3 November

On 3 November 1829, the Comet, which included the crews of the Mermaid, Swiftsure and Governor Ready, hit a storm and was wrecked. The crew of the Comet escaped in the ship's one boat, leaving the other crews to hang onto the wreckage. Fourteen hours later the three crews were rescued by the Jupiter. (PROSE: Of the Mermaid and Jupiter)

In 1957, Laika the dog became the first mammal launched into space. Nearby species saw this as evidence that Earth might hold intelligent life, until the first humans followed. (PROSE: Time Traveller's Diary)