What happened in April 1983?
The top front-page story of each day in April 1983, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Apr 1🌍 Earthquake Devastates Popayan – An earthquake in Popayan, Colombia, killed at least 60 people and injured 500, with fears the toll could rise to 200.
- Apr 2🌍 Protest in Britain – Thousands formed a human chain stretching 14 miles across the English countryside, demonstrating for various causes.
- Apr 3🌍 Colombian Quake Deaths – Death toll rises to 250 in Colombian earthquake as rescue workers recover more bodies from remote Andean villages.
- Apr 4🚀 Space Shuttle Launch – The Challenger space shuttle is set for its inaugural flight today at 1:30 P.M., marking a significant milestone in space exploration.
- Apr 5🏆 N.C. State Wins Title – North Carolina State stunned Houston with a last-second dunk, winning the NCAA championship 54-52 in a thrilling finale.
- Apr 6🌍 Berlin Wall Escape – Two East Berliners used a bow and arrow to cross the Berlin Wall, gliding to the West on a pulley while avoiding guards.
- Apr 7🚀 NASA Corrects Satellite – NASA plans maneuvers to correct the orbit of the world's largest communication satellite after it lost power.
- Apr 8🚀 Astronauts Spacewalk – Two astronauts successfully conducted a spacewalk, testing their abilities for orbital repairs outside the shuttle.
- Apr 9🗽 Gift for Liberty – Children from Bridgeport, Conn. raised $3,587 to restore the Statue of Liberty, presenting the check during a visit.
- Apr 10🚀 Challenger Shuttle Lands – The space shuttle Challenger successfully completed its first flight, landing smoothly despite challenging headwinds.
- Apr 11🚀 Shuttle's Clean Shape – NASA officials express confidence in the Challenger's readiness for its next mission in June after a successful maiden flight.
- Apr 12🔬 Shuttle Crew Starts Tasks – The Challenger's four astronauts began a three-week series of tests and interviews to document details of their upcoming flight.
- Apr 13🔬 New Laser Device – Bell Laboratories introduced a new laser semiconductor that can significantly enhance data capacity in fiber optic communications.
- Apr 14🌪️ Tornado Kills 54 – A tornado in south China killed 54 people and injured 163, causing significant destruction in two communes.
- Apr 15🔬 Cancer Research Advances – Scientists express optimism about solving cancer biology mysteries using new gene-splicing techniques.
- Apr 16🏭 Corco Asset Sale – Commonwealth Oil Refining Company signed a $50 million agreement to sell its refinery and petrochemical plants in Penuelas, P.R.
- Apr 17🏛️ Oberammergau Anniversary – The famed Passion Play at Oberammergau, Germany, will stage 75 performances next year to mark its 350th anniversary, fulfilling a historic vow.
- Apr 18🌪️ Hurricane Relief Arrives – Relief supplies reached Tahiti after Hurricane Veena caused devastation, leaving 25,000 homeless and one dead.
- Apr 19🏃 Benoit Sets Record – Joan Benoit shattered the women's marathon world record by 2 minutes 47 seconds at the Boston Marathon, leaving a significant mark on the event.
- Apr 20🏛️ Restored Puck Building Opens – The historic Puck Building in SoHo reopens today after three years of restoration, now serving as a condominium for arts and industry.
- Apr 21🔭 Soviet Astronauts Launched – Three Soviet astronauts were launched into space aboard a Soyuz T-8 spacecraft for docking with an orbiting space station.
- Apr 22💻 World's Fastest Supercomputer – NEC Corporation announced the launch of the SX-2, the world's fastest supercomputer, capable of 1.3 billion calculations per second.
- Apr 23🌋 Mount Etna Erupts – Europe's highest volcano, Mount Etna, is active again, spewing lava and causing destruction to homes and orchards.
- Apr 24🎾 Championships Begin – The NCAA lacrosse championships feature exciting matchups, with teams vying for top honors.
- Apr 25📈 Corporate Profits Improve – A reviving economy and lower interest rates are positively impacting corporate profitability across various sectors.
- Apr 26🔬 Soviet Antarctic Survival – Soviet scientists survived 227 days in Antarctica after a fire destroyed their power plant, revealing their struggle against extreme conditions.
- Apr 27🌋 Blasting Etna Proposed – Experts suggested blasting Mount Etna to divert a lava flow threatening three villages in Italy.
- Apr 28⚖️ Ryan Breaks Strikeout Record – Nolan Ryan surpasses Walter Johnson's strikeout record with 3,509 during a game against the Montreal Expos.
- Apr 29🌍 100 Die in Ecuador – A landslide in central Ecuador has killed over 100 people, burying a major highway, according to President Osvaldo Hurtado.
- Apr 30🏗️ Hewlett-Packard Plant – Hewlett-Packard begins construction of a computer peripherals manufacturing plant near Bristol, England, expanding its operations.
Happy Birthday! 1983 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1983 in real headlines. See the 1983 book →