What happened in August 1962?
The top front-page story of each day in August 1962, 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🚀 Apollo Training Begins – Astronauts start training for lunar missions, practicing skills needed for orbit rendezvous in Gemini craft.
- Aug 2🚀 Apollo Spacecraft Progress – Project Apollo's spacecraft design advances, preparing for manned missions to the Moon with innovative features.
- Aug 3🚀 Apollo Radiation Hazard – Charged particles in space pose a risk to lunar astronauts, highlighting the need for protective measures during missions.
- Aug 4🗽 Statue of Liberty Record – Statue of Liberty attracts a record 172,052 visitors in July, setting a new single-month mark for attendance.
- Aug 5🏛️ Princess Assists Jamaica – Princess Margaret participates in Jamaica's pre-independence activities, highlighting the nation's transition towards sovereignty.
- Aug 6📰 Marilyn Monroe Dead – Marilyn Monroe's body was found in her home, with pills nearby. Police reported no notes left behind.
- Aug 7🌍 Kennedy Youth Concert – President Kennedy addresses youth at a concert on the White House lawn, emphasizing America's love for music.
- Aug 8📈 Silver Price Peaks – Price of silver rises to $1.055, marking a 42-year high due to global shortages, reflecting market trends.
- Aug 9🌪️ Tornado Hits Jersey – A tornado with funnel winds reaching 500 M.P.H. confirmed by the Weather Bureau struck Bergen, New Jersey, causing significant damage.
- Aug 10📚 Hermann Hesse Dies – Hermann Hesse, the renowned novelist and Nobel Prize winner, passed away. He was known for works like 'Steppenwolf' and 'Magister Ludi'.
- Aug 11🏊 World Record Swim – Stock sets a world record in the 200-meter backstroke with a time of 2:10.9, breaking the previous mark by six-tenths of a second.
- Aug 12🚀 Third Soviet Astronaut – Soviet astronaut completes 13 orbits, expected to set record. Communicates with Khrushchev, reports feeling fine.
- Aug 13🚀 Astronauts on TV – Astronauts Nikolayev and Titov report all is well during their mission, with Nikolayev breaking Titov's spaceflight record.
- Aug 14🚀 Soviet Pilots in Orbit – Soviet pilots continue their space mission, with one logging a million miles. Their landing time remains undisclosed.
- Aug 15🚀 Astronauts Land Successfully – Two astronauts land safely after a space mission, setting records and receiving a planned heroes' welcome.
- Aug 16🚀 Soviet Astronauts Land – Soviet astronauts Nikolayev and Popovich safely land in Kazakhstan, marking a significant achievement in space exploration.
- Aug 17🏔️ British-Russian Ascent – A British-Russian team becomes the first foreigners to scale the highest mountain in the Soviet Union, marking a significant mountaineering achievement.
- Aug 18🚀 Soviet Astronauts Speak – Soviet astronauts share experiences of working and eating while in space, highlighting advancements in space travel.
- Aug 19🌌 Moon Landing Challenges – The U.S. and Soviet space programs face significant challenges in their race to land a man on the Moon, with both nations striving for advancements.
- Aug 20🎶 Songs in Rights Battle – Folk music emerges as a vital force in uplifting spirits among African Americans in the South during the civil rights movement.
- Aug 21🚀 Pentagon Orders New Rocket – The Pentagon has commissioned Martin-Marietta to develop the Titan III rocket, intended for launching space vehicles.
- Aug 22🏗️ Dam to Aid Iran – A new dam will provide water and electricity to five major towns in Iran's Persian Gulf region starting in spring.
- Aug 23🚀 U.S. Lags in Space – President admits U.S. is falling behind in space race but vows to advance by the decade's end with increased spending.
- Aug 24🚀 Russians' Orbits Hailed – U.S. scientists praised the accuracy of Russian space missions following two successful satellite launches.
- Aug 25🌉 Venezuela Opens Bridge – Venezuela inaugurates an $80 million bridge over Lake Maracaibo, enhancing economic connectivity to its oil-rich regions.
- Aug 26🌍 Europe Discovers America – Record tourist influx from Europe arrives in the U.S., showcasing a renewed interest in American culture and attractions.
- Aug 27🌍 Venus Probe Launched – U.S. successfully launches Mariner II, a probe set to pass by Venus in a 109-day mission, marking a significant milestone in space exploration.
- Aug 28🔬 Virus Creation Reported – Scientists report creating a virus in a lab using inert chemicals, marking a significant step in virology if verified.
- Aug 29🎾 70 Players Arrive – Record 70 players from 34 nations arrive for the Forest Hills tennis event, showcasing international talent.
- Aug 30⚖️ Justice Frankfurter Retires – Justice Felix Frankfurter retires after 23 years, with President Kennedy naming Arthur Goldberg as his successor.
- Aug 31🇹🇹 Trinidad-Tobago Independence – Trinidad and Tobago celebrates its transition to nationhood with ceremonies marking independence from British rule.
Happy Birthday! 1962 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1962 in real headlines. See the 1962 book →
Born in August? Pick the day
Every birthday in August has its own On This Day in Headlines book: