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17 December 2003: the first powered flight of SpaceShipOne
Features The privately funded and built space plane, SpaceShipOne, witnessed its first powered flight on this day in 2003 – a crucial step towards winning the $10m Ansari XPrize.
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16 December 1689: Parliament passes the Bill of Rights
Features A written part of the country's “unwritten constitution”, the Bill of Rights, was passed on this day in 1689, asserting Parliamentary superiority over the monarch.
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16 December 1773: The Boston Tea Party protest
Features On this day in 1773 the 'Sons of Liberty' carried out the Boston Tea Party protest, destroying over 92,000lb of tea, and paving the way for the American Revolution.
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15 December 1995: the “Bosman ruling” transforms the economics of football
Features The finances of football were changed forever on this day in 1995 when Jean-Marc Bosman won his case, and out-of-contract footballers were allowed to move freely between clubs.
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15 December 1970: Venera 7 probe lands on Venus
Features On this day in 1970 the Soviet Union’s Venera 7 spacecraft successfully landed on the surface of Venus, and sent a brief signal back to Earth.
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14 December 1896: the Glasgow Subway opens to passengers
Features On this day in 1896 the Glasgow Subway, the world's third underground metro system, opened to passengers.
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12 December 1914: NYSE resumes stock trading
Features On this day in 1914, the New York Stock Exchange reopened for business after being closed at the outbreak of the First World War.
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11 December 1978: Lufthansa heist nets $6m
Features The Mafia carried out the Lufthansa heist at New York's JFK airport, on this day in 1978, later inspiring the Martin Scorsese film “Goodfellas”.
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11 December 2008: Bernie Madoff arrested for $50bn fraud
Features Billionaire financier Bernie Madoff was arrested on this day six years ago, for running a $50bn Ponzi scheme. He was later sentenced to 150 years in prison.
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