September 12 has witnessed events that shaped history and celebrated personalities who made their mark. From space exploration to political upheavals, this day highlights significant milestones that continue to inspire and influence our world today.
1992: First African American Woman Goes into Space
On this day, Mae C. Jemison made history as the first African American woman in space. A trained physician, Jemison served as a Mission Specialist on STS-47, NASA's 50th space shuttle flight. Endeavour, on its second mission, carried Jemison into space, where she spent over 190 hours conducting experiments on weightlessness and motion sickness.
1974: Ethiopian Coup Ousts Emperor Haile Selassie
Emperor Haile Selassie was overthrown in a coup led by the Derg, a group of Ethiopian armed forces and law enforcement agencies. Selassie was imprisoned following the coup and passed away two years later. Revered by Rastafarians as a Messiah, Selassie’s legacy remains influential, particularly in the Rastafarian community.
1970: Soviet Union Launches Luna 16
Luna 16 was launched by the Soviet Union, marking a significant achievement in space exploration. The robotic probe was the first to land on the Moon and return with rock samples. Luna 16 successfully returned to Earth on September 24, adding valuable knowledge to lunar studies.
1953: Jacqueline Bouvier Marries John Fitzgerald Kennedy
The wedding of Jacqueline Bouvier and John F. Kennedy was a much-talked-about event, taking place in Newport, Rhode Island. At the time, Kennedy was serving as a Senator from Massachusetts. The marriage would lead to Kennedy’s historic presidency, beginning in 1960 after a victory over Richard Nixon.
1943: Gran Sasso Raid Conducted by German Paratroopers
In a daring operation ordered by Hitler, German paratroopers rescued Italian dictator Benito Mussolini from captivity. Known as the Gran Sasso Raid or Operation Eiche, the mission involved gliders landing at a ski resort where Mussolini was held. The operation successfully freed Mussolini, further entangling Italy in World War II.
Notable Births on This Day
- 1980: Yao Ming – Chinese, influential basketball player.
- 1967: Louis C.K. – American, renowned comedian and actor.
- 1956: Sam Brownback – American, significant politician and 46th Governor of Kansas.
- 1951: Bertie Ahern – Irish, prominent politician.
- 1892: Alfred A. Knopf, Sr. – American, esteemed publisher, founded Alfred A. Knopf Inc.
- 2014: Ian Paisley – Irish, influential minister and politician, 2nd First Minister of Northern Ireland.
- 2009: Norman Borlaug – American, renowned agronomist and Nobel Prize laureate.
- 2008: David Foster Wallace – American, acclaimed author.
- 2003: Johnny Cash – American, legendary singer-songwriter and actor.
- 1977: Robert Lowell – American, celebrated poet.
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