On This Day: Key Events on June 10

On This Day: Key Events on June 10

1752: Benjamin Franklin’s Kite Experiment

American inventor and scientist Benjamin Franklin conducted his famous kite experiment, demonstrating the electrical nature of lightning. By flying a kite with a wet string and a key attached, he showed that electrical charge could be collected from the clouds.

2003: NASA’s Spirit Rover Lands on Mars

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) successfully landed its Spirit rover on the surface of Mars. The mission marked the beginning of the exploration of the Red Planet by robotic rovers, providing valuable data on its geology and potential for life.

1944: Normandy Landings

Allied forces launched a massive invasion of Normandy, France, on D-Day. The landings, codenamed Operation Overlord, were a critical turning point in World War II and led to the eventual liberation of Western Europe.

1963: Valentina Tereshkova Becomes First Woman in Space

Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to travel into space. She spent three days in orbit aboard the Vostok 6 spacecraft, setting a record for the longest spaceflight by a woman.

2013: Edward Snowden Leaks NSA Surveillance Programs

Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden revealed classified information about the agency’s surveillance programs, sparking a global debate about privacy and government overreach. The leaks had significant implications for national security and international relations.

Keywords:

Benjamin Franklin
Kite experiment
NASA
Spirit rover
Mars exploration
Normandy Landings
D-Day
Valentina Tereshkova
First woman in space
Edward Snowden
NSA surveillance
Privacy
Government overreach