July 29 has seen royal weddings, space agency births, and pivotal moments in world affairs.
President Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, creating NASA to lead America's civilian space program. The agency would achieve the seemingly impossible goal of landing humans on the Moon within 11 years.
The wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul's Cathedral was watched by an estimated 750 million television viewers worldwide. The fairy-tale wedding captivated the world.
The English fleet, aided by storms, defeated the supposedly invincible Spanish Armada in the English Channel. The victory preserved English independence and Protestant rule, shifting the balance of naval power.
The Dutch post-impressionist painter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at age 37 in Auvers-sur-Oise, France. Largely unrecognized during his lifetime, van Gogh became one of the most influential artists in history.
A devastating fire aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal off Vietnam killed 134 sailors and injured 161. The tragedy led to major improvements in Navy firefighting and safety procedures.
King Olaf II of Norway was killed at the Battle of Stiklestad, fighting to reclaim his throne. He was later canonized as Saint Olaf and became the patron saint of Norway.
Astronomers announced the discovery of Eris, a trans-Neptunian object larger than Pluto. This discovery ultimately led to Pluto's controversial reclassification as a 'dwarf planet' by the IAU in 2006.