What happened in February 1986?
The top front-page story of each day in February 1986, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Feb 1🚀 Challenger Disaster Inquiry – A study shows the Challenger shuttle experienced a sudden drop in power just before its explosion, raising concerns about safety.
- Feb 2🚀 Challenger Disaster – The space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after launch, killing all seven crew members aboard, leading to a reevaluation of NASA's safety protocols.
- Feb 3🚀 Challenger Wreckage Search – Search efforts for the wreckage of the space shuttle Challenger expanded after large unidentified objects were found on the ocean floor.
- Feb 4🚀 Challenger Inquiry Begins – President Reagan appoints a 12-member commission to investigate the space shuttle Challenger explosion.
- Feb 5🎨 Sistine Chapel Restoration – The Vatican unveiled restored frescoes from Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling, revealing biblical figures after centuries of grime.
- Feb 6🚀 Challenger Liftoff Analysis – Technical changes before the Challenger launch on Jan. 28 may have affected its liftoff, marking a significant moment in space exploration history.
- Feb 7🚀 Challenger Search Expands – NASA expanded the search for shuttle Challenger wreckage to North Carolina, continuing efforts to recover debris from the disaster.
- Feb 8🏛️ Duvalier Flees Haiti – President Jean-Claude Duvalier fled Haiti aboard a U.S. Air Force jet, ending his family's 28-year rule over the country.
- Feb 9🚀 Challenger Recovery Efforts – Navy divers joined the search for the Challenger wreckage, examining underwater fragments from the space shuttle for investigation.
- Feb 10🚀 Second Jarvik Heart – A woman received a second artificial heart, becoming the first person to have two of these devices implanted, hospital officials reported.
- Feb 11🌍 New Haiti Leader Pledges – Haiti's interim leader commits to establishing a real and functional democracy following recent political upheaval.
- Feb 12🏺 Tutankhamun's Treasurer Found – A British-Dutch team reports the discovery of the burial chambers of Maya, believed to be King Tutankhamun's treasurer, after a decade-long search.
- Feb 13🌋 Copter Crash Kills 3 – A helicopter crash near Mount St. Helens resulted in the deaths of three people, including a photographer for National Geographic.
- Feb 14🚀 Challenger Disaster Updates – New photos suggest issues with the Challenger shuttle began just after liftoff, raising concerns about NASA's response.
- Feb 15🚀 Challenger Details Released – NASA officials released a detailed chronology of events leading to the Challenger shuttle disaster's final moments.
- Feb 16🚀 Challenger Disaster Photos – NASA released striking images of the space shuttle Challenger during its tragic launch, highlighting the need for safety reforms.
- Feb 17🏆 Soares Wins Presidency – Mario Soares is elected Portugal's first civilian President in 60 years, marking a significant political change.
- Feb 18📬 Statue of Liberty Stamp – A stamp commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty will be unveiled in American and French editions.
- Feb 19🔬 Artificial Heart Surgery – Doctors repositioned an artificial heart in a woman in Arizona to remove a vein obstruction, marking a significant medical achievement.
- Feb 20🚀 Challenger Rocket Debris – Debris from the Challenger space shuttle's booster rocket was identified on the ocean floor, raising safety concerns.
- Feb 21🚀 Challenger Investigation – A Navy submarine dives to examine debris believed to hold clues about the space shuttle Challenger explosion.
- Feb 22🚀 Europe Launches Satellites – The Ariane rocket successfully launched two scientific satellites into orbit, marking a significant milestone for Europe's space program.
- Feb 23🚀 Challenger Investigation Focus – The Presidential commission investigating the Challenger explosion shifts focus to new theories about wind and cold weather.
- Feb 24🌋 Hawaii Volcano Erupts – Kilauea volcano in Hawaii erupted, launching lava geysers 1,200 feet into the air, marking a significant phase in its ongoing eruption.
- Feb 25🚀 Challenger Crash Update – Four weeks after the Challenger disaster, investigations reveal suspect components and human judgment lapses contributed to the tragedy.
- Feb 26🇵🇭 Aquino Becomes President – Corazon C. Aquino succeeded Ferdinand E. Marcos as President of the Philippines, marking a significant political transition.
- Feb 27🏛️ Malacanang Palace Opened – The Malacanang Palace, once forbidden, became a crowded park for the people of Manila after Ferdinand Marcos's departure.
- Feb 28🌍 Philippines Frees Prisoners – President Corazon Aquino's government released 34 political prisoners detained under Ferdinand Marcos, including civil rights lawyers and a poet.
Happy Birthday! 1986 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1986 in real headlines. See the 1986 book →