What happened in August 1958?
The top front-page story of each day in August 1958, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Aug 1🛰️ Soviet Reveals Satellite Data – Moscow professor provides first detailed briefing on Sputniks, discussing cosmic rays and radiation.
- Aug 2🚀 Jam-Proof Guide Found – New systems development for ICBM technology is ahead of schedule, advancing space plans significantly.
- Aug 3🔭 U.S. Hosts Astronomers – The U.S. State Department approves hosting an assembly of Peiping experts, enhancing international scientific collaboration.
- Aug 4🦴 Early Progenitor Found – A full skeleton of a 4-foot creature, believed to be an early ancestor of humans, was discovered in an Italian mine.
- Aug 5🚀 U.S. Rockets Data – 116 I.G.Y. firings reveal new factors in density shifts in upper atmosphere, contributing to space exploration knowledge.
- Aug 6🚀 U.S. Moon Probes Planned – The U.S. includes moon probes in the International Geophysical Year, with the first test expected soon.
- Aug 7🏃 Elliott Sets Mile Record – Elliott runs a record 3:54.5 mile in Dublin, with four others breaking the 4-minute mark, surpassing Landy's previous world standard.
- Aug 8🌍 World's First Satellite – Soviet Union's Sputnik program continues to advance, withholding data from U.S. scientists seeking information on satellite technology.
- Aug 9🌊 Nautilus Under Arctic Ice – Nautilus sails under the Arctic icecap, completing a four-day voyage from the Pacific to the Atlantic.
- Aug 10🚢 Nautilus Completes Journey – The USS Nautilus, the first nuclear-powered submarine, sails to a British port after its historic transpolar voyage.
- Aug 11⚓ Superlative Submarine – Launching of Triton on Aug. 19 to add the biggest, fastest undersea craft to the fleet.
- Aug 12🏙️ New Skyscraper Construction – A 42-story building begins construction on 6th Ave. in New York, costing $58 million and set for completion in 1961.
- Aug 13🌍 U.S. Atom Submarine Crosses Pole – The Skate, a U.S. atomic submarine, successfully crosses the North Pole, surfacing in an ice gap to report.
- Aug 14🔬 Safeguard for Lunar Rocket – A device is developed to allow interruption in the countdown for lunar rockets without retracing many steps.
- Aug 15🔬 Atom Laboratory Sent – An atom laboratory is dispatched to Geneva for a conference exhibit, showcasing advancements in radioisotope studies.
- Aug 16🚀 Space Agency Chief Confirmed – Senate confirms Glennan to lead the new civilian space agency, marking a significant step in the U.S. space exploration efforts.
- Aug 17🚀 U.S. Space Explorers Launch – Rocket probe to the Moon marks a major phase in U.S. space exploration efforts, showcasing advancements in technology.
- Aug 18🚀 Moon Rocket Taped – N.B.C. records a lunar rocket flight and presents the film on network just seven minutes after take-off.
- Aug 19🔬 Rickover Medal Awarded – Congress unanimously votes to honor Admiral Hyman Rickover for his significant contributions to nuclear submarine technology.
- Aug 20🌍 Soviet Antarctic Expansion – Soviet Union plans to add two new bases in Antarctica, enhancing its research capabilities in the region.
- Aug 21🌍 New U.N. Summit Proposed – Ceylon suggests a summit meeting of major powers and Arab nations to address the ongoing Mideast crisis.
- Aug 22🔬 Plutonium Reactor Breakthrough – Experiment with plutonium as reactor fuel marks a significant advancement in nuclear technology.
- Aug 23🔬 Nautilus Submarine Arrival – The atomic submarine Nautilus is set to arrive for a three-day city celebration, receiving a grand welcome by sea, air, and land.
- Aug 24🔬 New Drug Eases Pressure – A new urea-sugar compound shows promise in easing brain pressure by drawing fluid from tissue after injury.
- Aug 25⛪ Church Council Anniversary – Over 1,000 attendees celebrated the 10th anniversary of the World Unit at a 12th-century cathedral in Odense.
- Aug 26🚢 Nautilus Celebration – The submarine Nautilus arrives to cheers, fireboats, and helicopters, marking a significant event in naval history.
- Aug 27🎨 Ralph Vaughan Williams Dies – Ralph Vaughan Williams, the dean of British composers, passes away at 85, leaving a legacy of significant contributions to classical music.
- Aug 28🚢 Nautilus Crew Celebrated – Ticker-tape parade honors the crew of the USS Nautilus, the first submarine to complete a submerged transit of the North Pole.
- Aug 29🔬 Substance Halts Virus Growth – British researchers report successful tests with a new agent that inhibits virus growth, marking a significant scientific breakthrough.
- Aug 30🌍 Moscow Accepts Test Ban – Khrushchev agrees to an October 31 meeting proposed by the West to discuss a nuclear test ban, hinting at a potential easing of tensions.
- Aug 31🌍 Ancient Flotilla Discovered – Scientists find a fleet of ancient 'death ships' in Sarawak caves, hoping to uncover early human remains.
Happy Birthday! 1958 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1958 in real headlines. See the 1958 book →
Born in August? Pick the day
Every birthday in August has its own On This Day in Headlines book: