On this day: August 3

POSTED: 02:07 PM PDT Aug 02, 2012    UPDATED: 11:00 PM PDT Aug 02, 2012 

Columbus sets sail, the first American intercollegiate sporting event takes place, Jesse Owens shines in Berlin and a controversial stand-up comic dies, all on this day.

OTD August 3 - Messenger launch
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NASA

2004: NASA launches the spacecraft Messenger to study Mercury's chemical composition, geology and magnetic field. It will successfully enter Mercury's orbit on March 18, 2011, and send back the first photo from Mercury orbit on March 29, 2011.

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