Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched for the last time. It was also the last flight of NASA's 30-year long and successful Space Shuttle program. STS-135, as this final mission was called, was the program's 135th flight.

Kim Jong-il takes office as the Supreme Leader of North Korea. Popularly known as "Dear Leader" in his country, Kim Jong-il took North Korea's highest office after the death of his father, Kim Il-sung. He ruled the country with an iron fist until his death in 2011, when his son, Kim Jong-un took his place. Kim Jong-il's tenure was marred by widespread human rights violations and severe famine in the country.

Wall Street Journal published for the first time. Three financial reporters named Charles Dow, Edward Jones, and Charles Bergstresser created The Wall Street Journal to supersede a previous periodical called the Customers' Afternoon Letter.

Vermont abolishes slavery. Vermont adopted its constitution that abolished slavery, becoming the first region in the now United States to abolish slavery. The constitution was adopted after Vermont declared independence from the British empire.

Vasco da Gama sets off on a voyage to India from Lisbon with 4 ships. A year later, he reached the city of Calicut in southern India and became the first European to set foot in India by way of the sea.