Archive for 2024
Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster
February 1, 2003
The Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrates during reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere, killing all seven astronauts aboard. The cause of the disaster was a piece of foam insulation the size of a small briefcase that broke off the external tank during launch and struck the leading edge of the left wing. This damaged the Shuttle’s thermal protection system (TPS), which protected it from heat generated by the atmosphere during re-entry. The damage allowed hot gases to penetrate and destroy the internal wing structure, resulting in the in-flight breakup of the Columbia.
286 Processor Introduced
February 1, 1982
The Intel 80286 processor is introduced in 6 and 8 MHz versions. It was employed for the IBM PC/AT, introduced in 1984, and then widely used in most PC/AT compatible computers until the early 1990s. The “286”, as it was most commonly called, paved the way for the PC (and now Macintosh) as we know it today.
First Working Prototype of Rotary Engine
February 1, 1957
Felix Wankel‘s first working prototype DKM 54 of the Wankel engine runs in Germany. The Wankel engine is more commonly referred to as the “rotary engine”, because it is the most successful design of such an engine, although there are other engines that are considered rotary. The most common use of the Wankel engine is by Mazda in their RX series of cars.
First Movie Studio Completed
February 1, 1893
Thomas A. Edison finishes construction of the first motion picture studio, the Black Maria (officially known as the Kinetographic Theater) in West Orange, New Jersey. The name Black Maria came from a slang term for police wagons, also known as paddywagons, which were similarly cramped, uncomfortable, and dark.
SBC Buys AT&T; The Learner Becomes the Master
January 31, 2005
SBC announced that it would purchase AT&T Corp. for more than $16 billion. This completed (maybe) the long and sordid tale of the old AT&T company after their breakup in 1984. SBC, one of the original “baby bells”, renamed itself AT&T after the merger, confusing nearly everyone in the world as to which company was which anymore.
First Ape into Space
January 31, 1961
50 years ago today, Ham the Chimp travels into outer space aboard Mercury-Redstone 2. Ham (whom was named this only after he survived the flight) was the first ape to fly into space. Note that apes include chimpanzees, gorillas, and humans, but NOT monkeys.
The First American Satellite Launches Into Orbit
January 31, 1958
Explorer 1 is launched, which becomes the first American satellite to successfully make orbit.
Windows Vista Released; Users Exodus
January 30, 2007
Six years after the launch of Windows XP, the infamous operating system, Windows Vista, was released to an unsuspecting public. For various reasons, the launch of Vista was marred by numerous incompatibility, stability, and otherwise onerous problems. While Microsoft actually made Vista much more palatable after 2 Service Pack upgrades, the damage was already done. Vista’s reputation never recovered. Many wonder if this is why Microsoft so quickly followed only two years later with Windows 7.
First Super Bowl in HD
January 30, 2000
Super Bowl XXXIV: The St. Louis Rams beat the Tennessee Titans, 23-16 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. This was the first Super Bowl to be broadcast in High Definition. And after living in New Orleans then St. Louis and suffering through the Saints, Cardinals, and Rams, it was the first time my home team won the Super Bowl (actually, it was the first time any of my home teams won any major sports championship).
First Computer Virus Written
January 30, 1982
Richard Skrenta writes the first PC virus code, which is 400 lines long and disguised as an Apple II boot program called “Elk Cloner“.