What happened in November 1973?
The top front-page story of each day in November 1973, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Nov 1🌍 Soviet Satellite Launched – The Soviet Union launched Intercosmos 10, an artificial satellite aimed at exploring space under a joint program with socialist countries.
- Nov 2📜 Nixon Names Saxbe Attorney General – President Nixon announced the nomination of Senator William B. Saxbe as his fourth Attorney General amid ongoing Watergate investigations.
- Nov 3🚀 Mariner 10 Launched – Mariner 10, an unmanned spacecraft, was launched to conduct the first reconnaissance of Mercury, marking a significant milestone in space exploration.
- Nov 4🌍 Ethiopian Drought Toll – At least 50,000 people are estimated to have died in the last six months due to a severe drought in Ethiopia.
- Nov 5🌍 Mariner to Map Mercury – Mariner 10 is set to reach Mercury in five months, expected to provide high-resolution images of the planet's surface.
- Nov 6🐎 Secretariat's Goodbye – Thousands pay final respects to Secretariat at Aqueduct, marking the end of his racing career with a ceremonial parade.
- Nov 7🚀 Skylab 3 Launch – Final preparations are underway for the launch of Skylab 3, the last manned space mission until 1975.
- Nov 8🚀 Skylab Liftoff Delayed – Tiny cracks at the base of the Saturn rocket have forced a five-day delay in the launch of Skylab 3 astronauts.
- Nov 9🚀 Pioneer 10 Nears Jupiter – The unmanned spacecraft Pioneer 10 has entered the orbits of Jupiter's satellites, preparing for significant encounters with dust and radiation.
- Nov 10🕊️ Middle East Ceasefire – Israel accepted an American-sponsored ceasefire agreement with Egypt, seeking further clarifications from the U.S. on the details.
- Nov 11🌌 Comet Kohoutek Approaches – The comet Kohoutek is expected to be visible to the naked eye by early December, becoming the brightest object in the night sky after the full moon.
- Nov 12🕌 Desert Fair in India – Visitors experience the vibrant Pushkar Fair in Rajasthan, where locals celebrate with traditional rituals and festivities.
- Nov 13🌍 Brezhnev Meets Tito – President Tito of Yugoslavia began talks with Leonid Brezhnev in the Soviet Union, focusing on the Middle East and improving political relations.
- Nov 14🌪️ Typhoon Strikes Vietnam – A violent storm in South Vietnam killed at least 51 people, forced 145,000 to evacuate, and flooded cities with waters up to 10 feet deep.
- Nov 15🌋 Volcano Erupts in Alaska – Lava erupted 200 to 300 feet into the air from Mount Pavlof in the Aleutian Islands, reported the National Weather Service.
- Nov 16🚀 Skylab 3 Launch – Crew of Skylab 3 is set to launch on an 84-day mission aboard the nation's first space station, Skylab, tomorrow morning.
- Nov 17🌍 Argentina, Uruguay Agreement – Argentina and Uruguay resolve a century-old dispute over the Rio de la Plata estuary, marking a significant diplomatic achievement.
- Nov 18🌌 Skylab Astronauts Reprimanded – Skylab 3 astronauts received a serious reprimand from Mission Control on their first day aboard the space station.
- Nov 19💰 End of Two Tiers – The U.S. and six European nations end the two-tier gold agreement, allowing governments to engage in the private gold market.
- Nov 20🚀 Skylab Repairs Successful – Lieut. Col. William R. Pogue successfully repaired Skylab's cooling system after overcoming equipment delays.
- Nov 21🌍 Rafts Cross Pacific – Two rafts reached Australia after a 177-day journey from Ecuador, while a third was abandoned due to heavy seas.
- Nov 22🛰️ Cosmos 609 Launched – The Soviet Union successfully launched Cosmos 609, continuing its series of satellites for space exploration and research.
- Nov 23🔬 Chemicals Found in Space – Radio astronomers discovered abundant chemicals in space, indicating the initial stages of star and planet formation.
- Nov 24🖼️ Holy Shroud Displayed – The Holy Shroud of Turin was shown on television for the first time in 40 years, captivating viewers worldwide.
- Nov 25🚀 Evidence for Black Holes – British astronomers confirm the existence of black holes based on observations from the Copernicus satellite.
- Nov 26🌍 Energy Crisis Urged – Pope Paul VI called on Christians to face the energy crisis with public spirit and mutual support during difficult times.
- Nov 27🚀 Pioneer 10 Gets Checkup – Scientists prepared Pioneer 10 for its fly-by of Jupiter with crucial communications adjustments and a final rocket thrust.
- Nov 28🚀 Soviet Launches Cosmos 610 – The Soviet Union successfully launched Cosmos 610, continuing its series of earth satellites for space studies.
- Nov 29🔥 Fire Kills 40 in Japan – A devastating fire in a crowded department store in Kumamoto, Japan, resulted in 40 fatalities and 28 injuries.
- Nov 30🔬 Jupiter's Magnetism Discovered – Pioneer 10 spacecraft found Jupiter's magnetic field to be 40 times stronger than Earth's, revealing new insights into the planet's characteristics.
Happy Birthday! 1973 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1973 in real headlines. See the 1973 book →
Born in November? Pick the day
Every birthday in November has its own On This Day in Headlines book: