasting to mobile communications. Today, Signal Hill commemorates this milestone with monuments and exhibits on the science of wireless transmission.

North Korea's first apparent orbital launch came on December 12, 2012, when the Unha-3 rocket carried Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2 into space. State media heralded the event as a triumph for national science and technology, celebrating the leadership of Kim Jong-un. Western governments condemned the launch as a disguised ballistic missile test, leading to renewed UN sanctions. Despite international controversy, North Korean officials claimed the satellite successfully entered its designated orbit and began broadcasting patriotic messages. The launch demonstrated Pyongyang's advancing rocket capabilities and its intention to compete in the field of space exploration. The event deepened geopolitical tensions on the Korean Peninsula, prompting regional powers to reassess missile defense strategies. The mission remains a key example of how space programs can be intertwined with political symbolism and military objectives.