What happened in March 1989?
The top front-page story of each day in March 1989, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Mar 1🌍 U.N. Clears Hurdle – The U.N. overcame the last obstacle to implement its plan for Namibia's independence, ensuring minimal reliance on South Africa for peacekeeping.
- Mar 2🎹 Beethoven Trios Concert – The Raphael Trio presents the complete Beethoven piano trios in a series of concerts, showcasing lesser-known scores.
- Mar 3🌍 Ozone Chemicals Ban – 12 European nations agreed to eliminate harmful chemicals affecting the ozone layer by the end of the century.
- Mar 4🌊 Oil Spill in Hawaii – A U.S. tanker spilled 117,000 gallons of oil off Oahu, prompting Navy and Coast Guard efforts to mitigate environmental damage.
- Mar 5🌍 Bangladesh Ferry Capsizes – A crowded ferry capsized in southern Bangladesh, resulting in at least 23 confirmed deaths and many missing, according to news reports.
- Mar 6🔬 NASA's Smart Machines – NASA increases reliance on advanced AI to manage missions, addressing personnel shortages while improving operational efficiency.
- Mar 7🔬 New Ozone Pact Delay – The Soviet Union delayed joining a new ozone protection pact, citing the need for more evidence on harmful chemical compounds.
- Mar 8🌍 20 Nations Join Ozone Pact – Twenty countries agree to a pact to reduce ozone-depleting chemicals by 50% by the end of the century, with U.S. and U.K. support for developing nations.
- Mar 9🌍 Volcano Monitoring Satellites – A study shows that two satellites can monitor volcanoes and potentially predict eruptions, despite budget cuts threatening their shutdown.
- Mar 10🌒 Partial Solar Eclipse – A partial eclipse of the Sun occurred across western North America, attracting amateur astronomers with telescopes.
- Mar 11🚀 Countdown for Shuttle – The countdown began for the 28th space shuttle mission, set to launch on Monday, marking a significant return to space exploration.
- Mar 12📸 U.N. Peacekeepers in Namibia – U.N. peacekeepers arrive in Namibia to monitor its transition to independence, marking a significant step in international diplomacy.
- Mar 13🔬 Healthy Food Labels – A report confirms that reducing salt, fat, and cholesterol can improve health, supporting new federal labeling rules for consumers.
- Mar 14🚀 Shuttle Launch Success – The space shuttle Discovery launched successfully, carrying five astronauts on a five-day mission, marking a significant achievement for NASA.
- Mar 15🚀 Space Shuttle Issue – Discovery's electrical problem may force an early landing, potentially cutting the mission short by a day.
- Mar 16🚀 Space Shuttle Mission – Space agency officials confirmed the space shuttle Discovery will complete its five-day mission after fixing an electrical issue.
- Mar 17🏀 Arizona Defeats Robert Morris – Top-ranked Arizona scored the first 12 points, took a 21-2 lead, and defeated Robert Morris, 94-60, in the first round of the West Regional.
- Mar 18🚀 Space Shuttle Returns – The space shuttle astronauts prepared to end their five-day voyage of 1.9 million miles, finishing experiments aboard Discovery.
- Mar 19🪦 4,400-Year-Old Mummy – A mummy of an aristocratic young woman, smiling in a plaster death mask, was unearthed at the Great Pyramid of Cheops.
- Mar 20🚀 NASA Shuttle Success – NASA's Discovery shuttle returned from its mission in excellent condition, marking a successful flight with only minor damage.
- Mar 21🔬 New State of Matter – Chemists have successfully created a new state of matter by imprisoning molecules within other molecules, akin to ship models in bottles.
- Mar 22📉 Brazilian Jet Crash – A Brazilian cargo plane crashed in a shantytown, killing at least 16 people, including the crew and civilians on the ground.
- Mar 23🌍 Hazardous Waste Treaty – Over 100 countries adopted a treaty to restrict hazardous waste shipments across borders, aiming to prevent unsafe disposal practices.
- Mar 24🏀 Arizona Upset Victory – No. 1 Arizona was upset by a last-second three-pointer, highlighting a thrilling moment in NCAA basketball history.
- Mar 25🌊 Largest U.S. Oil Spill – A tanker ran aground off Alaska, spilling 270,000 barrels of crude oil into marine-rich waters, raising environmental concerns.
- Mar 26🗳️ Soviet Elections Begin – The Soviet Union holds its first competitive elections in decades, marking a significant shift from one-party rule to a more democratic process.
- Mar 27🗳️ Soviet Elections Held – Soviet voters participated in the freest elections in over 70 years, with Boris Yeltsin expected to win in Moscow.
- Mar 28🐦 Rare Condor Lays Egg – A California condor at the Los Angeles Zoo, one of only 28 left in the world, has laid a tiny aqua egg.
- Mar 29🏛️ Pei Pyramid Opens – I. M. Pei's glass pyramid at the Louvre opens today, marking a significant architectural milestone in Paris.
- Mar 30🏛️ Louvre Pyramid Opens – President Francois Mitterrand inaugurates I. M. Pei's glass pyramid at the Louvre, a significant architectural addition to Paris.
- Mar 31🌍 Namibia's Independence Nears – Namibia's independence is imminent after over 100 years of struggle, with UN forces set to guide the transition.
Happy Birthday! 1989 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1989 in real headlines. See the 1989 book →
Born in March? Pick the day
Every birthday in March has its own On This Day in Headlines book: