2 February
2000: On 2 February 2000, it was announced that ESA's XMM-Newton spacecraft had taken its first pictures giving new views of the Universe.
27 FEB. 2004
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1966: On 3 February 1966, the unmanned Soviet Luna 9 spacecraft landed safely on the Moon. It was the first ever soft landing on another celestial body.
It opened the way for manned trips to the Moon, by removing doubts that the surface was unsafe quicksand.
On landing, the probe ejected a capsule which then rolled upright and unfolded four spring actuated petals to steady itself. A TV camera with a revolving mirror system enabled Luna 9 to take pictures, including panoramic views of the lunar landscape and closer views of nearby rocks. These were transmitted back to Earth until 6 February when the batteries ran out and contact with the spacecraft was lost.
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1 February
2003: On 1 February 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia was lost and seven NASA astronauts perished.
31 January
1958: On 31 January 1958, the first American satellite was launched.
30 January
2004: On 30 January 2004, ESA's Envisat satellite completed its ten thousandth orbit around Earth.
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