1996 – Robert (Bob) Brent Thirsk (M.D., P.Eng.)
is launched aboard STS-78. Born August 17 1953, in New Westminster, British Columbia, he served as Payload Specialist-2. Thirsk was one of the six Canadian astronauts selected in December 1983 and served as back up Payload Specialist to Marc Garneau for Mission 41-G in October 1984. In April 1995, Dr. Thirsk was selected to participate in the Life and Microgravity Spacelab mission. STS-78 orbited the earth 271 times. Mission duration: 16 days 21 hours 48 minutes. He holds the Canadian record for the most time spent in space.
1990 – 5261 Eureka, a Mars orbiting asteroid was discovered by David H. Levy and Henry Holt at Palomar Observatory.
1670 – CK Vulpeculae was discovered on June 20, 1670, by Voituret Anthelme and independently on July 25 by Johannes Hevelius.
Birthdays
1941 – Ulf Merbold born in Greiz, Thuringia, Germany
