Inventions, firsts, and turning points tied to today’s date — each one sourced and dated.
A stray Moscow dog rode Sputnik 2 into orbit in 1957, proving life could survive launch even as her own return was never planned.
In just one month the Soviets jumped from an 84-kilogram beach ball to a half-ton spacecraft carrying a living dog.
When Colombia balked at a canal treaty, Panama broke away in a near-bloodless revolt that Washington was happy to encourage.
