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1963

Aboard Vostok 6, Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova (pictured) became the first woman in space

Aboard Vostok 6, Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova (pictured) became the first woman in space.

2021

Juneteenth National Independence Day, was signed into law by President Joe Biden, to become the first federal holiday es

Juneteenth National Independence Day, was signed into law by President Joe Biden, to become the first federal holiday established since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.

1985

Space Shuttle program: STS-51-G mission: Space Shuttle Discovery launches carrying Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Sa

Space Shuttle program: STS-51-G mission: Space Shuttle Discovery launches carrying Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the first Arab and first Muslim in space, as a payload specialist.

1967

Nuclear weapons testing: China announces a successful test of its first thermonuclear weapon

Nuclear weapons testing: China announces a successful test of its first thermonuclear weapon.

1901

The College Board introduces its first standardized test, the forerunner to the SAT

The College Board introduces its first standardized test, the forerunner to the SAT.

1843

The Wairau Affray, the first serious clash of arms between Māori and British settlers in the New Zealand Wars, takes pla

The Wairau Affray, the first serious clash of arms between Māori and British settlers in the New Zealand Wars, takes place.

1831

The steam locomotive Best Friend of Charleston causes the first boiler explosion caused by a steam locomotive

The steam locomotive Best Friend of Charleston causes the first boiler explosion caused by a steam locomotive.

1767

Samuel Wallis, a British sea captain, sights Tahiti and is considered the first European to reach the island

Samuel Wallis, a British sea captain, sights Tahiti and is considered the first European to reach the island.

1673

French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet reach the Mississippi River and become the first Europeans to make

French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet reach the Mississippi River and become the first Europeans to make a detailed account of its course.

2021

Kenneth Kaunda, Zambian educator and politician, first president of Zambia (born 1924)

Kenneth Kaunda, Zambian educator and politician, first president of Zambia (born 1924)

2019

Mohamed Morsi, Egyptian professor and politician, first elected president of Egypt after Egyptian revolution (born 1951)

Mohamed Morsi, Egyptian professor and politician, first elected president of Egypt after Egyptian revolution (born 1951)

1913

In Detroit, autoworkers for car manufacturer Studebaker went on strike in the American auto industry's first major strik

In Detroit, autoworkers for car manufacturer Studebaker went on strike in the American auto industry's first major strike action.

2006

The first Kazakh space satellite, KazSat-1 is launched

The first Kazakh space satellite, KazSat-1 is launched.

1983

Space Shuttle program: STS-7, Astronaut Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space

Space Shuttle program: STS-7, Astronaut Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space.

1928

Aviator Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly in an aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean (she is a passenger; Wilm

Aviator Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly in an aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean (she is a passenger; Wilmer Stultz is the pilot and Lou Gordon the mechanic).

1859

First ascent of Aletschhorn, second summit of the Bernese Alps

First ascent of Aletschhorn, second summit of the Bernese Alps.

1264

The Parliament of Ireland meets at Castledermot in County Kildare, the first definitively known meeting of this Irish le

The Parliament of Ireland meets at Castledermot in County Kildare, the first definitively known meeting of this Irish legislature.

1992

Kofoworola Abeni Pratt, the first black Chief Nursing Officer of Nigeria (born 1910)

Kofoworola Abeni Pratt, the first black Chief Nursing Officer of Nigeria (born 1910)

1983

Aboard Space Shuttle Challenger, astronaut Sally Ride became the first American woman and third one overall in space

Aboard Space Shuttle Challenger, astronaut Sally Ride became the first American woman and third one overall in space.

1978

Garfield's first comic strip, originally published locally as Jon in 1976, goes into nationwide syndication

Garfield's first comic strip, originally published locally as Jon in 1976, goes into nationwide syndication.