2015 Event U.S. President Barack Obama speaks out in defense of the recent nuclear agreement between Iran and Western nations; the deal removes economic sanctions against Iran in exchange for reductions in its technological research and its nuclear fuel 2015 Event NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft ends its three-year orbit around Mercury with a planned crash into the planet's surface; originally, the probe was to orbit and collect data for one year, but fuel saving efforts extended its mission for two more years 2014 Event Ford Motor Company begins using aluminum instead of steel in the body of its most popular truck, the F-150; the change has cost the company time and money in conversion of production lines but will make the vehicle more fuel efficient 2013 Event NASA reveals the Regolith Advanced Surface Systems Operations Robot (RASSOR), a lunar mining robot which could be used to produce fuel and water directly on the Moon 2012 Event Facing fuel shortages after a fall storm, preparations are made for the US Coast Guard icebreaker USCGC Healy to accompany Russian tanker Renda to deliver fuel 2011 Event U.S. airlines continue increasing fares as a result of the high cost of jet fuel 2010 Event Bolivian President Alvaro Garcia Linera prompts bus drivers to strike after announcing an 83% increase in the price of gasoline and a 73% increase in the price of diesel fuel 2010 Event As a result of a potential fuel pump failure, BMW recalls 150,000 of its vehicles 2010 Event India is crippled as trade unions declare a general strike to protest a hike in fuel prices 2010 Event A fuel tanker overturns and explodes in South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, killing over 230 people and injuring 1991 Event Fuel pipe explodes under 58th street and Lexington Ave, New York City 1990 Event Avianca Flight 52, runs out of fuel and crashes in Cove Neck NY, 73 die 1988 Event Mercedes-Benz pays $20.2-M fine failed to meet '86 government fuel standard 1966 Event U.S. bombs fuel storage facilities near North Vietnamese cities 1963 Event 3 fuel tanks explodes when jetliner is struck by lightning crashing near Elkton, Maryland-Only case of lightning caused crash, 81 die 1963 Birthday John Andretti, born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, race car driver, winner, CART, NHRA Top Fuel Dragsters NASCAR stock racing and endurance racing 1945 Event U.S. wartime rationing of gasoline and fuel oil ends 1944 Birthday Joe Amato, NHRA top fuel drag racing champion 1991 1940 Birthday Shirley "Cha Cha" Muldowney, drag racer, 1st woman Top Fuel champ 1933 Event 1st Soviet liquid fuel rocket attains altitude of 261' (80m) 1926 Event Robert Goddard launches 1st liquid fuel rocket, goes 184' (56 meters) 1808 Event Anthracite coal 1st burned as fuel, experimentally, Wilkes-Barre, Pa
