REMEMBER SPUTNIK!
October 4, 1957 - USSR Launched Sputnik 1, the First Orbital Spacecraft
REMEMBER COLUMBIA!
October 4, 1982 - USA Launched Columbia, the First Reusable Spaceship
REMEMBER SPACESHIP ONE!
October 4, 2004 - Scaled/Mojave Captured the Ansari X Prize Flying Spaceship One

The history of spaceflight is a series of steps, most are small, and frequently building on progress that came before them. Occasionally a major milestone is achieved that we should stop to take note of. Today THREE of those events have anniversaries: Sputnik 1 was launched, the first man-made spacecraft to orbit the Earth. 25 years later, NASA launched the Columbia STS orbiter for the first time, inaugurating an era of reusable manned spacecraft. Then, 47 years after the launch of Sputnik 1, a private company launched the first civilian manned spacecraft to an altitude of more than 100KM for the second time in less than two weeks, heralding the dawn of civilian access to space. In light of these achievements, we should all take some time today and consider the wonders our predecessors have achieved, and remember all of the dedicated people who made the dreams come true.

REMEMBER OUR HISTORY!