This Day in History: August 10

2003 Yuri Malenchenko becomes the first individual to get married in space

In a cosmic first, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko tied the knot with Ekaterina Dmitrieva while he was located on the International Space Station. Dmitrieva was in Texas at the time, and the extraordinary wedding was conducted through a NASA satellite hookup, marking a unique event in human history.

2001 Attack on a train in Angola's civil war leads to the death of around 250 people

In the turbulent times of the Angolan Civil War, rebels from the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) perpetrated a horrifying attack. They derailed a train using an anti-tank mine and unleashed a hail of gunfire on the passengers, culminating in the tragic loss of about 250 lives.

1990 The Magellan Space Probe is launched into Orbit Around Venus

The Magellan, the first spacecraft to be launched by a space shuttle, was a robotic space probe that was deployed to study the surface of Venus. For eight months, it gathered significant data on our planet's twin. The probe was launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida on May 4, 1989, by the Space Shuttle Atlantis to a low Earth orbit from where it was released towards Venus.

1944 End of the Battle of Narva

The Battle of Narva was an 8-day confrontation fought between the German Army and the Soviet Leningrad Front during the Second World War. It was a struggle for control over the strategic Narva Isthmus in Estonia, culminating in a decisive victory for the German forces.

1675 Laying of the foundation stone for the Royal Observatory, Greenwich

Initiated by King Charles II of England, the foundation stone for the Royal Observatory was laid in 1675. John Flamsteed, the first British Astronomer Royal, began operations at the observatory a year later. The location of the observatory is globally significant as the Prime Meridian passes through it.

612 BC Killing of King Sinsharishkun and destruction of Nineveh

In a notable historical event, Sinsharishkun, the King of the Assyrian Empire, was killed. This was followed by the destruction of Nineveh, marking a significant turning point in the history of the Assyrian Empire.

610 The traditional date of the Laylat al-Qadr in Islam

In Islam, this year traditionally marks the date of the Laylat al-Qadr, a significant night when Prophet Muhammad is believed to have started receiving revelations of the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam.

1497 John Cabot informs King Henry VII about his journey to "Asia"

Explorer John Cabot made a report to King Henry VII in 1497 about his journey. His destination, which he referred to as "Asia", marked a milestone in the era of exploration.

1846 Establishment of the Smithsonian Institution by an Act of Congress

In a crucial development for the promotion of learning and research, the US Congress passed an Act in 1846 that established the Smithsonian Institution. The institution has evolved into the world's most extensive museum and research complex over the years.