2011

Facts and Events That Happened in This Year

Dec 31

NASA successfully put two satellites designed to study the Moon's interior structure into the Moon's orbit.

Dec 15

Former French President Jacques Chirac was convicted of diverting public funds and received a two-year suspended prison sentence.

Nov 26

NASA launched the Mars Science Laboratory probe, which carried the Curiosity Rover to Mars.

Nov 18

After two and a half years of Alpha and Beta development, the full version of Minecraft was released.

Nov 15

Ubisoft released Rayman Origins worldwide for PlayStation 3, PC, and Xbox 360.

Nov 11

The much-anticipated Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was released for PC, PS4, and Xbox 360.

Nov 8

Asteroid 2005 YU55 came dangerously close to hitting the Earth.

Oct 31

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) stated that the world's population had reached seven billion.

Oct 30

American romantic fantasy movie 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part I' premiered at the Rome Film Festival.

Oct 20

NTC forces killed Muammar Gaddafi and his son after the Battle of Sirte.

Oct 18

Rocksteady Games released the grittiest Batman game to date, Batman: Arkham City.

Oct 15

The world's largest Legoland theme park opened in Winter Haven, Florida.

Oct 4

Dark Souls, the second Souls game after Demon's Souls, was released for PS3 and Xbox 360 in North America.

Oct 2

American spy thriller TV series 'Homeland' first aired on Showtime.

Sep 20

The US military policy 'don't ask, don't tell' came to an end.

Sep 16

The movie 'Drive,' based on James Sallis's novel, was released in the US.

Aug 4

Officers closed a highway in Alberta, Canada, after a truck carrying 104 beehives overturned.

Jul 23

Singer legend Amy Winehouse was found dead at her home in London, England.

Jul 21

NASA's space shuttle program finally came to a close when mission STS-135 landed.

Jul 19

Marvel's superhero movie 'Captain America: The First Avenger' hit the theaters.

Jul 10

The British newspaper, News of the World, published its last-ever edition following a phone-hacking scandal.

Jul 8

The Space Shuttle Atlantis launched for its final mission.

Jul 7

'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2' premiered in London.

Jul 5

''Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye featuring Kimbra was released.

May 16

NASA launched the Endeavour Space Shuttle on the penultimate space shuttle mission.

May 2

The FBI's most wanted man, Osama bin Laden, was killed by the US Navy Seals and CIA operatives in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

Apr 29

Prince William and Kate Middleton tied the knot.

Apr 29

An EF4 multiple-vortex tornado destroyed areas of two major Alabama cities: Tuscaloosa and Birmingham.

Apr 26

The Voice, a reality singing competition television show, premiered on NBC.

Apr 19

NetherRealm's Mortal Kombat, the first game in the franchise reboot, was released for PS3 and Xbox 360.

Apr 18

After hyping the game up for years, Valve finally released Portal 2 for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.

Apr 17

Game of Thrones premiered on HBO.

Apr 17

The movie 'Thor' premiered in cinemas in Sydney, Australia.

Apr 3

The Australian boy band 5 Seconds of Summer formed.

Mar 11

15,899 lives were lost after a severe 9.0 magnitude earthquake occurred in Japan.

Mar 9

Space Shuttle Discovery completed its last-ever mission and made its final landing onto Kennedy's runway at 11:57 am EST.

Feb 3

5 Seconds of Summer member Luke Hemmings posted his first YouTube video.

Jan 28

The Egyptian government shut down 88% of the internet across the country.

Jan 25

The 2011 Egyptian revolution began after years of police brutality and corruption.

Jan 1

Estonia joined the Eurozone and adopted the Euro as its currency.