This Day, That Year: What Happened on December 5

Queen Elizabeth II Inaugurates STD Calling in the UK

The UK witnessed a significant advancement in telecommunications with the introduction of Subscriber Trunk Dialling (STD) on 5th December 1958. This system was the first of its kind, allowing users to make long-distance calls directly, without the need for an operator. The event was symbolised by Queen Elizabeth II, who made the inaugural call from Bristol to the Lord Provost of Edinburgh. This demonstrated the practicality and effectiveness of the STD system, which improved communication efficiency.

STD was not directly associated with traditional connection methods, but it helped to alleviate congestion in switching offices and local exchanges. By enabling direct lines to other towns, telephone subscribers could establish quick and effective connections without operator involvement.

The introduction of STD had a profound impact on businesses and the general public, enhancing both economic and social interactions in the UK. It laid the groundwork for the development of modern telecommunication systems and facilitated their emergence.

This innovation contributed significantly to global telecommunications development, paving the way for better integration through new technologies. As a result, most countries transitioned to a single direct dialing system, marking a new era in communications.

The launch of STD on 5th December 1958 is a key event in telecommunications history. It simplified the process of long-distance communication, enhancing societal and individual connectedness. This event also marked the integration of new technology and royalty, reinforcing the idea that communication knows no borders.

NASA Launches Exploration Flight Test 1 for Orion Mission

The first flight test of Orion, known as Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1), was launched by NASA on December 5, 2014. This was the maiden voyage for a spacecraft designed for crewed explorations beyond low earth orbits. The EFT-1 satellite was carried into space by a Delta IV Heavy rocket launched from Cape Canaveral. This mission set the stage for the first manned mission to Mars.

The EFT-1 went further from Earth than any human-occupied spacecraft since the Apollo program. It orbited the Earth at an altitude 14/15 that of the International Space Station (ISS), reaching a height approximately 243/10 that of the moon. This test allowed the agency to assess the temperatures produced when re-entering Earth and whether such temperatures could damage the heat shields.

The EFT-1 provided valuable data on Orion's radiation, avionic, and navigational systems. The successful test flight paved the way for subsequent missions, such as Exploration Mission-1, a crewless trip around the Moon, and eventually crewed missions under NASA's Artemis program.

Orion's design is central to NASA's plan for future human space explorations. The lessons learned from EFT-1 have greatly informed the evolution of Orion, preparing it for future crewed space missions aimed at exploration beyond Earth's orbit.

The journey initiated by EFT-1 is intended to lead us to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The spacecraft stands as a symbol of our collective achievements and a testament to our ongoing voyage of discovery.