On this day in 1959, the United Kingdom granted Cyprus independence, which is then formally proclaimed on August 16, 1960.
On this day in 1960, China successfully launched the T-7, its first sounding rocket.
On this day in 1985, William J. Schroeder became the first recipient of an artificial heart to leave hospital.
On this day in 2002, NASA's Mars Odyssey space probe began to map the surface of Mars using its thermal emission imaging system.