The Voyager 2 spacecraft is a 1,592 lb. space probe launched by NASA on August
20, 1977 to study the outer Solar System and eventually interstellar space. Operating
for 33 years, 11 months and 31 days as of today (20 August 2011), the spacecraft receives routine commands and transmits data back to the Deep Space Network.

Each Voyager space probe carries a gold-plated audio-visual disc (shown below) in
the event that either spacecraft is ever found by intelligent life-forms from other
planetary systems. The discs carry photos of the Earth and its life forms, a range
of scientific information, spoken greetings from the people (e.g. the Secretary-
General of the United Nations and the President of the United States, and the
children of the Planet Earth) and a medley, "Sounds of Earth", that includes the
sounds of whales, a baby crying, waves breaking on a shore, and a variety
of music.

Voyager’s 12 inch gold plated disc

Diagram of the main components of the Voyager spacecraft. (click to enlarge)

President Johnson signing the Poverty Bill (Economic Opportunity Act).

In his January 1964 State of the Union address, President Lyndon B. Johnson announced a “War on Poverty” and pledged to correct the problem. His first
anti-poverty bill, passed through Congress as part of president Kennedy’s
legacy, and was signed into law on this day in 1964. The nearly $1 billion bill
provided money for job training centers, loans for students and farmers,
as well as other anti-poverty programs.

                     (August 18, 1774 – October 11, 1809)

Meriwether Lewis was a explorer, soldier, and public administrator, best
known for his role as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, along
with William Clark, whose mission was to explore territory of the Louisiana
Purchase, establish trade and sovereignty over the natives near the
Missouri River, and claim the Pacific Northwest and Oregon territory for
the United States before European nations. President Thomas Jefferson
appointed him Governor of Upper Louisiana in 1806. He was in office
from March 3, 1897 to October 11, 1809.

Depiction of the Lewis and Clark Expedition at Fort Clatsop, south of Astoria, Oregon.

David "Davy" Crockett was a celebrated 19th century American folk hero,
frontiersman, soldier and politician. He is often referred to as the “King
of the Wild Frontier”. He represented Tennessee in the U.S. House of
Representatives,  served in the Texas Revolution, and died in the Battle
of the Alamo.

  
                       (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821)

Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter
stages of the French Revolution. He was Emperor of France from 1804 to 1815.