Knowledge Spectra

1965: Ranger 8 Mission to the Moon Ranger 8 successfully completed its mission to photograph potential Apollo program landing sites before intentionally crashing into the Moon on February 20, 1965.…

1962: John Glenn Orbits the Earth On February 20, 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth aboard the Friendship 7 spacecraft, completing three orbits in four…

1909: Publication of The Futurist Manifesto The Futurist Manifesto, authored by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, was published in the French newspaper Le Figaro on February 20, 1909. This manifesto marked the…

1792: Establishment of the United States Postal Service On February 20, 1792, the United States Postal Service (USPS) was established by the Postal Service Act. This pivotal legislation created a…

International Tug-of-War Day February 19 is celebrated as International Tug-of-War Day, a day dedicated to the traditional sport that pits two teams against each other in a test of strength…

2002: NASA's Odyssey Spacecraft Maps Mars NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft began its scientific mapping mission of Mars on February 19, 2002. After entering orbit around Mars in October 2001, Odyssey…

1985: Iberia Airlines Flight 610 Crashes On February 19, 1985, Iberia Airlines Flight 610 crashed into Mount Oiz in Spain, killing all 148 passengers and crew onboard. The Boeing 727…

1957: Birth of Falco Falco, born Johann Hölzel on February 19, 1957, in Vienna, Austria, became one of the most celebrated musicians of the 1980s. Known for his unique blend…

1945: U.S. Troops Land on Iwo Jima On February 19, 1945, U.S. Marines made a historic landing on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima, marking the beginning of one of…

2005: Kyoto Protocol Enters into Force The Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty aimed at combating global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, came into force on February 16, 2005. Ratified…