February 17

1959 - Project Vanguard: Vanguard 2 - The first weather satellite is launched to measure cloud-cover distribution.
1965 - Project Ranger: The Ranger 8 probe launches on its mission to photograph the Mare Tranquillitatis region of the Moon in preparation for the manned Apollo missions. The Mare Tranquillitatis or "Sea of Tranquility" would become the site chosen for the Apollo 11 lunar landing.
1996 - NASA's Discovery Program begins as the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft lifts off on the first mission ever to orbit and land upon an asteroid, 433 Eros.
2402 - The USS Dauntless, BC-1553 is launched from the San Francisco Shipyards, with Matthew Thrawn as commanding officer.