As Control Design celebrates its 15th anniversary, each month we bring you a look back at some of the events and developments that shaped technology during that time. In April, a new family of planets were discovered, UNESCO launched the World Digital Library and Apple's iPad went on sale.
April 5, 1998: The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Japan opened, becoming the largest suspension bridge in the world.
April 21, 1998: Astronomers announced in Washington that they had discovered possible signs of a new family of planets orbiting a star 220 light-years away.
April 14, 1999: Pakistan test-fired a ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and reaching its rival neighbor India.
April 2, 2000: A U.S. federal judge ruled that Microsoft had violated U.S. antitrust laws by keeping "an oppressive thumb" on its competitors.
April 28, 2001: Russian rocket launched from Central Asia with the first space tourist aboard. The crew consisted of California businessman Dennis Tito and two cosmonauts, destined for the international space station.
April 27, 2005: The A380, the world's largest jetliner, completed its maiden flight with a passenger capability of 840.
April 21, 2009: UNESCO launched the World Digital Library (WDL), operated by UNESCO and the U.S. Library of Congress.
April 3, 2010: The Apple iPad went on sale.
