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Armstrong and Aldrin land on Moon
On July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made history by becoming the first humans to land on the moon during NASA’s Apollo 11 mission. Armstrong’s iconic words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” marked the culmination of intense scientific and engineering efforts. While this momentous event is…
Read MoreUCLA students and professor send first message over ARPANET
On October 29, 1969, a team of researchers led by Professor Leonard Kleinrock at UCLA sent the first message over ARPANET, the precursor to the modern Internet. The message, intended to be “LOGIN,” crashed the system after just the first two letters, “LO,” were successfully transmitted to Stanford Research Institute (SRI). Despite this initial hiccup,…
Read MoreIslands on the Air
In 1964, the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) initiated the Islands on the Air (IOTA) program, designed to stimulate interest in contacting and activating island locations worldwide. IOTA encourages amateur radio operators to venture to remote islands and make radio contacts, promoting DXpeditions and fostering a spirit of adventure and exploration. Participants earn awards…
Read MoreOSCAR 1, first orbital amateur radio satellite launched
On December 12, 1961, the first orbital amateur radio satellite, OSCAR 1 (Orbital Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio), was launched. Developed by Project OSCAR, a group of California-based radio amateurs, the satellite was carried into orbit as a secondary payload aboard a Thor-Agena rocket. OSCAR 1 transmitted a simple beacon signal on the 144 MHz amateur…
Read MoreFirst logged two-way contact bouncing off the Moon
On July 17, 1960, the first logged two-way contact via the moon, known as Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) or moonbounce communication, was achieved on the 1296 MHz frequency. This historic event involved the successful exchange of signals between American radio amateurs William L. Stearns (K6DUE) and Raymond Heald (W5LUA). Utilizing the moon as a natural satellite reflector,…
Read More73 Magazine launched
In October 1960, “73 Magazine” was launched by Wayne Green, becoming a seminal publication in the amateur radio community. Known for its tagline “73,” a commonly used sign-off in ham radio meaning “best regards,” the magazine quickly gained popularity for its in-depth technical articles, project guides, and editorials. It served as a vital resource for…
Read MoreFairchild Semiconductor builds first integrated-circuit transistor
In 1960, Fairchild Semiconductor built the first commercially viable integrated-circuit transistor, marking a significant technological breakthrough. The pioneering work of engineer Robert Noyce led to the development of this integrated circuit (IC), which combined multiple transistors and other electronic components on a single silicon chip. This innovation revolutionized electronics by drastically reducing the size, cost,…
Read MoreAtalla and Kahng invent MOSFET
In 1959, Mohamed Atalla and Dawon Kahng at Bell Labs invented the Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor (MOSFET). This groundbreaking development revolutionized the field of electronics by providing a highly efficient, scalable, and cost-effective transistor technology. The MOSFET’s ability to operate at high speeds with low power consumption made it a fundamental component in modern electronics, including…
Read More11 meters taken from amateur use to create CB
In 1958, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reallocated the 11-meter band (26.965-27.405 MHz) from amateur radio use to create the Citizens Band (CB) Radio Service. This decision aimed to provide a radio service for personal and business communication that did not require an operator license. The introduction of CB radio allowed the general public to…
Read MoreSputnik
On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the world’s first artificial satellite, into orbit. This historic event marked the beginning of the space age and significantly impacted global communications and scientific research. Sputnik 1’s launch demonstrated the feasibility of space-based communication, inspiring advancements in satellite technology. For amateur radio operators, Sputnik’s beeping…
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