It's a day that gave India its first taste of another planet — the anniversary of the Mars Orbiter Mission's arrival in Mars orbit. It's also the anniversary of a founding act of American law, and of a country declaring itself free from Portugal a year before anyone abroad agreed.
On this day
1789President George Washington signs the Judiciary Act of 1789, establishing the U.S. Supreme Court, the federal court system and the office of Attorney General.Gilbert Stuart via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
1973Guinea-Bissau unilaterally declares independence from Portugal; Portugal does not formally recognise it until the following September.Aerra Carnicom via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
2014IndiaISRO's Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) enters Mars orbit, making India the first nation to succeed on its maiden attempt to reach Mars and the first Asian country to get there at all.Indian Space Research Organisation via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Did you know
Mangalyaan's entire mission cost about ₹450 crore (roughly $74 million) — less than the reported production budget of the Hollywood film "Gravity," released the same year.