On this day

18 October in history.

5 moments from 1963 to 2019: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

Preparing a Véronique-AGI sounding rocket in the Algerian city of Reggane circa 1962.

1963

Félicette becomes the first cat in space. A French Véronique rocket carried a cat, later named Félicette, into space. She was the first cat ever to make the trip.

Wikipedia: Félicette

Photo: Eric Salard / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

More from 18 October

  1. Mockup (1:3) of the spacecraft Venera 4 at Memorial Museum of Astronautics (Moscow).

    1967

    Venera 4 studies another planet up close

    The Soviet probe Venera 4 became the first spacecraft to measure the conditions inside another planet's atmosphere, on Venus.

    Wikipedia: Venera 4Wikipedia: In situWikipedia: Venus

    Photo: Armael / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

  2. Bob Beamon, 1992

    1968

    Bob Beamon's record-breaking leap

    At the Mexico City Olympics, American athlete Bob Beamon jumped 8.90 metres in the long jump. His world record stood for 23 years.

    Wikipedia: 1968 Summer OlympicsWikipedia: Bob BeamonWikipedia: Athletics at the 1968 Summer Olympics – Men's long jump

    Photo: Chell Hill / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

  3. Alexander McQueen (17 March 1969 – 11 February 2010), British fashion designer, at his Fall 2009 collection.

    1993

    Alexander McQueen's first runway show

    British designer Alexander McQueen staged Nihilism in London, his first professional fashion show.

    Wikipedia: Nihilism (collection)Wikipedia: Alexander McQueen

    Photo: Ed Kavishe / fashionwirepress.com / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

  4. NASA Space suits on display at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston .

    2019

    The first all-woman spacewalk

    NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Christina Koch made the first spacewalk by an all-female team, stepping outside the International Space Station to replace a power controller.

    Wikipedia: NASA Astronaut CorpsWikipedia: Jessica MeirWikipedia: Christina Koch

    Photo: Carol M. Highsmith / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Moments chosen for discovery, creativity and courage. Each one links to a source where you can read more; photos are credited to their owners.