Good News in History, December 15

11 years ago today, China became the third nation to land a rover on the moon with their Chang’e-3 orbiter and rover. The soft landing it achieved was the first on the moon since the Soviets in 1976. Landing in a molten crater called Sinus Ilium, it was to carry out some surveying and geology, during which it discovered a new kind of basaltic rock. READ more… (2013)nnnn

nnThe rover was named Yutu (Chinese: 玉兔; lit. ‘Jade Rabbit’) following an online poll, after the mythological rabbit that lives on the Moon as a pet of the Moon goddess.nnThis mythological tone continued at the landing site of Chang’e-3, which was named “Guang Han Gong（广寒宫) (Guang: widely, extensively; Han: cold, freezing; Gong: Palace) ” or “Moon Palace” by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Three nearby impact craters were given the names Zi Wei, Tian Shi, and Tai Wei, three constellations in traditional Chinese astrology.nnMORE Good News on this Date:n

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• Spain opened its border gates to the people of Gibraltar after 13 years of isolation for “humanitarian reasons” (1982)

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• Romanians began their popular uprising that led to the downfall of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu (1989)

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• With hopes of ending a quarter century of bombing, Britain and Ireland signed the Joint Declaration of Peace, inviting the Irish Republican Army to peace negotiations if they would first observe a 3-month ceasefire (1993)

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• Netscape Navigator’s web browser was released (1994)

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• The Leaning Tower of Pisa reopened after 11 years following a $27 million investment to fortify the structure, while preserving its famous lean (2001)

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• Millions of Iraqis turned out to choose a parliament in a mostly peaceful election (2005)

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• The United States ended its 9-year war in Iraq, pulling out some of its military troops and suspending combat operations (2011)

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n233 years ago today, the United States Bill of Rights became law after the state of Virginia ratified the first ten amendments to the Constitution.nnnnCrafted to address the issue of states’ rights, these amendments also guaranteed personal freedoms and rights—and established clear limitations on the government’s power. One of the most renowned amendments says this: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”nnGeorge Mason, a Virginia delegate, refused to sign the U.S. Constitution due to oversights that were finally addressed in this document. He influenced substantial portions of the text, which is why he is known as the Father of the Bill of Rights. Do you know what these 10 rights are? Watch an animated short video… (1791)nn[raw][/raw]nn nn54 years ago today, the Soviet spacecraft Venera 7 landed on the surface of Venus, becoming the first spacecraft to soft land on another planet. The 1,100-pound unmanned probe was also the first to transmit data from another planet back to Earth.nn

nnOn the lander there were temperature and pressure sensors as well as an accelerometer to measure atmospheric density. The probe, which traveled for 120 days after launch, also carried a radar altimeter. Information was transmitted back to Earth for 53 minutes, which included about 20 minutes from the surface, and found that the temperature was 475 °C (887 °F) ± 20 °C. The probe proved Venus to be uninhabitable but confirmed its solid surface contained low levels of dust, which could never be seen through a thick veil of atmosphere. (1970)nnAlso, 85 years ago today, Gone with the Wind, one of the greatest films of its day, premiered. Set in the American South against the backdrop of the American Civil War, the film tells the story of Scarlett O’Hara (played by Vivien Leigh), the strong-willed woman on a Georgia plantation (‘Tara”), and her romantic pursuits, particularly of Rhett Butler (Clark Gable). The casting director’s “search for Scarlett” led to 1,400 women being interviewed for the part, with British actress Leigh eventually winning the role—and the Oscar for Best Actress.nnThe film scored historic wins for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actress (Hattie McDaniel, who was the first African American to win an Academy Award)—setting the record for total number of nominations and wins (10) for any film until that time, while triumphing over Wizard of Oz.nnImmensely popular, Gone with the Wind became the highest-earning film made up to that point, and held the record for over a quarter of a century. When adjusted for monetary inflation, it is still the highest-grossing film in history. The movie still consistently rates in the top ten of the American Film Institute’s list of top 100 films. WATCH the newest trailer with one of the most famous lines in Hollywood… (1939)nn[raw][/raw]nnSHARE the Milestones and Memories…