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			Current events for February 16, 2013 <<-Previous day Return to calendar Next day->> Events in space history for 02/16: Miranda (moon of Uranus) first photographed (1948). Star Trek tribbles (props) donated to National Air and Space Museum (1973). Plant for assembly of American-made airplanes began operations at Romorantin, France (1918). NASA Explorer IX placed in orbit by four-stage Scout booster from Wallops Station, the first satellite launching from Wallops, and the first satellite boosted by a solid-fuel rocket. Explorer IX was a 12-foot diameter sphere after inflation at orbital altitude (1961). NASA and France agreed to establish joint program to test communications satellites to be launched by NASA in 1962 and 1963 in Projects Relay and Rebound (1961).