Armenia Declares Independence From the Soviet Union:
The Western Asian country had been part of the USSR since 1922. The country declared itself independent of the USSR on the 23rd of August, 1990, and finally achieved independence a year later on September 21, 1991.

First Photograph of the Earth Taken From the Orbit of the Moon:
NASA’s Lunar Orbiter 1 was the first American unmanned spacecraft to orbit the Moon. Taking black and white pictures of the Earth was not the Orbiter’s main task.

Snow Chains Patented:
Harry D. Weed of New York was awarded a patent for snow chains by the United States Patent Office. Snow chains are attached to tires of vehicles to improve their traction on snowy and icy roads.