What happened in April 1990?
The top front-page story of each day in April 1990, 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🌍 Mugabe Re-elected President – President Robert Mugabe won re-election in Zimbabwe, but low voter turnout raised concerns about his mandate for a one-party state.
- Apr 2🗳️ Mugabe Wins Election – President Robert Mugabe and his party won decisively in Zimbabwe's national election, solidifying a path towards a one-party state.
- Apr 3🌍 Quake Jars England – A 5.2 magnitude earthquake shook England and Wales, causing panic but no immediate reports of serious damage or injuries.
- Apr 4🚀 Rocket May Open Era – A small company is set to launch a 50-foot winged rocket from a B-52 over the Pacific, pioneering new spacecraft delivery methods.
- Apr 5🧬 Gene Isolated for Disease – Researchers identified the gene causing a fatal nerve cell disease, aiding in understanding a major hereditary disorder.
- Apr 6🚀 Winged Rocket Launched – A winged rocket was successfully launched into orbit from a B-52 aircraft, marking a significant step in satellite deployment technology.
- Apr 7🔥 Ferry Fire Tragedy – About 150 people are missing and feared dead after a ferry caught fire in the North Sea, according to the Norwegian rescue service.
- Apr 8🌍 Lithuania Rally for Independence – At least 200,000 people rallied in Vilnius, Lithuania, supporting Parliament's defiance against President Gorbachev.
- Apr 9🔭 Hubble Telescope Launch – The Hubble Space Telescope's launch marked a significant milestone in astronomy, enabling unprecedented observations of the universe.
- Apr 10🚀 Space Shuttle Ready – The space shuttle Discovery underwent final preparations for its scheduled launch to deploy the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit.
- Apr 11🚀 Shuttle Liftoff Postponed – The space shuttle Discovery's launch was delayed due to a defective valve in its steering system, halting the countdown just minutes before liftoff.
- Apr 12🧬 Genetic Code Found – Scientists extracted DNA from a 17-million-year-old leaf, marking a significant breakthrough in understanding ancient life forms.
- Apr 13📸 East Germans Apologize – East Germany's Parliament accepted joint responsibility for Nazi crimes, marking a historic shift in its official stance and willingness to pay reparations.
- Apr 14🚀 U.S. Rocket Launches Satellite – An Indonesian communications satellite, previously retrieved by shuttle astronauts, was successfully launched back into space aboard a Delta rocket.
- Apr 15🚀 Hubble Launch Preparations – Technicians replaced a part on the shuttle Discovery that delayed the Hubble Space Telescope launch, now set for April 25.
- Apr 16🔭 Hubble Telescope Power Unit – A new power unit was installed in the space shuttle Discovery, allowing the recharging of the Hubble Space Telescope's batteries.
- Apr 17🏭 Nuclear Plant License Granted – The Nuclear Regulatory Commission granted an operating license to the Comanche Peak nuclear power plant in Texas.
- Apr 18🔬 Scientists Link Alcoholism Gene – A gene linked to increased risk of alcoholism has been identified, marking a significant breakthrough in understanding addiction.
- Apr 19🔬 Hubble Telescope Launch – NASA plans to launch the Hubble Space Telescope on Tuesday, marking a significant advancement in space exploration.
- Apr 20✈️ Boeing Raises Retirement Age – Boeing increases its test pilots' retirement age from 60 to 63, sparking debate on age limits for airline pilots.
- Apr 21🌍 Earth Day Celebrations – 140 countries and the UN plan events for Earth Day's 20th anniversary, focusing on global pollution issues.
- Apr 22🌍 Earth Day Celebrations – Millions celebrate Earth Day worldwide, reflecting on environmental progress and challenges since the first event in 1970.
- Apr 23🔭 Hubble Telescope Launch – Five astronauts prepared for a second attempt to launch the shuttle Discovery with the Hubble Space Telescope, a significant scientific milestone.
- Apr 24🌌 Milky Way's Center Revealed – A robot spacecraft has captured the first clear image of the Milky Way's center, providing insights into the galaxy's structure.
- Apr 25🚀 Hubble Space Telescope Launched – The space shuttle Discovery launched into orbit carrying the Hubble Space Telescope, promising new advancements in astronomy.
- Apr 26🔭 Hubble Space Telescope Launched – Astronauts successfully placed the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit after overcoming technical difficulties, marking a significant achievement for astronomy.
- Apr 27🌍 115 Killed in Quake – An earthquake in China's Qinghai region killed 115 people and destroyed over 1,000 homes, causing significant damage and chaos.
- Apr 28🔭 Hubble Telescope Opens – The Hubble Space Telescope opened its aluminum eyelid, capturing the first light from space, marking a significant milestone in astronomy.
- Apr 29🌍 Moscow Endorses Lithuania Talks – The Soviet Government supports France and West Germany's efforts to ease the crisis over Lithuania's independence declaration.
- Apr 30🚀 Shuttle Lands Safely – The space shuttle Discovery landed safely in California, though concerns about the Hubble Space Telescope's issues persist.
Happy Birthday! 1990 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1990 in real headlines. See the 1990 book →