Historical Events tagged with "atlantic ocean"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Accidents & Tragedies

SS El Faro Sinks During Hurricane Joaquin

October 1st, 2015 9 years ago

The American cargo vessel SS El Faro, carrying 33 crew members, sank after navigating directly into the eyewall of Hurricane Joaquin. The vessel, which was en route from Jacksonville, Florida to San Juan, Puerto Rico, lost power and succumbed to the storm's fury. Despite efforts to communicate distress, contact was ultimately lost, and a search operation was launched.

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Space Exploration

NASA's Ares I-X Launch Advances Space Exploration

October 28th, 2009 15 years ago

The Ares I-X mission was a test flight for NASA's Constellation program, aimed at developing new spacecraft for human spaceflight. Launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, this mission evaluated technologies and designs for the planned Ares I rocket. It lifted off successfully, reaching an altitude of approximately 36 kilometers before landing safely in the Atlantic Ocean, marking a significant milestone in NASA's efforts to return humans to the Moon and beyond.

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Accidents & Tragedies

Air France Flight 447 crashes into the Atlantic Ocean

June 1st, 2009 15 years ago

Air France Flight 447, operating from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean while cruising at an altitude of 35,000 feet. The flight lost contact minutes after takeoff and ultimately crashed into the ocean, killing all 228 people on board. The incident involved severe weather conditions during a thunderstorm, contributing to the loss of control encountered by the flight crew.

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Accidents & Tragedies

Prestige Tanker Sinks off Galicia Coast

November 19th, 2002 22 years ago

The Greek oil tanker Prestige sank off the coast of Galicia, releasing over 76,000 cubic meters of fuel into the Atlantic Ocean. The vessel suffered structural damage due to rough seas, prompting a distress call. Despite efforts to rescue the crew, the ship split in half and released vast amounts of oil, severely affecting marine life and coastal ecosystems in Spain and Portugal. Fishing industries and local economies faced devastating impacts, sparking environmental protests and political debates.

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Natural Disasters

MV Prestige Oil Spill Occurs Near Galicia

November 13th, 2002 22 years ago

The MV Prestige, an oil tanker, sank off the coast of Galicia after a storm ruptured its tanks, resulting in a massive oil spill. The vessel had been unable to dock due to safety concerns and eventually sank, releasing approximately 63,000 metric tons of heavy fuel oil into the Atlantic Ocean, significantly impacting the marine environment and local fishing industries.

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Accidents & Tragedies

Kenya Airways Flight 431 Ditches into Atlantic Ocean

January 30th, 2000 25 years ago

Kenya Airways Flight 431, a scheduled passenger flight from Abidjan, Ivory Coast to Nairobi, Kenya, encountered difficulties shortly after takeoff. The Boeing 737-800 lost control due to a failure in gaining altitude and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean approximately 10 miles off the Ivory Coast coast. This incident resulted in the deaths of all 169 passengers and crew on board, marking it as one of the worst aviation disasters in the region's history.

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Accidents & Tragedies

Kennedy Family Plane Crash in Atlantic Ocean

July 16th, 1999 25 years ago

John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, and her sister Lauren Bessette died when the plane he was piloting crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Martha's Vineyard. The aircraft was a Piper Saratoga II HP, and they were returning from New Jersey to Massachusetts. Despite extensive search efforts, the bodies were not recovered until days later.

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Military & Warfare

USS Scorpion Sinks in the Atlantic Ocean

May 22nd, 1968 56 years ago

The nuclear-powered submarine USS Scorpion sank 400 miles southwest of the Azores on May 22, 1968, with 99 crew members aboard. The vessel, part of the United States Navy, was on its return to Norfolk, Virginia, after undergoing repairs in the Mediterranean. The exact cause of the sinking is still debated, with potential factors including mechanical failure or an accident during operations. Despite the extensive search and rescue efforts, the wreckage was discovered later that year at a depth of over 10,000 feet in the Atlantic Ocean.

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Space Exploration

Gemini 12 Completes Final Gemini Mission

November 15th, 1966 58 years ago

Gemini 12 successfully completed the last mission of the Gemini program by splashing down safely in the Atlantic Ocean. Astronauts Jim Lovell and Edwin Aldrin embarked on this mission to conduct various experimental flights and to further perfect techniques for future space travel. The landing marked not only the concluding chapter of the Gemini project but also demonstrated significant advancements in space rendezvous and docking procedures, paving the way for future Apollo missions.

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