 "On 3 February 1966, the Luna 9 spacecraft became the first spacecraft to achieve a soft landing on the Moon and return imagery from its surface. Illustration: Santanu Kumar Santan")
February 3 is an important day in history as several exceptional events took place on this day across the world.
In our ongoing series History Today , we dive deeper into the first spacecraft to make a landing on the Moon and the biggest stories that took place on this day.
Firstly, the Soviet Union’s Luna 9 became the first spacecraft to make a soft landing on the Moon in 1966. In 1972, the deadliest snowstorm occurred in Iran. On this day in 1815, the world’s first commercial cheese factory opened in Switzerland.
Let us take a closer look at what has happened on this day over the years.
Luna 9 becomes first spacecraft to soft land on Moon
On this day in 1966, the Luna 9 mission marked a pivotal moment in the Space Race, as the Soviet Union achieved the first-ever soft landing on the Moon.
This groundbreaking feat showcased Soviet technological prowess, transmitting the first close-up images of the lunar surface back to Earth. The images provided crucial data, confirming the Moon’s surface could support future landings, including those carrying humans.
Luna 9’s success paved the way for subsequent lunar exploration and remains a landmark achievement in space exploration history.
The 1972 Iran Blizzard took place
One of the deadliest snowstorms in history occurred on this day in 1972. The blizzard, which took place from February 3 to February 9, devastated large parts of the country, particularly in the northwestern, central, and southern regions.
As much as 26 feet (7.9 metres) of snow layered in some areas, completely burying entire villages under thick snowdrifts. It resulted in the loss of around 4,000 lives, making it the deadliest snowstorm ever recorded.
The temperatures plummeted to -25 degrees Celsius (-13 degrees Fahrenheit), and strong winds created massive snow drifts, cutting off thousands from food, water and medical supplies. Some remote villages were completely wiped out, with no survivors found after the snow melted.
The blizzard remains a stark reminder of nature’s power and the catastrophic impact extreme weather events can have on vulnerable communities.
World’s first commercial cheese factory opened in Switzerland
The world’s first commercial cheese factory began operating in Switzerland in 1815 marking a significant milestone in dairy production.
The factory, located in the canton of Schwyz, changed the face of cheese production from traditional small-scale, farmhouse production to an organized and commercial operation. It specialised in producing Swiss cheese, particularly varieties like Emmental, which later gained global popularity.
The factory’s innovative approach standardised production techniques, ensuring consistent quality and efficiency. This development laid the foundation for the modern dairy industry, inspiring similar establishments across Europe and eventually in the United States.
This Day, That Year
American lawyer and judge Alberto R. Gonzales became the first Hispanic to be sworn in as the attorney general of the United States in 2005.
On this day in 1924, former US president Woodrow Wilson died at the age of 67.
In 1913, the Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, granting Congress the authority to levy income taxes, was ratified.