Many important events happened on January 31st. Here’s a look at what happened on this day in history.

On this day 49 years ago, a space craft was launched. According to History.com, on this day in 1971, Apollo 14 departed for the moon. History.com said, “Apollo 14, piloted by astronauts Alan B. Shepard Jr., Edgar D. Mitchell, and Stuart A. Roosa, is successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida.”

Another event that occurred in history on this day in 1968 was the U.S. Embassy being seized by Viet Cong. Thepeoplehistory.com said, “A 19-man Viet Cong suicide squad seized the U.S. Embassy in Saigon.”

Lastly, another important event in history on this day was in 1865, when the 13 amendment was passed. Historynet.com said, “House of Representatives approves a constitutional amendment abolishing slavery.”