On This Day in Tech History

Apple introduced macOS X 10.9, which was code-named Mavericks, on June 10, 2013, at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco, California. macOS X 10.9 was the tenth major release of the macOS operating system, succeeding OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion and preceding OS X 10.10 Yosemite. Some of the new features introduced in macOS X 10.9 Mavericks included a redesigned Finder, better support for multiple displays, improved battery life, and enhancements to several built-in apps, such as Maps and Safari. Additionally, Mavericks introduced a new feature called "Tags," which allowed users to categorize files and folders on their Mac and easily find them using the Finder. Overall, macOS X 10.9 Mavericks was a significant update to the macOS operating system and helped to set the stage for future releases of macOS.

The European Commission did give the go-ahead for Croatia to become a member of the European Union on June 12, 2013, and the European Union did indeed approve the decision later that month. Croatia officially became the 28th member state of the European Union on July 1, 2013. As noted, Croatia was the second ex-Yugoslav country to join the EU, following Slovenia, which joined in 2004. The accession process for Croatia had been underway for several years prior to its official membership, and required the country to make significant progress in areas such as rule of law, economic development, and the protection of human rights. Since joining the EU, Croatia has continued to work on implementing reforms and meeting EU standards in various areas, including justice, public administration, and social policies. While the country has faced some challenges in these efforts, its membership in the EU has brought with it a range of benefits, including increased access to EU funding, greater opportunities for trade and investment, and the ability to participate in EU decision-making processes.

NASA's Opportunity Mars rover was one of the most successful space missions in history, having far outlasted its original 90-day mission duration by more than 14 years. However, on June 10, 2018, the rover sent its final signal to Earth, indicating that it had finally reached the end of its operational lifespan. Opportunity had been exploring the Martian surface since January 2004, and during its time on the red planet, it made numerous groundbreaking discoveries. One of its most significant finds was evidence that Mars was once covered in water, suggesting that the planet may have been capable of supporting life in the past. Over the years, the rover traveled more than 45 kilometers, taking tens of thousands of images and conducting countless scientific experiments. Its longevity and success were due in part to its innovative solar panels, which allowed it to continue functioning long after its initial mission duration had expired. Although Opportunity's mission has now come to an end, its legacy will live on for many years to come.

NASA launched Explorer 49, a satellite designed to study long-range radio waves in the Milky Way galaxy. The satellite, which was launched into a highly elliptical orbit around Earth, was equipped with a variety of scientific instruments that allowed it to measure and analyze radio emissions from celestial objects in the Milky Way. One of the primary goals of the Explorer 49 mission was to study the so-called "galactic background radiation," a type of radio emission that is thought to be produced by the interstellar medium. By analyzing this radiation, scientists hoped to gain new insights into the physical properties of the Milky Way, including the distribution of matter and the structure of its magnetic field. Explorer 49 also carried a number of other scientific instruments, including a magnetometer, an energetic particle detector, and a cosmic-ray telescope. These instruments allowed scientists to study a variety of phenomena in the near-Earth environment, including the Earth's magnetic field and the radiation environment in space. The Explorer 49 mission was highly successful, and the data it collected contributed significantly to our understanding of the Milky Way and the space environment around Earth.

Saab is a Swedish company that was founded in 1937 as an aircraft manufacturer. For many years, the company was known primarily for its production of fighter jets and other military aircraft. However, in 1947, Saab made a strategic decision to diversify its operations by entering the automobile industry. The first Saab automobile, the Saab 92, was introduced in 1949. The car was designed to be simple, reliable, and economical, with a lightweight chassis and a two-stroke engine. Despite some initial challenges, the Saab 92 was well-received by consumers and helped to establish Saab as a serious player in the automotive market. Over the years, Saab continued to innovate and introduce new models, including the Saab 99 and the Saab 900, which featured a turbocharged engine and a sleek, aerodynamic design. The company also developed a reputation for safety, with many of its models featuring advanced safety features like anti-lock brakes and airbags. Although Saab faced some financial difficulties in the early 21st century and eventually went bankrupt in 2011, the company's legacy as a pioneer in both the aircraft and automobile industries lives on.