What happened in December 1985?
The top front-page story of each day in December 1985, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Dec 1🏛️ Gandhi Invites Zia – Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi of India invites President Mohammad Zia ul-Haq of Pakistan to inaugurate a nuclear power plant next month.
- Dec 2🚀 Astronauts Spacewalk – Two astronauts conducted a spacewalk from the shuttle Atlantis, performing construction tasks in the weightless environment of space.
- Dec 3🔭 World's Largest Telescope – Construction begins on the world's largest radiotelescope in New Mexico, aiming to enhance astronomical research across the U.S.
- Dec 4🚀 Space Shuttle Lands – The space shuttle Atlantis landed safely, concluding a nearly flawless weeklong mission with successful satellite launches.
- Dec 5⚽ World Cup Field Set – Scotland became the final team to qualify for the 1986 World Cup after tying Australia, completing the 24-team lineup.
- Dec 6🚀 Shuttle Crew Test – The space shuttle Columbia's crew completed a successful practice countdown for a mission scheduled to launch on Dec. 18.
- Dec 7🚀 Shuttle Crew Test – The space shuttle Columbia's crew completed a successful practice countdown for a mission set to launch on December 18.
- Dec 8🎼 Schubert Song Cycle Released – Concert promoters note a decline in live song recitals, but the art song continues to thrive on records.
- Dec 9✝️ Pope's Synod Conclusion – Pope John Paul II concluded a two-week Synod of Bishops, urging bishops to enhance human life on earth through the church's vision.
- Dec 10🐢 Sea Turtles Fly South – Four sea turtles, undernourished and cold, were flown to Florida after treatment in New Jersey, marking a successful rescue effort.
- Dec 11🌍 New Zealand Nuclear Bill – New Zealand introduced a bill to ban nuclear-armed ships and aircraft, potentially straining relations with the United States.
- Dec 12🏛️ G.E. Acquires RCA – General Electric agreed to acquire RCA Corporation in a cash deal worth nearly $6.3 billion, impacting media and electronics.
- Dec 13🌍 G.E.-RCA Merger Finalized – General Electric and RCA complete a multibillion-dollar merger in just 36 days, marking a significant moment in corporate history.
- Dec 14🚀 Space Shuttle Successor – NASA patented a new aerospace vehicle expected to succeed the Space Shuttle, planned for use in the year 2000.
- Dec 15🌌 Halley's Comet Brightens – Halley's comet is growing brighter, with scientists predicting a more spectacular show than previously expected.
- Dec 16🚀 Columbia Back in Service – The space shuttle Columbia is set for its first flight in over two years, carrying a diverse seven-man crew, including the first Hispanic astronaut.
- Dec 17🔬 Faster Test Found – Researchers developed a quicker, more sensitive prenatal diagnostic method for sickle cell disease and other inherited illnesses.
- Dec 18🎬 The Color Purple Released – Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Alice Walker's novel, 'The Color Purple,' premieres, showcasing a vibrant portrayal of its characters.
- Dec 19🚀 Congressman in Space – Representative Bill Nelson is set to launch aboard the space shuttle Columbia, marking a significant moment for political involvement in space exploration.
- Dec 20❤️ First Woman Receives Heart – Mary Lund became the first woman to receive an artificial heart implant, marking a significant milestone in medical history.
- Dec 21🏛️ Brancusi Sculpture Returns – ''The Muse,'' a marble sculpture by Brancusi, returns to the Guggenheim Museum after a lengthy legal battle, marking a significant cultural moment.
- Dec 22🏛️ Winslow Homer Show Set – The National Gallery of Art will celebrate Winslow Homer's 150th birthday with an exhibition of 100 watercolors next spring.
- Dec 23🌍 China's Grain Harvest Decline – China reports a significant drop in its 1985 grain harvest, estimating 53 million tons less than the previous record.
- Dec 24🏯 Club Med in China – China's first Club Med resort will open at the Imperial Summer Palace in Peking, marking a significant tourism milestone.
- Dec 25✈️ Plane Hits Mall – A plane crash in a shopping mall killed 4 and injured 88, as families gathered for Christmas festivities.
- Dec 26🌋 Etna Erupts – Mount Etna erupted, causing earthquakes and lava flows that destroyed a resort hotel, killing one and injuring 12 others.
- Dec 27🌋 Etna Lava Stops – Lava ceased erupting from Mount Etna, though security forces remain alert due to ongoing earthquakes around the volcano.
- Dec 28🔬 Safety Control Valve Patented – A safety control valve for an artificial heart, invented in Berlin, was patented for Thoratec Laboratories in California.
- Dec 29🔭 Shuttle Telescope Launch – NASA plans to launch a shuttle mission with the first large optical telescope to explore the universe's edge, marking a major scientific achievement.
- Dec 30🗽 Statue of Liberty Mystery – Research reveals the source of the Statue of Liberty's green copper skin, tracing it to a Norwegian copper mine.
- Dec 31🌌 Lakes on Mars – Research shows Mars had lakes as large as the Great Lakes, potentially three miles deep, early in its history.
Happy Birthday! 1985 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1985 in real headlines. See the 1985 book →
Born in December? Pick the day
Every birthday in December has its own On This Day in Headlines book: