Today in 20th Century Tech History

February 8 in 20th century tech history

In 1928: John Logie Baird successfully transmits an electromechanical television image across the Atlantic Ocean via shortwave radio from London to Hartsdale, New York.

In 1974: After 84 days in space, the crew of the first American space station, Skylab, return to Earth.

In 1978: Proceedings of the United States Senate are broadcast on radio for the first time.

February 7 in 20th century tech history

In 1984: Astronauts Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart make first untethered spacewalks using the Manned Maneuvering Unit during Space Shuttle mission STS-41-B.

February 6 in 20th century tech history

In 1959: Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments files the first patent for an integrated circuit.

In 1959: The Titan intercontinental ballistic missile is successfully fired for the first time at Cape Canaveral.

February 5 in 20th century tech history

In 1924: The Royal Greenwich Observatory begins broadcasting the hourly time signals known as the Greenwich Time Signal or "BBC pips".

In 1971: Astronauts Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell land at the Fra Mauro formation on the Moon as part of the Apollo 14 mission.

In 1974: Space probe Mariner 10 returns the first close-up photos of the cloud structure of Venus. It is also the first time a spacecraft uses a gravity assist from one planet to help it reach another planet, as Mariner 10 goes on to visit Mercury in March.

February 4 in 20th century tech history

In 1936: Radium E becomes the first radioactive element to be made synthetically, by J. J. Livingood at the University of California.

In 1957: USS Nautilus, the first nuclear-powered submarine, logs her 60,000th nautical mile, matching the endurance of the fictional Nautilus described in Jules Verne's novel " 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea".

February 3 in 20th century tech history

In 1918: The two mile long Twin Peaks Tunnel in San Francisco begins service as the longest streetcar tunnel in the world.

In 1966: The unmanned Soviet Luna 9 spacecraft makes the first controlled soft landing on the Moon.

February 2 in 20th century tech history

In 1974: The F-16 Fighting Falcon flies for the first time.