2002,OTT

The second year of the second millennium and the second year in the 21st century.

002 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2002nd year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini(AD) designations, the 2nd year of the 3rd millennium, the 2nd year of the 21st century, and the 3rd year of the 2000s decade. 2002 was designated as: •    International Year of Ecotourism •    International Year of Mountains
 * The Open Skies mutual surveillance treaty, initially signed in 1992, officially enters into force.
 * February 19 – NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey space probe begins to map the surface of Mars using its thermal emission imaging system.
 * March 1 – The Envisat environmental satellite is launched, with its purpose being the recording of information on environmental change.
 * May 25 – A Boeing 747 operating as China Airlines Flight 611 breaks up and crashes in the Taiwan Strait, killing all 225 passengers and crew onboard.
 * June 6 – An object with an estimated diameter of 10 meters collides with Earth over the Mediterranean and detonates in mid-air.