On this day — February 15

This happens unexpectedly only hours before the expected closest ever approach of the larger and unrelated asteroid 2012 DA14.

Belgium, killing 19 and injuring 171 people.

It is estimated that between eight million and 30 million people participate, making this the largest peace demonstration in history.

carrying Intelsat 907.

a Long March 3B rocket carrying Intelsat 708 veers off course and crashes into a rural village after liftoff, killing somewhere between six and 100 people.

an incident later named the Shawinigan Handshake.

Ohio, near Toledo Express Airport, killing all four people on board.

establishing cooperation to move toward free-market systems, is signed by the leaders of Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland.

The Soviet Union officially announces that all of its troops have left Afghanistan.

killing 84 workers.

federal copyright protection for the first time.