In this week’s installment of our ongoing series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, NASA takes a Princeton telescope to space, a graduate takes Olympic gold, and more.

August 21, 1972—A telescope built by Princeton University is on board for the launch of NASA’s Copernicus satellite.

August 22, 2004—Chris Ahrens ’98 and his teammates win the gold medal for heavyweight rowing at the summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. It is the first time Americans have taken gold in the men’s eight competition in 40 years.

August 26, 1774—John Adams stops by “Nassau Hall College” on his way to the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia.

August 27, 1990—James Worthington ’59, being held hostage in Iraq, dies of a heart attack and becomes the first American casualty in the Gulf War.

For last week’s installment in this series, click here.

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