28 May

2003: On 28 May 2003, scientists at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan transported a Soyuz/Fregat launcher with its passenger, ESA's Mars Express, from the Payload Processing Facility to the launch pad. It was transported by rail and at the launch pad was vertically erected over a large flame deflector pit.

1996: On 28 May 1996, observations made with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope determined the age of the stars in the globular Cluster NGC 6752 with unprecedented accuracy. The age of the stars in globular clusters is significant because these stars are believed to have formed during the era of the formation of our Galaxy, an event which probably occurred only 1000 to 2000 million years after the birth of the Universe itself.

Using current estimates of the time interval between the Big Bang and the era of galaxy formation gives 16000 - 17000 million years for the age of the Universe. The age of NGC 6752 based on the Hubble data agreed well with previous estimates.

1895: On 28 May 1895, Rudolph Leo B. Minkowski was born. He was a German astronomer who studied spectra, distributions and motions of planetary nebulae, and more than doubled the number known. He investigated novae and supernovae and their remnants, especially the the physics and expansion of the Crab Nebula.

He was awarded the Bruce Medal in 1961 for distinguished services to astronomy.