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This week in 1839 – Mr. William S. Otis received a patent for the steam shovel – precursor to today’s bulldozers.
1858 – The first electric burglar alarm was installed in Boston, MA.
1947 – Edwin Land demonstrated the Polaroid Land Camera to the Optical Society of America in New York City. It was the first camera to take, develop and print a picture on photo paper all in about 60 seconds. The photos were black and white. The camera went on sale the following year.
1962 –While aboard Friendship 7, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth, making three orbits in four hours, 55 minutes.
And this week in 2011 – Space Shuttle Discovery lifted off for its final mission. Upon touchdown at the Kennedy Space center, the shuttle was retired and is now on display in Virginia.