Today in History on September 12th
1940 – Discovery of the Lascaux Cave Paintings:
On September 12, 1940, four teenagers stumbled upon the Lascaux Cave in southwestern France, which is home to one of the most famous collections of prehistoric cave paintings. These paintings, estimated to be around 17,000 years old, include images of large animals, human figures, and abstract signs.
1959 – Soviet Union's Luna 2 Reaches the Moon:
The Soviet spacecraft Luna 2 became the first human-made object to reach the Moon. It crash-landed on the lunar surface, marking a significant achievement in the Space Race. This mission was a major milestone for the Soviet Union, occurring during the Cold War.
1992 – Space Shuttle Endeavour Launches for Mission STS-47:
The Space Shuttle Endeavour was launched on September 12, 1992, on mission STS-47. This mission was notable for including Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman to travel in space, and Mamoru Mohri, the first Japanese astronaut on a U.S. mission.