1497 - Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama departs for on his first voyage - becomes first European to reach India by sea
1777 - Vermont introduces new constitution making it 1st US state to abolish slavery
1836 - HMS Beagle/Charles Darwin reaches Saint-Helena
1978 - Pioneer-Venus 2 Multi-probe launched to Venus
1979 - Voyager 2 takes 1st ever photo of Jupiter's satellite Adrastea (J14)
