2024
Historic Tech Events
On September 17, 1976, NASA unveiled the first Space Shuttle, Enterprise, during a public ceremony at its assembly facility in Palmdale, California. Enterprise was the first of five orbiters built by NASA to be used for space exploration, and was named after the fictional starship from the popular TV show Star Trek. Although Enterprise never flew in space, it was used for a series of approach and landing tests that paved the way for future Space Shuttle missions. Its design and technology were revolutionary, allowing for reusable spacecraft that could be launched like a rocket and landed like a plane, drastically reducing the cost and complexity of space travel.
The Radio Corporation of America (RCA) announced that it would withdraw from the computer market due to intense competition and financial losses. RCA had been a major player in the computer industry in the 1950s and 1960s, developing the first commercial computer for business use, the RCA 501. However, by the early 1970s, the company struggled to keep up with the rapidly changing technology and increasing competition from other computer manufacturers. The decision to withdraw from the computer market marked the end of an era for RCA and highlighted the challenges that companies face in the fast-paced and constantly evolving world of technology.
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Constitutional Convention adopted the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787. The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States, outlining the framework of government and the rights and freedoms of citizens. It replaced the Articles of Confederation, which had been in effect since 1781 but were considered weak and ineffective. The Constitution established a federal system of government, dividing power between the federal government and the individual states, and created a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful. Today, the Constitution remains a foundational document of the United States and a symbol of democracy around the world.
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