On this date…Second American in orbit

OTD in 1994…Endeavour experienced an on-pad abort due to a main engine problem during startup

The launch of a nearly $2 billion joint mission robotic mission to Mercury by Europe and Japan will be delayed from next year to early 2017 to account for late deliveries of critical components and scientific instrumentation, according to the European Space Agency.

#OTD in 1995, Endeavour launched on the ASTRO-2 astronomy mission: