1778 - Captain Cook anchors at Alaska
1932 - Iraq gains full independence from Britain, joins League of Nations
1942 - Launch of 1st A-4/V-2 rocket to altitude of 53 miles (85 km). The first successful launch of a V-2 / A4-rocket from Test Stand VII at Peenemünde, Germany. It is the first man-made object to reach space.
1947 - 1st telescope lens 200" (508 cm) in diameter completed
1985 - Space Shuttle Atlantis (Mission STS-51-J) makes its maiden flight.
1990 - Re-unification of Germany: the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) ceases to exist and its territory becomes part of the Federal Republic of Germany. German Unity Day
