On this day in history - June 29

What Happened On This Day – June 29

• 2007 Apple releases the first iPhone

  The iPhone revolutionized the smartphone industry and for a while made Apple one of the world's most valuable companies.

• 1995 The Space Shuttle Atlantis docks with the Russian space station Mir

  The rendezvous in space marked a new age of cooperation between the former Cold War adversaries. The docking created the largest man-made Earth satellite in history.

• 1990 Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are banned to protect the ozone layer

  The London Amendment to the Montreal Protocol stipulated that CFCs be phased out by 2000 in developed countries and by 2010 in developing countries. CFCs are one of the substances most harmful to the ozone layer, escalating the greenhouse effect and global warming.

• 1986 Richard Branson breaks the record for the fastest Atlantic crossing by boat

  The British businessman took about three days to cross the ocean in his speedboat “Virgin Atlantic Challenger II”. He was denied the prestigious Blue Riband for the fastest crossing because he refueled on the way.

• 1927 Two U.S. aviators complete the first transpacific flight

  Lester Maitland and Albert Hegenberger had taken off from Oakland Municipal Airport the previous day. Their “Bird of Paradise” aircraft touched down in Oahu, Hawaii 25 hours and 50 minutes later.